004 Welcome to Myoko 008 A Quick Look At The Resorts 010 10 Activities to try this season 012 Seven days in Myoko Kogen 016 Onsen Time 018 Myoko Kogen Map 020 Bus Schedules 021 Myoko Essentials 022 The Ski Areas
On the Cover:
Publisher Editor Contributors Advertising Sales Design
Snow Connections Steve Williams Matthew Alexander Mikiyo Williams Michael Grove Ashish Bose
The Editor enjoying the wide open pistes at Akakura Kanko Ski Resort on a powder morning.
Contact Information 1606-4 Hokujo, Hakuba Nagano 399-9301 English Tel: 080-3126-0247 Japanese Tel: 080-3422-9005 sales@snow-connections.com
Published by Snow Connections
SNOW CONNECTIONS
Myoko Connect
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WELCOME TO
T
he region takes its name from Mount Myoko, the vast 2,454m mountain that dominates the south-west Niigata skyline and is home to five of the Myoko ski areas. Myoko is actually an active volcano, the second of five big volcanoes that cross Japan in a north-south line. Repeated eruptions in pre-history formed a belt-like geological region called the Fossa Magna that extends to the Pacific. The southmost of the five volcanoes is the symbol of Japan itself, Mount Fuji. Though “active”, Myoko’s last eruption was over 4,000 years ago. When not erupting, volcanoes mean fertile soil and hot springs (“onsen”), and it is as the latter that Myoko became established as a destination for travelers. The
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Myoko Connect
The first bathhouse was built for a visiting samurai warlord in the Middle Ages.
granddaddy of the Myoko onsens is Seki, which has welcomed visitors to its iron-rich waters since 1729. Akakura Onsen opened in 1816. There are now seven onsens in Myoko, with waters that range from rusty red to milky white and have different therapeutic effects. Myoko expanded in the post-war period with the Japanese booms in hiking in the 1960s and skiing in the 1970s and 80s, but the European influence of mountain-based leisure has remained secondary. To this day, Myoko is a collection of onsen towns with ski lifts, not a ski resort with onsens. Skiing got its start in Myoko at Akakura. In 1937, the Akakura Kanko Hotel was built as one of Japan’s first European-style resort hotels. The building of the first
ski lifts in the post-war period sparked gold-rush style development, with small rival areas opening up side by side. These areas have since mended their dierences and joined up to form the ski areas we know today. The main characteristic of skiing at Myoko is that it snows a lot! A typical season will bring 14 meters of cumulative snowfall, with most resorts hitting a base of 4 meters by late season. Despite this, temperatures are relatively mild, often in a range of -1 to -5C on the slopes. Unlike colder resorts, dress sensibly and you shouldn’t need an extra layer for the lifts or a facemask to protect any exposed skin. Unlike European resorts located high in the alpine, there is also no risk of altitude sickness. The biggest risk for most people is getting stuck in some very deep snow!
DON’T MISS The ski club was formed in the village in 1923.
JANUARY 19th Dynamite Carnival takes place at Suginohara. Watch awe inspiring fireworks illuminate the night sky over a snowy mountain. Fun for all the family with food and drink stalls.
