MYOKO SUGINOHARA
Myoko, Niigata
(0255) 86-6211 www.princehotels.com/en/ski/myoko_kogen.html 1 DAY Adults ¥4,000 TICKET Kids ¥3,000 Dec. 21 - Mar. 30 8:30 - 16:30
Myoko Kogen is simply one of the naturally prettiest ski areas in Japan. Suginohara is part of the Prince Resorts family (although there is no hotel here), and the facilities are well maintained. The runs above the gondola are where advanced skiers and powder hounds will have the most fun, and there are English backcountry guides available. The resort has 16 trails, a terrain park, kids sledding area (ask about kids skiing free), hot springs and six on-hill restaurants. Suginohara also boasts Japan’s longest top-to-bottom, an 8.5-kilometer thigh burner that will test anyone’s meddle if left for the last run of the day. The stunning view of Lake Nojiri below from the gondola makes it worth the trip alone.
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40% 1
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Beginner Lifts
Intermediate Gondola
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Advanced
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Beginner Station Intermediate ACCESS By Train: 120 minutes from Tokyo Station to Myoko Kogen Lifts Gondola By Car: 160 minutes from Tokyo
Advanced
AKAKURA ONSEN
Skiing & Snowboarding
MINAKAMI GUNMA Alpine Lodge Ski & Snowboard Lessons Backcountry tours Snowshoe tours
Longest Course: 8,500m Top Elevation: 1,855m Base Elevation: 731m
Akakura Onsen, Niigata
(0255) 87-2125 www.akakura-ski.com Dec. 14 - Mar. 23 8:30 - 21:00 (17:00 - 22:00)
1 DAY Adults ¥3,900 TICKET Kids ¥2,700
Akakura Ski Resort is located at the bottom of Mt. Myoko and is the largest resort in the Myoko Heights area. The resort has a nice variety of courses as well as powder stashes and some challenging courses on the old “Champions” side of the mountain. The town’s hot springs date back to 1814, and there is no better way to finish off a day on the mountain. The Akakura Resort & Spa sits majestically on the slopes. It’s a great place to stay if you want ski in/ski out luxury. The area averages about 13 meters of snow annually, so there is plenty of fluffy stuff, and it has a pleasant natural beauty. Akakura has a nice variety of courses, but the most challenging runs are on the old “Champions” side of the mountain.
A little-known place awesome for
16
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50% 2 Park
Beginner Lifts
Intermediate Gondola
30% 4
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15 Beginner Advanced (1 hr., 45Intermediate min.), then take courses ACCESS By Train: Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station Lifts10 minutes Gondola the JR Shinetsu Honsen Line to Myoko Kogen Station, then by bus
SEKI ONSEN
Advanced
15
courses
3 4
Longest Top Ele Base E
20% 8
Longest Course: 3,000m Top Elevation: 1,200m Base Elevation: 650m
Seki Onsen, Niigata
(0255) 82-2316 www.sekionsen.com Dec. 14 - May 6 9:00 - 17:00
1 DAY Adults ¥3,500 TICKET Kids ¥2,800
Seki is the highest ski area in the Myoko Kogen area and, even though there are just two lifts, there is access to many powder runs. This is a locals mountain, and they check the weather reports and know when the storms will hit, sometimes dropping one or two meters of new snow overnight. It pays to get up early if you want first tracks. Don’t expect groomers; this is natural terrain and free riding at its finest: tree runs, natural pipes and some good hits.
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Beginner Lifts
Intermediate Gondola
30% 1
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courses Base Ele
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+81-278-72-2811 www.canyons.jp
Longest Course: 1,600m 6 Top Elevation: 1,620m Beginner(1 hr., Intermediate Advanced 45 min.), then courses ACCESS By Train: Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station Gondolaby taxi Base Elevation: 1,000m take the JR Shinetsu Honsen Line to Sekiyama Station,Lifts then 20 min.
CHARMANT HIUCHI
Itoigawa, Niigata
(0255) 61-4588 http://charmant-hiuchi.jp Dec. 6 - May 14 8:30 - 16:30
1 DAY Adults ¥3,800 TICKET Kids ¥2,800
Charmant is a locally owned and operated ski resort most of your friends do not know about but may wish they did. The resort is literally right on the Japan Sea (you can see it from the top lifts) and gets some of the heaviest snow dumps around. It is also a healthy drive from Tokyo (four hours), but is worth the trip if you enjoy short lift lines and uncrowded slopes. There are lots of ungroomed areas and advanced terrain including a 1,000-meter powder course. The proximity to the sea means there is some excellent seafood nearby as well, and you can ski straight through Golden Week.
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20% 1 Park
Beginner Lifts
Intermediate Gondola
20% 1
45% 2
Advanced
35%
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17 Beginner Intermediate From Advanced is inconvenient. courses ACCESS Car access is recommended: Train and bus serviceLifts Gondola Tokyo it takes 4 hours by car, depending on traffic and weather At Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort Below Hikage Area Mos Burger
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T R AV E L E R
www.shirakaba8.com/rental
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Longest Course: 2,700m Top Elevation: 1,009m Base Elevation: 501m
For more Niigata information visit OJ Online (www.outdoorjapan.com)
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