Akakura Onsen

http://www.powderhounds.com/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/images/Japan/Akakura/01.jpg
Myoko Akakura
Myoko Akakura
Akakura Myoko is renowned for the abundant powder
Akakura Myoko is renowned for the abundant powder
Snow piles up on the streets of Akakura Onsen
Snow piles up on the streets of Akakura Onsen
Akakura Onsen has lots of cute eateries
Akakura Onsen has lots of cute eateries
Akakura Kanko Ski Resort Myoko
Akakura Kanko Ski Resort Myoko
The Main Street of Akakura Onsen on a snowy night
The Main Street of Akakura Onsen on a snowy night
Akakura Kanko Ski Resort Myoko
Akakura Kanko Ski Resort Myoko
Night skiing at Akakura Onsen Ski Resort
Night skiing at Akakura Onsen Ski Resort
There
There's nothing particularly steep on-piste
Akakura Onsen has the best restaurants of Myoko
Akakura Onsen has the best restaurants of Myoko
The dominating Mt Myoko
The dominating Mt Myoko
Plenty of mellow runs for beginners
Plenty of mellow runs for beginners
Akakura snow - plenty of powder!
Akakura snow - plenty of powder!
Akakura Myoko
Akakura Myoko
Akakura skiing includes some nice trees
Akakura skiing includes some nice trees
A crepe is a must-do in Akakura Onsen
A crepe is a must-do in Akakura Onsen
The lift infrastructure at Akakan is very good
The lift infrastructure at Akakan is very good
The base of Akakura Kanko Ski Resort
The base of Akakura Kanko Ski Resort
Plenty of low-gradient groomed runs
Plenty of low-gradient groomed runs
The hooded quad chairs are a godsend on snowy days
The hooded quad chairs are a godsend on snowy days

Akakura Onsen

Readers Ratings

Akakura

Akakura4/54
Akakura4 out of 5 based on 4 reviews
  • Recommend
    75%
  • Would Revisit
    75%

Myoko Akakura

Akakura is made up of two interconnected ski areas: Akakura Onsen Ski Resort to the lookers’ right; and Akakura Kanko ski resort aka Akakan to the lookers’ left. The combined Akakura Ski Resort is considered by many to be the resort of Myoko Kogen because it sits above the main village (Akakura Onsen) where most people stay, it is the largest of the Myoko ski areas, and it has the most developed ski resort facilities and services.

Pros and Cons of Akakura

Pros 
  • Myoko Akakura (the combined Akakura Onsen Ski Resort and Akakura Kanko Ski Resort) is the largest ski area of the Myoko Kogen ski resorts.
  • There aren’t that many Japanese ski resorts with a proper village and Akakura Onsen is the largest and the only “real” village of Myoko Kogen. The Akakura Onsen village also has the most restaurants and bars of the Myoko Kogen villages.
  • The Akakura Ski Resort is readily accessible from the Akakura Onsen village.
  • Like the other Myoko ski areas, it receives abundant snow.
  • Akakura is very well suited to beginners and intermediate riders.
  • Akakura Kanko offers some very good slackcountry and backcountry access.
  • A reputable English speaking ski school and child care facility is based here.
Cons
  • As is common with most Japanese ski resorts, there is very little in the way of challenging piste terrain and much of the off-piste is not particularly steep (although it’s pitchier than Ikenotaira).
  • Ski patrol are very old fashioned and can get antsy about off-piste skiing, particularly if it involves crossing a lift line.
  • In-bounds freshies disappear quickly.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
  • Akakura caters very well to gaijin, with group ski lessons and child care with English speaking staff, many of the restaurants have English menus, and many of the lodgings have various staff that speak English. Akakura is still a cute little village with plenty of Japanese vibe, but associated with the Anglophone benefits comes a loss of the traditional Japanese-ness of the place.
  • The lift infrastructure at Akakan is good by Japanese standards but the number of lifts continues to shrink, and in 2022 a key access lift at Kanko closed.

Myoko Akakura Ski Areas

“Myoko Akakura” refers to the two adjacent ski areas of Akakura Onsen and Akakura Kanko. You can purchase a lift ticket for one or the other resort, or for a few more yen, you can purchase the Akakura Kanko/Onsen combined pass. This is particularly handy if your Myoko accommodation is much closer to one of the areas but you want to ride the other.

Combined, the Myoko Akakura ski areas have 20 lifts and 27 courses.

See the Akakura skiing page for more information.

Akakura Snow

Like the rest of Myoko Kogen, Akakura has a reputation for scoring lots of pow. For the 2021-22 season, Myoko received a whopping 17 metres (671”) of snow for the season! With respect to quality, the Akakura snow is generally very good to excellent rather than being phenomenal.

Where is Akakura?

Akakura is the main hub of the Myoko Kogen area for visitors. The Akakura Kanko base area is 4.3km from the Myokokogen train station, whilst the Akakura Onsen Ski Resort base area is another 0.9km up the road. The two ski resorts sit on Maeyama (front mountain) on the eastern flank of the dominating Mt Myoko. Ikenotaira Ski Resort sits 3.5km south of Akakura whilst Seki Onsen is directly to the north, although it’s about a 30 minute drive to get there.

Myoko Kogen is located in the Niigata Prefecture close to the Nagano Prefecture, and the city of Nagano is only 31km to the south.

From the Tokyo Haneda or Narita Airport you can get a shuttle to Akakura or a train/bus combo with Nagano Snow Shuttle. See the travel to Myoko Kogen page for more information on the location of Myoko and options to get there.

Akakura Accommodation

Most visitors to Myoko Kogen stay in the Akakura villages, in either the lower village of Akakura Kanko (Shin Akakura), or Akakura Onsen (slightly further up the hill) which has a higher concentration of shops, restaurants and bars.