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For information on the separate ski areas in the Myoko region, see the individual guides later in this magazine. Most areas have wide lower slopes ideal for beginners and steeper upper slopes with great tree skiing through beech and birch forests. Rather than being isolated up a mountain somewhere, the ski areas are all directly linked to accommodation/onsen-centered villages where you can stay, eat, and ease the day’s aches away in the bath. If you have ever wondered how much snow a 75-year-old man can shovel, we’re sure a Myoko local will show you the answer. You’ll also see the vast array of machinery used to keep the roads clear in this climate. Some of it is very impressive. Myoko is located only 25km or so from the Japan Sea, providing local hotels, ryokan inns, and restaurants with a regular supply of quality seafood. Many varieties of fish are at their best in winter due to the increased fat content. Like other hot spring regions, Myoko serves up onsen manju, sweet-filled dumplings, and onsen tamago, runny-boiled eggs, both of which are prepared using hot spring water. Myoko’s unusual meibutsu (famous regional food) is “kanzuri”, an aged chili sauce made with salted peppers, fermented rice, and other natural flavourings and sold in small bottles. During the traditional manufacturing process, salted chilis are laid out directly on the snow for
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Myoko Connect
several days to soften the flavour. Niigata is the premier rice-growing region of Japan, and the endless supply of crystal-clear mountain water ensures local sake brewers have two prime ingredients with which to work their magic. Regular tastings are held around Myoko, but you can always just go to an izakaya pub and try them yourself. Life goes slow in Myoko, and the biggest news of late has been the arrival of the Shinkansen bullet train in spring 2015. The line is an extension of the Nagano Shinkansen that was built for the 1998 Winter Olympics, and now reaches Kanazawa, a historic city home to the Kenrokuen garden. The station for Myoko is “Joetsu Myoko” and trains to Tokyo take just one hour and fifty minutes. When boarding at Tokyo, be sure to get the “Hakutaka” (White Hawk) service. Other services on the line do not stop at Joetsu Myoko. For any down days, the Shinkansen now offers great access to Nagano City with the impressive Zenkoji temple and to Joetsu City in Niigata for shopping and gourmet seafood. An ever-popular day trip is to see the phtotogenic snow monkeys of Jigokudani. You can get up really close to them and they’re really cute! MC
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See Page 34 Myoko Connect
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Experience a different kind of thrill suited for all ages by zipping over the powder on a snow raft towed by a snowmobile. Your snowmobile guide will expertly navigate through the winter scenes giving you a fun-filled and windy and very bumpy ride. Suginohara Myoko Snow Mobile Land Adult 1,000yen Under 12’s 500yen
Getting naked, hot and wet with a bunch of total strangers is perhaps the most quintessentially Japanese thing to do. The mineral content of almost every onsen in Myoko is slightly different, and many onsens use the healing effects of their particular mineral mix in their marketing. A trip to Myoko Kogen is not complete without a trip to the onsen.
Zip lining is about as close as you can get to flying. This heart pumping outdoor adventure activity offers spectacular views of Arai Ski Resort and a bird’s eye view of your mountain surroundings. The Zip line is over 1,500m in length with a vertical drop of 240meters. You must be over 10 years old and over 120cm, 30kg to ride the Zip Line tour: Adults 6,000yen Children 3,000yen. (3 tours a day) Reservations are required. For in-person applications, please apply at the information desk on the first floor of the Village Station. Location Lotte Arai.
The allure of the most epic lines and the freedom of fresh powder fields calls to pretty much anyone who has spent any time on a snowboard or skis. Blazing your own trail and making your turns off a face is what off-piste skiing is all about. Accessing the backcountry terrain has also seen a real gain in popularity with split-boards, great touring skis and many companies flaunting other backcountry specific gear. However, having the ambition and ability to get into the backcountry does not always equate to the best choice for your longevity on this planet with this is mind make sure you use a guide. And nobody knows the mountains better than the local guides. These professionals with a lot of experience in the Myoko Kogen mountains will show you some great terrain that will exceed your expectations but not your ability.
Most monkeys are happy swinging in the trees of tropical jungles, but not here in Snow Country. For our monkeys, there’s nothing like soaking in a hot bath to ease their troubles away. One look at them relaxing in the tub, and it’s you who’ll be singing “Oobee doo! I wanna be like you!” The park is great for kids and a massive draw to photographers. Buses to the Monkey Park leave Akakura Bus terminal at 10:10am and return at 16:00pm every morning in winter. Adults 4,500yen Under 12’s 3,500yen. Price doesn’t include entrance fee to the park. Cash only.
