Accommodation
Myoko Kogen Accommodation
The Myoko area has a large range of accommodation spread across various villages and towns. Most budgets and tastes are catered for with accommodation that includes European style hotels, pensions, lodges, and ryokans (Japanese inns), some with their own onsens.
Modern is not a word you’d use to describe most of the Myoko Kogen accommodation, but on the upside it’s largely inexpensive. Rates start at about ¥6,000 per person per night including breakfast and go up to ¥23,500 plus per night (
convert here). Most of the accommodations offer packages that include breakfast and dinner or just breakfast, but there are a few lodgings that only offer the former. Considering the range of interesting restaurants and izakayas in Myoko, it would seem a shame to have dinner at your hotel every night.
There are various Myoko Kogen accommodation options where some of the staff speak English, whilst there are others where no English is spoken at all. And with “Bum House” you are left wondering if the accommodation is owned by ski bums, or whether their grasp of English is NQR!
Accommodation location is very important in Myoko Kogen. Some accommodations are conveniently ski-in ski-out and close to the other action, whilst others are located a shuttle ride away from everything. Choose wisely! Here is a
Myoko Kogen map to aid your quest, and see the
Myoko ski resort page for an overview of the different ski resorts.
Akakura Onsen Accommodation
Akakura Onsen is the most popular accommodation zone for Westerners considering its proximity to the slopes of Akakura Onsen ski resort and the shops, restaurants and bars. Akakura Onsen has plenty of accommodation options to choose from.
Hotel Alp is in the first class range and is ski-in ski-out.
An inexpensive option that offers a great taste of Japan is Kougakuro, a ryokan with its own onsens including a rotenburo (open air onsen). The majority of rooms are Japanese style, and some have private bathrooms. A couple of the staff speak fluent English, and all are delightfully friendly. The slopes are only a 3 minute walk away and many of the restaurants are only a one minute walk.
Akakura Kanko Accommodation (Akakan aka Shin-Akakura)
The centrepiece of Akakura Kanko is the striking Akakura Kanko Hotel that sits majestically up in the middle of the ski area. This European style hotel is the ultimate in ski-in ski-out luxury where well heeled Japanese head to be pampered. Rooms are either Western or Japanese style and many have their own private outdoor onsen. Facilities include other onsens, a swimming pool, and grand restaurants and lounge bars.
In a completely different league is Hotel Moc which is located across the street from Akakan ski area at the base of Akakura Onsen town. Rates are about 7000 yen per person per night including breakfast based on double occupancy.
Further away from the main action in Shin-Akakura is Windsor Hotel. This seems to be a popular place for travel agents to put international guests, but it’s rather inconveniently located. It’s a 5 minute walk down the road from the main base of Akakura Kanko and the hotel is not close to the hub of restaurants and bars. However it has childcare, so if you’ve got wee ones, the convenience factor suddenly increases rapidly.
Even further away is Canadian House, another popular spot for Westerners. This pension is very friendly, but the downside is that you’ll need to use the shuttle bus system a lot.
Suginohara Accommodation in Suginosawa Onsen
The Suginosawa Onsen village at the base of Suginohara ski resort has a range of accommodation. Typically westerners don’t stay here so this might be a great place if you really want some cultural immersion. Many of the pensions and lodges are ski-in ski-out.
Soratobu Usagi Myoko (meaning rabbit flying in the sky!) is smack bang in the middle of the ski area. This little lodge has western and Japanese rooms as well as self-contained cottage accommodation. Lodge Beetle is only accessible via the owners’ snowcat and is a great relaxing spot. Pension Puruku is also ski in ski out and is a cosy spot to stay.
Seki Onsen Accommodation
Seki Onsen is not a typical place for westerners to stay, but keen powderhounds who want fresh tracks at Seki Onsen ski resort may choose to find accommodation here. Uguisu no Hatsune Ryokan in Seki Onsen is a Japanese inn with plenty of character and an open air onsen.
Tsubame Onsen accommodation is also nearby.
Other Myoko Kogen Accommodation
The base of Ikenotaira ski resort has a few hotels, and the town of Myoko Kogen down near Myoko Kogen station has a range of accommodation options. Myoko Kogen town has the disadvantage of not being close to the ski areas, but has the advantage of very inexpensive lodgings and an abundance of karaoke bars.