What other travelers are saying about Akakura Onsen Ski Resort
Came here on the back of recommendations from friends. Was here mid/late Dec and resort just opened a week so it was still early from skiing season perspective. The resort is catered more for beginners and intermediate but it suits our needs. That said, the adjoining resort, Kanko, have more intermediate and advanced runs. It's only 5 mins away by the free shuttle and a joint lift pass is only an additional 1,000 yen (at the time of writing). The chairlifts and magic carpet are a bit dated and access to them can be a bit of a pain (think traversing up) particularly with younger kids. Also the rationale in terms of which lifts are open is a bit random for example the whole week we were there, only 2 lifts were operating (except for the last day) whilst Kanko had all the lifts opened in the same period. With all being said, the family still had plenty of fun. The runs that were operating varied from tree lined runs to wide open spaces. Even on the busiest days, queue was max 15 mins and not much crowd to compete with. Lift pass is 1/3 or less of what we paid in Australia and good thing is, you can just buy on the day. The attached town is decent size and have all the amenities you'd need. Definitely worth a return visit.
Akakura Onsen is one of Japan's oldest ski resorts, established in 1937, and is uniquely situated on Mount Myoko in Niigata Prefecture. It combines world-class powder snow with natural hot springs (onsen) right at the base, allowing skiers to soak in therapeutic waters after hitting the slopes. The resort receives over 13 meters of annual snowfall and offers stunning views of the Japan Sea.
Akakura Onsen features 17 courses across 45 hectares of skiable terrain, with a vertical drop of 889 meters from the summit at 1,500m to the base at 611m. The resort caters to all skill levels with 40% beginner slopes, 40% intermediate, and 20% advanced terrain. It's connected to Akakura Kanko Resort, effectively doubling the available skiing area for lift ticket holders.
Akakura Onsen is renowned for its exceptional powder snow quality due to its location in Japan's heavy snowfall region. The resort typically operates from mid-December through early April, with peak conditions from January to March. The area receives consistent snowfall thanks to cold Siberian air masses picking up moisture from the Japan Sea, creating ideal dry powder conditions.
The resort offers several authentic hot spring facilities, including the historic Akakura Hotel's onsen which has been operating since 1937. Day-use onsen facilities are available at multiple locations including Hotel Korakuen and Akakura Kanko Hotel. These natural hot springs are rich in sulfur and other minerals, believed to help with muscle recovery and skin health after skiing.
Akakura Onsen is approximately 4.5 hours from Tokyo and 3.5 hours from Osaka by train and bus combination. The most common route involves taking the JR Joetsu Shinkansen to Nagano, then transferring to local trains to Myoko Kogen Station, followed by a short bus ride. During peak season, direct bus services operate from Tokyo. The resort also offers shuttle services from nearby accommodations to the slopes.
Probably the most popular ski area in the Myoko area. Akakura Onsen Area is connected with Kanko Area which you can buy a ski pass for both areas. It’s more suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers/snowboarder.
There are ski rental and ski school right at the bottom of the mountain where the Main Street is located. And most restaurants and bars are also there.
It's a quiet "one street" town and at the tail-end of the ski season it's even quieter, seemingly populated by more Australian ski instructors than locals or even tourists. Food choices are limited and did not pass muster for the more discerning taste buds. Ski slopes are definitely very comfortable for the absolute beginner. Runs are relatively short and combined with the leisurely lifts makes for a very relaxed ski experience. It has gorgeous views and with a little bit of investment this town could really light up.
The ski resort is connected to Akakura Kanko which I would suggest purchase combines two mountain tickets else you will fill it too small for one mountain alone. There's a big flat space in the middle of the mountain where the restaurants are.
Akakura Kanko Akakura Onsen ski areas in Myoko are well groomed, long and not crowded at all. And together with nearby Suginohara it’s a magical place to ski and snowboard too. The local food is exceptional.