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Myoko Connect
Tatra Beer Hall is a must place to visit for an evening out on your stay in Myoko Kogen. The beer hall as the name suggest is home to Myoko Kogen Beer with its range of award winning ales to sample. The restaurant is a buffet style dining experience with over 120 varieties of both Japanese and Western delicacies and inlcuding award winning Myoko Kogen Beer. RESTAURANT TATRA Tel: 0255-86-2600
Zenkoji Temple has been admired for over 1400 years as Japan’s primary center of Buddhist faith. Zenkoji houses the first Buddhist statue to come to Japan, attracting pilgrims from all denominations. Approximately six million worshippers visit every year. The main hall is officially classified as a national treasure. The temple is about a 20 minute walk from Nagano City train and bus station. The Tomyo light festival is definitely worth a visit! Trains from Myoko Kogen Station take about 40 mins
Japanese love their fire festivals and none more so than here in Myoko kogen. Join in the fun at the Dynamite Firework Festival, which confusingly is also called Don Don Yaki Festival. It is located at Suginohara Ski Area. Start from 5:00pm, expect food stalls, Japanese sake and of course fireworks gleaming of the white snow. Saturday 19th January
Enjoy bouldering, a square trampoline, and a fun-wall, all on one floor! The Wonder Wall, unique in Japan has 75 possible routes to the top! Bouldering shoes are available for rental. These indoor activities are great if the weather is not co-operating outside and the young ones need a break from the cold. Located at Lotte Arai
In most of Japan winter is greeted with a bit of trepidation and fear, but not in Myoko. This is yuki kuni- Snow Country! With so much of the white stuff carpeting Myoko’s mountains each winter, learning to love it is a necessity. A great way to love this white carpet is astride a snowmobile. Thrilling snowmobile tours are available with Yukibancho. They will take you deep into the wooded and open areas of Joestu side of Myoko. Hopefully being so far off the beaten track you might get to see some wildlife poking out of the trees. Two courses are available for either beginners or powder hunters. Tel: 0255-70-4177 Open: 08:00 - 17:00
Myoko Connect
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SEVEN DAYS IN MYOKO
Join London based Matthew Alexander and his family who usually holiday in Europe on a week’s visit to Moyko Kogen taking in as many ski areas as they can. Learn as they experience the famous deep Japanese powder for the first time. And as Matthew says, “Variety is the spice of life”.
DAY 2
DAY 1 Skis, gloves, goggles, helmet -one last check, do we have everything? We take the bus to Suginohara Snow Resort for our first day on the slopes. Suginohara is the furthest ski resort on skiers left of the huge Mt. Myoko The bus takes about 25mins and is a good chance to view the unique Japanese countryside for the first time as we arrived late last night and couldn’t see anything. We arrive at Suginohara bus stop, put on our skis and ski down to the ticket center, which is a first for me, you usually have to buy a ticket before skiing. Suginohara has a long gondola which takes us near to the top and enables us to spend the morning lapping runs on the perfect pisted course. As the sun comes out we can just make out Mt. Fuji nearly 200km away, well I can’t see it but my kids can. In the afternoon we have a try at the park. There are a lot of features to do, some are small for beginners, which suits me fine. The intermediate jumps and rails are great for the kids. Toward the end of the day, the kids want to tackle the longest ski course in Japan. OK, let’s do it. Twenty minutes later and very tired legs we decide to call it a day. The bus returning to the Akakura area is much quieter, most people are asleep.
