Food & Nightlife
The nightlife at
Myoko Kogen is not particularly vibrant, yet it is much more upbeat than many other Japanese ski areas with the range of restaurants and bars being a strong point of Myoko Kogen. Most Japanese visitors have dinner at their hotel as part of their accommodation package, but despite this, the restaurant and bar trade in Myoko Kogen continues to do well with over 50 establishments to choose from.
The traditional bars (izakaya) are the most prevalent; a great spot to mingle with new friends and sample lots of Japanese treats. About half of the bars and restaurants have some form of an English menu. A few have the cafeteria style vending machines with food pictures, whilst others only have Japanese menus. You’ll have the opportunity to use your phrasebook a lot, or at least get really good at smiling and pointing!
Akakura Onsen Restaurants and Nightlife
Akakura Onsen is the hub of food and nightlife in Myoko Kogen with at least 25 restaurants and bars. There are a range of Japanese restaurants including ramen, soba, yakiniku, and udon noodle restaurants as well as izakayas.
Shokudo Koyama is located on the corner at the top of the main street. This cheerful restaurant serves a wide range of Japanese food at really cheap prices. The big bottles of beer are also well priced.
Next door and downstairs are a couple of izakayas; Kei and Hoheto. Both offer great food and a cosy atmosphere, although without any air conditioning the smoke haze can make the rooms feel overly cosy.
Nearby is Sennin Izakaya, tucked down one of the side streets. This tiny bar serves up simple food via an English menu as well as lots of kanpai. The staff don’t speak a word of English but by golly they are really friendly. When we visited they had a short ski instruction video playing with really cheesy music. It was played over and over and over and over –rather funny!
Also at the top of town is the Hunter Bar that serves Japanese food and a few Western options. They have an English menu and free wifi. Once you’ve had a fill of beers or sake, you can head downstairs for a spot of karaoke.
If you’re in need of a fix of western food, head to Restaurant Drane or the over-priced Pomodoro, an Italian pasta and pizza restaurant. The main street also has a few creperies where you can buy savoury crepes, or head there for a decadent dessert after dinner. One of the crepe shops also sells burgers.
The Curry House has a very simple English menu of Indian curry set meals. It’s nothing that exciting. Only go there if you have a desperate craving for an Indian curry.
The only real bar in the western sense of the term is the Love Bar. Whilst the name is rather dubious, this venue can be rather good with some party nights and live DJs.
Akakura Kanko Restaurants
Shin-Akakura doesn’t have a large range of restaurants, so not surprisingly some people staying in this area get a taxi up to Akakura Onsen village.
The magnificent Akakura Kanko Hotel has a couple of very upmarket restaurants. Sorbier offers French a la carte modern creations, whilst Shirakaba provides modern Japanese cuisine. Café Terrace is more casual and suitable for lunch with great pastries, sandwiches and views.
The Castle Bar at the Windsor Hotel is a nice little bar and restaurant. It’s sort of an izakaya with bar snacks, and to add to the atmosphere, the staff sometimes may play their taiko drums.
Other Myoko Kogen Restaurants and Nightlife
Suginohara Ski Resort has lots of day time restaurants as well as some cute izakayas for après drinks. However in the evenings most people retreat to their hotel or pension, and there is really only one evening restaurant in Suginosawa Onsen at the base of the ski area.
Ikenotaira Onsen has about five restaurants, whilst down in Myoko Onsen town there are 20+ bars and restaurants. It’s not a party town, but if you’re into karaoke there are an abundance of bars where you can sing your lungs out.