This is the third time we’ve visited Myoko Kogen in the past 5 years and we’ve seen it change significantly. Five years ago there were only a handful of foreigners visiting Myoko, 2 years ago the increased numbers of gaijin were only apparent in the restaurants at night, whilst in 2016 there were lots of westerners. This is no great surprise considering what Myoko has on offer including pros such as group ski lessons in English (a rarity at Japanese ski resorts) and small villages.

Myoko is still a great pick for most looking for a ski holiday and it snows a mighty lot, but it’s lost some of its appeal for powder hounds, in part due to the increased numbers hitting the powder (oh well, onto new places!!). At Akakura ski area the patrollers had become distinctively anal about off-piste riding and were pulling tickets (although it was still possible to find freshies), whilst Seki Onsen was over-run with powder rodents and there were lift lines. Whilst freshies disappear quickly now in the obvious areas at the main ski resorts, Myoko still has plenty of fresh powder opportunities in the sidecountry and backcountry. Also Myoko makes a great base to explore various nearby resorts where fresh powder is a little more plentiful.

With the influx of gaijin, Myoko has lost a little of its Japanese feel (but there's still plenty of it) and the restaurants are more expensive now (but still very reasonable), but the upside is that it’s become much easier for English speak travellers now. Another huge advantage of the many western travellers is that Myoko is looking more financially viable now. A few years ago, the situation looked pretty dire with some lifts closing and some hotels boarded up and things generally looking bleak.

See the Myoko overview page for more of our thoughts on the pros and cons of Myoko Kogen.
See our video here