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We wake up to light snowfall, we were expecting heavy snow, but this will have to do. Today’s mission is to take it a little easier and ski the closest resort to our hotel, Akakura Kanko. Maybe taking it easy is something to do with our muscles aching from yesterday. We take the gondola and lifts to the highest point on Akakan, as every one calls the resort. I tell the kids, it’s best to start from the top as it’s all downhill from here. The kids groan at another dad joke. As we get off the top lift we are greeted with ankle deep snow on top of the piste. Our first attempt at powder skiing! After a few runs the slopes get a little mashed up, as do our legs. Lunch time comes around, we decide on trying Japanese curry. We head over to Hetre restaurant for not only curry but katsu curry. Katsu is a kind of pork bread crumbed schnitzel. It is delicious and not that expensive, unlike some of the other snow resorts that we have visited around the world. After lunch with fill stomachs we hit the mogul field. I tell the kids that I actually used to be quite good at moguls a long time ago, sadly they don’t believe me as I am spat out of bumps and land on my backside. Time to call it a day. In the evening we join the staff for the annual Dynamite Carnival. It is a fun evening but with the light snow it is cold. The fireworks over the snow are some of the best I have ever seen. If you are in Myoko during this festival, make sure you visit but wrap up with warm shoes and gloves.
DAY 3 I have decided to just do a half day on the slopes with my eldest while my wife is going on a tour to see the snow monkeys with our youngest. We take the bus to Ikenotaira, one of Myoko’s smaller resorts but we are really impressed with the courses they have. Though Myoko is famed for its powder the pistes just as good with some superb corduroy, great for going fast. We finish off the morning in the park at Ikenoataira. It is another long park with some great features for my son and I. It is good to be able to hit the park without pressure of embarrassment. In the afternoon we take a taxi to Daiichi supermarket in the town of Myoko Kogen about 10 mins away. It is quite interesting looking at the different foods and snacks that they have. In fact we buy a lot of Japanese snacks that we will take back home as souvneirs. I love Pocky, a kind of chocolate on a stick. For more typical souvenirs it is best to shop in the resort
“My wife and youngest took a day off the slopes to visit the adorable snow monkeys. They enjoyed the day but said it was very cold and that they wanted to join the monkeys in the onsen!”
The first time to visit a Japanese festival, there were food stalls, fireworks and plenty of sake!
DAY 4 We wake up early to see that it is snowing outside. It must be over 50cm. The staff at the lodge, equipped with large snow shovels are struggling with clearing the cars and the driveway. I hope the staff hurry up as today we are actually going with the them to MADAPOW. Madapow is the affectionate catchphrase that aptly describes the huge amount of snows that Madarao ski resort gets. Getting to Madarao takes about 45 mins through some of the most beautiful winter scenes that I have ever witnessed, truly stunning. The 50cm we observed at Myoko turns out to be nearly a meter at Madarao. The staff from the lodge show us around the mountain. I feel a little sorry for them as they have to keep stopping while I pick myself up. I am falling about three times every run. Learning to ski deep powder is immensely frustrating but at the same time immensely satisfying as the blower powder is blown into my mouth…I need a snorkel!
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DAY 6
DAY 5 After yesterday’s exhilarations we decide to stay closer to home and a trip to the other Akakura, Akakura Onsen. This ski area is a very easy walk from our lodge, which is good as we get to lie in bed a little longer and more importantly our ski gear can dry out. We are surprised at the size of Akakura Onsen, it seems to take all morning to get from end to the other with a lot of variation in courses in between. We particular like the Panorama Course, it’s well groomed and used for night skiing. Lunch is taken in the Kumado Hutte restaurant. I decide on a hot bowl of spicy ramen as I feel cold today, I knew I should have bought new gloves before I left. After lunch and with Akakura town being a short walk I invest in a new pair of mittens. Before I return to meet my family on the slopes, I go for a sneaky kebab from one of the local mobile vendors on the main Akakura street, don’t tell the wife and kids.
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Myoko Connect
All aboard the Arai Express bound for Japan’s most modern snow resort. The bus took about 40 to 50 minutes, so if you do end up going, try to take the earliest bus from Akakura. We are literally stunned when we arrive at the Arai ski resort. The facilities and lifts are all top notch, with the most luxurious base area of a ski resort I have ever seen. We spend the first few runs on the lower beginner and intermediate courses. These are well groomed and fairly empty; great for going fast and practicing wide carving turns. After a quick snack in the food court we take the gondola and Zendana lift for our first turns on the fabled Arai side country. Even though there are a few hard core freeride skiers and snowboarders on the slopes, we are able to find some fresh tracks in the powder. In a few days I have come quite the expert at powder skiing, I only fall once every run now. After lunch we have a go at ziplining. Now this is a first for me, not ziplining, I have done that before but ziplining over a snowy landscape. The view from the zipline is an amazing winter wonderland. It is a fairly long ride as the zip line stretches almost a mile long. A great day out.
