ski_05_myoko
Myoko Kogen
Myoko ski resort is one of Japan's original ski destinations, buried in 13+ metres of snow a season — linked ski areas, an old-school onsen village, and storm skiing that rarely lets up.
Buy Shinkansen ticket to Nagano →About the resort
Deep snow, deep history
Myoko Kogen has been a ski resort since the 1930s, long before most of Japan's resorts existed. Several linked Myoko Kogen ski areas — Akakura Onsen, Akakura Kanko, and Myoko Suginohara — spread across the slopes of Mt. Myoko, buried under some of the heaviest snowfall in the country.
❄️ 13 m+ of snow a season
One of the snowiest ski regions in Japan — storms roll through the Sea of Japan and dump relentlessly.
🏔 1,124 m vertical
A long, sustained descent from Suginohara's summit, with an 8.5 km longest run.
♨️ Onsen village at the base
Akakura Onsen's old-school ryokan and public baths sit right at the foot of the slopes.
🎿 A skier's ski town
Long favored by storm-chasers and long-time regulars over resort-town polish.
Terrain by level
Getting there
Tokyo to Myoko Kogen, step by step
Book your Shinkansen ticket online
Choose your date and train, pay online, and receive your QR voucher by email.
Hokuriku Shinkansen: Tokyo → Nagano
Print your tickets from your QR voucher at a station ticket machine, then board.
approx. 90 minLocal train: Nagano → Myoko Kogen Station
Change at Nagano to the Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line — a single local train runs all the way to Myoko Kogen Station. See the full timetable ↓
approx. 45 minMyoko Kogen bus: station → base areas
Local buses and hotel shuttles run from outside Myoko Kogen Station to Akakura Onsen, Akakura Kanko, and Suginohara.
approx. 10–20 minRide Akakura Onsen, Akakura Kanko, and Suginohara
Linked areas share the mountain — pick a base and explore from there.
Resort info
The mountain, by the numbers
Old-school scale, new-school snow totals.
| Longest run | 8.5 km |
|---|---|
| Vertical drop | 1,124 m (Suginohara) |
| Top elevation | 1,885 m |
| Snow | 13 m+ average per season |
| Terrain mix | 35% beginner · 40% intermediate · 25% advanced |
| Linked areas | Akakura Onsen, Akakura Kanko, and Myoko Suginohara |
| Season | Early December – early April |
| Getting around | Shinano Railway local train from Nagano to Myoko Kogen Station (approx. 45 min); Myoko Kogen buses and hotel shuttles connect the linked ski areas and Akakura Onsen village |
Winter services
A working ski town, not a resort town
Myoko is set up for skiers first — fewer frills than Hakuba or Nozawa, but everything you need.
🎿 Rentals
Rental shops at each base area cover all-mountain and powder-specific gear.
🎓 Ski & snowboard schools
English-friendly lessons are available, especially popular for backcountry and powder clinics.
🚌 Inter-area shuttle
Free or low-cost shuttles link Akakura Onsen, Akakura Kanko, and Suginohara through the day.
♨️ Onsen baths
Public and hotel baths throughout Akakura Onsen village make for an easy soak after skiing.
Village info
Akakura Onsen, an old-school ski town
Akakura Onsen has been a hot-spring and ski village for generations — quieter and more local than Japan's bigger-name resort towns.
- Ryokan & minshuku — Family-run inns with their own hot-spring baths line the village, many with decades of history.
- Public baths — Several onsen bathhouses are open to visitors, a classic end to a storm-skiing day.
- Local, not polished — Myoko favors longtime regulars and skiers over resort-town shine — expect character over convenience.
- Neighbors — Nozawa Onsen and Madarao are each about 30–40 minutes away for a change of scene.
Restaurant & nightlife
Simple, local, and warming
Dining in Myoko leans toward small, local places — hearty food built for cold, snowy nights.
- Local specialties — Hearty nabe hotpot, soba, and Niigata rice and sake are village staples.
- Small izakaya — A handful of long-running, local-feeling izakaya serve the village's regulars and visitors alike.
- Ryokan dinners — Many inns serve home-style multi-course dinners — reserve when you book your room.
- Good to know — This isn't a big dining scene — options are simple and satisfying rather than extensive.
When to go
Myoko Kogen season at a glance
Getting here
Nagano → Myoko Kogen Station
From Nagano, the Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line runs local trains directly to Myoko Kogen Station in about 45 minutes. Times below follow the operator's timetable revised March 14, 2026 — please confirm the latest schedule before your trip, as not every service runs daily.
| Depart Nagano | Arrive Myoko Kogen |
|---|---|
| 6:00 | 6:44 |
| 6:23 | 7:07 |
| 7:45 | 8:31 |
| 9:23 | 10:08 |
| 10:49 ◆ | 11:34 |
| 10:53 ◇ | 11:33 |
| 12:11 | 12:58 |
| 13:15 | 14:05 |
| 14:11 | 14:55 |
| 15:28 | 16:11 |
| 16:08 | 16:53 |
| 17:06 | 17:52 |
| 18:11 | 18:55 |
| 18:46 | 19:31 |
| 19:50 | 20:34 |
| 21:18 | 22:02 |
| 22:05 | 22:49 |
| Depart Myoko Kogen | Arrive Nagano |
|---|---|
| 6:02 | 6:50 |
| 6:52 | 7:37 |
| 7:49 | 8:34 |
| 9:08 | 9:52 |
| 10:51 | 11:40 |
| 11:46 ◆ | 12:30 |
| 12:00 ◇ rapid | 12:40 |
| 13:05 | 13:49 |
| 14:38 | 15:22 |
| 15:54 | 16:38 |
| 16:42 | 17:25 |
| 17:35 | 18:22 |
| 18:13 | 18:57 |
| 19:13 | 19:57 |
| 19:53 | 20:36 |
| 20:53 | 21:37 |
| 22:08 | 22:51 |
| Operator | Shinano Railway, Kita-Shinano Line |
|---|---|
| Journey time | approx. 45 min |
| Frequency | Roughly hourly through the day |
| Ticket | Not covered by your Shinkansen ticket — buy separately at Nagano Station |
◇ Weekends, public holidays, and December 30 – January 3 only.
ℹ Unmarked services run daily. Most are local trains stopping at Kurohime and Mure; the 12:00 departure from Myoko Kogen is a rapid service.
⚠ Based on the Shinano Railway timetable revised March 14, 2026 — check the latest timetable at Shinano Railway before your trip.
Good to know