Akakura Onsen Accommodation - Upper Village Listings

Akakura Kanko Accommodation - Lower Village Listings


Most of the Akakura accommodation consists of hotels and inns (some with onsen) as well as lodges with communal lounges. There are a small number of self-contained accommodation options. As the Akakura Onsen is the most popular place to stay in Myoko, it’s not surprising that accommodation in this area books up quickly.
Tours in/Near Akakura Onsen

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

Pow Pow Japan Tour
HOSTED GROUP PACKAGE PRIVATE TOUR
Cultural Ski & Snowboard Adventure
Ability: Beginner to Expert
Ski Japan's famous powder in conjunction with a rich cultural experience on this hosted tour. The tour is hosted by a local Japanese person who speaks fluent English; whilst the focus of the tours is primarily snow sports, you will experience the culture, food & festivities beyond the normal ski/snowboard adventure.
Price p/p From price based per person on 8-day sample itinerary, twin-share room (group of 6).
Base/invoice currency is in Japanese Yen inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,161
View Details
 
Myoko to Hakuba Backcountry
GUIDED LIFT ASSISTED BACKCOUNTRY TOUR
8 Nights | 9 Days
Ability: Advanced to Expert
This lift assisted backcountry tour takes in Myoko, Nozawa Onsen & Hakuba & is ideal for advanced to expert backcountry skiers and split boarders. These 3 areas are known for deep snow & epic tree skiing. Join as a solo, couple or small group; max 8 guests per tour.
Price p/p Price per person based on 2025 tours
USD 4,699
View Details
 
See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Akakura here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Japow Experience
GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY & LIFT ACCESS
9 Nights | 10 Days | 8 Skiing/Riding | 7 Resorts
Ability: Advanced to Expert
If you are an advanced skier or snowboarder & don't mind a bit of hiking & are looking to experience deep, deep powder in & around Myoko Kogen then this tour could be for you.
Price p/p
USD 3,140
View Details
 
Myoko Powder Tour
HOSTED & GUIDED TOURS
7 Nights | 6 Days Lifts | 5 Mornings Guiding
Ability: Intermediate to Advanced
Get the best out of Myoko Kogen and nearby ski resorts and chase the powder with a Myoko Kogen Powder Tour. This tour includes quality accommodation in a great location, transport to nearby ski areas & morning guide. Tours runs Saturday to Saturday.
Price p/p Sample price based on twin/double-share option with shared bathroom, 7 nights for the 24/25 season.
Base/invoice currency is in AUD inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,678
View Details
 
Gozan Myoko Guiding
GUIDED LIFT-ACCESS RESORT & BACKCOUNTRY
5 Days | Guiding Only
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Multi-day guiding for 5 days at Myoko & surrounding areas with an experienced guide to explore the lift-accessed backcountry and/or go backcountry touring. PRIVATE GROUPS ONLY of up to 4 people. Single day guiding is also possible.
Price p/p Price per person based on private group of 4 people for 5 days of guiding in 2025. Single day guiding is ¥120,000 per day for up to 4 people
USD 935
View Details
 
See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Akakura here

Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area Tours

Myoko Private Lessons
SKI OR SNOWBOARD LESSONS
Half or full day lessons
Ability: Beginner to Advanced
Improve your skiing or snowboarding technique whilst exploring the Myoko ski areas. The snowsports lessons can be for just an individual or your private group of up to 6 people (ie you can’t join a mixed group lesson). Sample price is for a morning lesson, assuming 2 people in your group.
Price p/p Based on morning 3 hour lesson for 2024-25. Price per person assuming 2 people in the group.
Base/invoice currency is Japanese Yen
Displayed price might vary slightly due to exchange rate fluctuations
USD 119
View Details
 
Myoko Resort Guiding
RESORT GUIDING
Half or full day private guiding
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Advanced
If you're a first-timer to Myoko, let a guide show you around the powder stashes at the Myoko ski areas for a half day or full day. PRIVATE GROUPS only (ie you can't join a group). Sample price is for a morning guiding session, assuming 6 people in your group.
Price p/p Based on morning 3 hour guiding session. Price per person assuming 6 people in the group.
Base/invoice currency is Japanese Yen
Displayed price might vary slightly due to exchange rate fluctuations
USD 40
View Details
 
See all Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area tours that visit Akakura here

Ski & Snowboard Camp Tours

NZSIA Ski Instructors Course
LEVEL-1 SKI INSTRUCTOR COURSE
5 Days Instruction | 6 Days Lifts | 7 Nights Lodging
Ability: Intermediate to Advanced
Come and ride in Japan as a solo or with a couple of mates and achieve your level 1 NZSIA ski instructors certificate. Professional NZSIA qualified coach, great accommodation & more...
Price p/p Price per person based on bed in a shared room (max 3 per room) for 2025
Base/invoice currency is Japanese Yen
Displayed price might vary slightly due to exchange rate fluctuations
USD 2,033
View Details
 
NZSIA Snowboard Instructors Course
LEVEL-1 SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR COURSE
5 Days Instruction | 6 Days Lifts | 7 Nights Lodging
Ability: Intermediate to Advanced
Come and ride in Japan as a solo or with a couple of mates and achieve your level 1 NZSIA snowboarding instructors certificate. Professional NZSIA qualified coach, great accommodation & more...
Price p/p Based on bed in a shared room (max 3 per room)
Base/invoice currency is Japanese Yen
Displayed price might vary slightly due to exchange rate fluctuations
USD 2,033
View Details
 
See all Ski & Snowboard Camp tours that visit Akakura here
200