Stay warm in winter with bowls of delicious pork katsu curry, available at most on mountain restaurants.
Backcountry Tours In Myoko • Backcountry Group Tours • Private Backcountry Tours • Lift Accessed Off-Piste Tours • Snowshoe & Cross-Country Tours • Avalanche Safety Training Courses • Equipment Rental Available
DAY 7 Our last full day in Myoko and luckily for us it has snowed again. As my wife decides to go shopping, it is up to me and the kids to tackle Myoko’s smallest resort but maybe the snowiest, Seki Onsen. The light is not the best with a lot of low cloud so a change of googles is required, my wife’s pair. As a guess I would say there is about 50cm of fresh snow when we arrive at Seki Onsen. The staff are frantically digging out the lifts. I look at my son who has a huge grin, “give us a hand” shouts out the lift attendant as he hands my son a huge shovel to dig out the snow. I am just thinking to myself, I hope this snow is not too deep! As the lifts start turning we make our way up the hill, the lifts are old but we don’t care, today we are fully fledged Japanese powder hounds. We howl and whoop as we make our way, a little cautiously down the mountain. Lunch is taken is an old style restaurants. I go for the curry once again and stay a little longer than my son would like, I have to dry my gloves you see….
0261-72-5150
evergreen-backcountry.com guides@evergreen-backcountry.com Hakuba, Nagano, Japan
Myoko Connect
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Getting naked, hot and wet with a bunch of total strangers is perhaps the most quintessentially Japanese thing to do. There are several onsen (natural thermal hot springs) scattered the length of the Myoko region. The mineral content
of almost every onsen in Myoko is slightly different, and many onsens use the healing effects of their particular mineral mix in their marketing. A trip to Myoko is not complete without a trip to the onsen.
Birthday Suits Only!
Rinse Well
No bathing suits or clothing is permitted in the hot springs. You must disrobe before entering. Put your belongings into one of the lockers provided.
To keep the water as clean as possible. remember to rinse thoroughly so as not to get any soap in the onsen water.
MEMBER RE Refrain from taking an onsen immediately after eating or drinking alcohol. Remember no drinking or eating in the onsen, save that for after bathing.
Bathing Time Enter the water slowly to allow your body to adjust to the temperature which can be hot. Do not put your towel in the bath. Set you towel on your head or the side of the bath.
Wash First To the Japanese, the Western practice of washing yourself in the bath is, well‌ pretty gross actually! Every onsen has a row of showers around the outside of the bath. Soap, shampoo and conditioner are usually provided Wash yourself with soap and rinse before entering the baths. Use the stools to sit upon and be careful not to splash those around you when showering.
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Myoko Connect
Dry Off Dry off as much as you can before returning to the changing room with your modesty towel. Keep the changing room as dry as possible.
Myoko’s sports and relaxation massage specialists. Trust the most experienced therapists in the village. We guarantee to beat any massage price in the village.
Tel: 0255-70-4002 Full Circle Building www.myokomassage.com
Holiday Rescue Don’t let an injury keep you off the slopes. We’ll rescue your holiday. ✔ Open from 8am to 8pm every day
✔ Sports and Remedial Massage
✔ Conveniently located in the
✔ Travel Insurance Claimable
Full Circle Building
Tel: 0255-70-4002 New location in Full Circle Building right in the heart of the village www.myokophysio.com *We do not see fractures, dislocations or other serious injury. These conditions should go directly to Shintai Clinic. A S I A P H Y S I O N E T W O R K T O K Y O • N I S E K O • H A K U B A • N O Z A WA • MY O K O K O G E N • S I N G A P O R E • K U A L A L U M P U R
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FAST FACTS
15% BEGINNER
60% INTERMEDIATE
25% ADVANCED COURSES 4 only four but lots of terrain
LIFTS 2
LONGEST 1500m
ELEVATION 310m
NIGHT SKIING NO
Photo Ben. Shirakawa
SEKI ONSEN With only two lifts, one a somewhat rickety-looking single chair, the easiest thing to say is that Seki Onsen is not for everyone. The resort has its fans though, and they are devotees to powder.
Though a couple of kilometers north of the Akakan/ Akakura Onsen resorts, Seki pulls in powder unseen in other parts of Myoko. Japan’s mountains are known for microclimates, and Seki’s is one of the strongest. It feels strange writing about the equivalent of a New Zealand club field in ordinary terms, but yes, there are two lifts, a double and a pair. They take
you up about 300m in total from the base. The upper of the lifts is a single chair strung only a couple of meters above the snow which can need digging out on big days. This being Japan, paying customers can be seen helping the staff to get things going in the morning What courses there are aren’t groomed as far as we have seen, and they aren’t really somewhere any fun-seeking parents might want to leave the kids while they head off for some thrills. What Seki is about is the large treed area that leads from skiers’ right at the top. It heads down the front of the hill via a number of gullies back to the bottom lift. What do you get? About 200 to 250m of pretty steep and deep, with various microfeatures you should be able to find fairly easily.
DID YOU KNOW
?
Much longer runs are available above the resort for those prepared to hike, but should not be attempted without avalanche safety equipment (transceiver, probe, and shovel)
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Myoko Connect
FAST FACTS
40%
BEGINNER
40% INTERMEDIATE
20% ADVANCED COURSES 17 including Super Ginat & Starlight
LIFTS 5 including one Gondola
LONGEST 8500m
ELEVATION 1124m
NIGHT SKIING NO
SUGINOHARA The southernmost of south, so the park can offer the most fun when the sun the four resorts on is baking the snow. AlongMount Myoko, Sugi- side the snow park run some mellow tree lines provide a nohara reaches up the highest, meaning good introduction to powder riding once the snow has the lowest tempera- settled. They may be a struggle on deeper days. tures to keep that powder fluffy. The Advanced resort’s 1,124 meters Advanced riders and powder hounds should head for of vertical places it the runs off the top lift, the second in Japan hooded Mitahara No. 3 Quad, which provides some great tree skiing off the marked trails. The snowpark on the Two of the longest green Mitahara side has a variety of pistes in Japan run down both the Suginohara and Mi- rails and butter boxes. The table top jumps are usually tahara sides, both are great runs to pratice linking turns. well maintained and range from the small to the very Intermediates large. Much of Suginohara faces
Beginners
DID YOU KNOW
?
A meandering 8.5 km course from the top is also one of the longest trails in Japan, it starts off steep and then becomes gentler towards the base
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Myoko Connect
@tqkqkun
NEW park with NEW items
@tqkqkun
FAST FACTS
50% BEGINNER
40% INTERMEDIATE
10% ADVANCED COURSES 10 including Forest & Happy Courses
LIFTS 6 including quad lift
LONGEST 4000m
ELEVATION 740m
NIGHT SKIING NO
IKENOTAIRA The middle of the Intermediates Access from the base area resorts on Mount is by a pair lift that gets you Myoko, Ikenotaira up most of the resort’s 640 Onsen follows the meters of vertical. A short classic Myoko mod- ride down the wide run to skier’s right takes you to the el. That is, tons of hooded quad that heads to snow, steepest and the resort top at 1400m. An old course remains highbest views at the top, gentle and wide er up, but is no longer lift served. Ikenotaira is well at the bottom, onsgroomed and offers wide slopes for easy progression. ens at the base. Beginners For those with little ones, there is a large play area at the base with a magic carpet, a fenced-off sledging area. Beginners that are competent in linking turns, the aptly named Wooded Course through the trees on skiers left is a great fun trail that leads back down to the base area.
Advanced Head to skiers’ right from the top for the easiest trees to hit and the two short sections that serve as the resort’s only advanced runs. A separate pair lift gives access to this part of the upper mountain.
DID YOU KNOW
?
About 300m from the base you’ll find the Myoko Kogen Beer Hall. They have a huge buffet with crab, sushi, and barbecued lamb, with a very reasonable all-you-can-drink option. 26
Myoko Connect
妙高 高原
池の平温泉スキー場
【お問い合わせ】〒94 9 - 2 1 12 新潟県妙高市池の平温泉 2457-1 TEL025
5 - 8 6 - 2370
LimeÊResortÊMyoko
池の平温泉スキー場
【アクセス】上信越自動車道「妙高高原IC 」から車で約5 分！ （約2 .5km ） ／えちごトキめき鉄道「妙高高原駅」からバスまたはタクシーで約1 5 分！ 【公式ホームページ】http: //www.ikenotaira.info/
FAST FACTS
40% BEGINNER
30% INTERMEDIATE
30% ADVANCED COURSES 10 including Champions & Hotel Courses
LIFTS 7
including One x Gondola
LONGEST 4500m
ELEVATION 760m
NIGHT SKIING NO
SKI SCHOOLS Myoko Snow Sports Akakura 0255-87-3580
AKAKAN
to Akakura Onsen, both pistes With about 760m are very wide. of vertical, Akakura Kanko (often shortIntermediates ened to “Akakan”) is Intermediates can enjoy the whole resort, with views of the second biggest Lake Nojiri, don’t forget your resort in Myoko. The camera. Plenty of opporturesort is centered on nities to try powder riding higher up the mountain. For the Akakura Kanko anyone riding on the joint Hotel, originally built resort ticket, it’s quite a conin 1937 as one of voluted route back to Akakan Japan’s first Europe- from the far side of Akakura Onsen. Leave yourself plenty an-style resort hotels. of time at the end of the day.
Beginners
Advanced
Beginners and families should note that in addition to the gondola, a number of Akakan’s lifts are full hooded to keep you out of the wind and snow. While there only two real beginner runs, one below the hotel and another alongside Lift #15 which links
Lift #20 serves the higher “Maeyama” runs, along with some excellent offpiste, much of which is left free from ropes and fences. Powderhounds should also find plenty of amusement in the Champion area and in runs down toward the Akakura Onsen area.
DID YOU KNOW
?
The area shares the eastern flank of Mount Myoko with its neighbour, Akakura Onsen Ski Resort, which can be ridden on the same ticket for a few hundred yen extra. 28
Myoko Connect
Akakura Kanko Resort Ski Area
Great Powder Great Runs Great Restaurants Great Resort!! TEL +81(0)255-87-2503 87-2503
www.akr-ski.com/english e-mail ski@akhjapan.com
FAST FACTS
50% BEGINNER
40% INTERMEDIATE
10% ADVANCED COURSES 17 including Utopia, Karamatsu and Panorama
LIFTS 14 including quad lifts
LONGEST 3000m
ELEVATION 550m
NIGHT SKIING YES
SKI SCHOOLS Yodel Ski School 0261-72-3200
AKAKURA ONSEN
Akakura Onsen is Intermediates Intermediates are taken care of a wide resort with three the main areas at Akakura Onsen with miles of perfectly pisted courses that of Yodel, Kumado offer speed and space, especially on weekdays. For those and Ginrei in that order looking up the intermediates who want to try some powder but are easily mountain. For those intimated with the steeper slopes, then hit the side of the wanting to hot the groomers with powder usually connected resort on both sides of the piste. The of Akakura Kanko night skiing Panorama Course then access through is great for intermediates who Yodel or Kumado, but want to keep on riding when the sun goes down. remember to buy the Advanced connected pass. Beginners Beginners will be totally satisfied in linking turns throughout the resort’s easier slopes. The wide Karamatsu Course is well groomed and perfect for improving.
If you like moguls then the aptly named Mogul Challenge Course at the top of Yodel is a must. As are the ungroomed courses directly underneath. On powder morning these courses offer a some great thigh burning vertical.
DID YOU KNOW
?
Akakura Onsen has night skiing available from 5pm to 10pm every evenings. For a bonus, on Saturday evenings the slopes are groomed prior to night skiing. Wrap up warm, it does get cold at night. 30
Myoko Connect
FAST FACTS
30% BEGINNER
30% INTERMEDIATE
40% ADVANCED COURSES 32 including Powder Wave & Crystal Bowl
LIFTS 13
including Super Quad lift
LONGEST 2500m
ELEVATION 440m
NIGHT SKIING Yes
SKI SCHOOLS MADARAO SKI ACADEMY 0269-64-3727 NORTH OUTDOOR SPORTS 090-4461-7354 ACTION SNOW SPORTS
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MADARAO
an idea that should be tried Being about equal elsewhere given the popularity distance from of the sport. The resort offers Nozawa and Myoskiing and snowboarding lessons in English as well as ko Kogen, Madarao Japanese, so international Mountain Resort is visitors can take a short cut perfectly placed for in progressing their way up the storms that dump the mountain and hitting the the white gold on the powder in no time at all.. mountains. No won- Advanced der it is nicknamed Madarao is home to 14 tree run courses that have been MadPow!
Beginners
For beginners and families, Madarao takes great pride in the grooming of their gentler runs. You can also rest assured that the faster riders will be off playing elsewhere on the hill.
Intermediates Madarao has a snowboarderonly course, a rarity and
thinned to produce open spaced tree runs where you can let rip. These gladed runs that unashamedly go by names like “Powder Wave”, “Powder Theater” and “Crystal Bowl” are eagerly sought for their solitude, beauty and most of all for their caches of ungroomed powder. In fact at Madarao 60% of the resort goes ungroomed,
DID YOU KNOW
?
Shuttle buses are offered daily from Myoko Kogen. The buses leave Myoko at 08:00 and leave Madarao at 17:05 and operate from Dec 22nd to March 8th.
FAST FACTS
25%
BEGINNER
40% INTERMEDIATE
35% ADVANCED COURSES 15 including Zendana Bowl & Happy Valley
LIFTS 5 including Arai Gondola
LONGEST 5200m
ELEVATION 951m
NIGHT SKIING YES
SKI SCHOOLS Myoko Snow Sports Arai 0255-75-1160
LOTTE ARAI
Lotte Arai is a purpose-built ski resort where lifts and slopes were developed together with a luxury hotel complex, not built above an existing rural town. Everything is linked, and there are no inconveniences like walking along icy roads
Beginners Beginners at Lotte Arai have four green runs, the most notable being the short Sanroku run at the bottom and the long winding Rindo course down from the Kokenashi lift that runs from the gondola mid-station. Neither piste is especially wide, and the main appeal lies not in the terrain but the full range of English language services provided by the ski school and rental and gear shops.
Intermediates
Intermediates can ride the upper lifts and enjoy the whole 951 meters of vertical. We would recommend guests come with wider powder boards or rent them onsite, due to the limited and narrow terrain that is groomed. Instead of carving practice, what Arai offers is an easy introduction into powder riding in mostly tree-free sub-alpine bowls. When they are open, start in the areas off the covered Zendana lift. .
Advanced
Lotte Arai for advanced riders is all about the eleven conditional off-piste areas. We advise you to dress in layers because these include an additional 150m of vertical accessed via a short boot pack above the top lift.
DID YOU KNOW
?
A lot of the terrain is open and includes multiple natural hits, giving ample opportunities for an alternative to “me in the trees” filming in Japan
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Myoko Connect
NaganoSnowShuttle.com