Myoko

Myoko Suginohara is one of the nine main ski resorts in the larger Myoko Kogen area of Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

• The resort is famous for some of Japan's longest ski runs, with its longest course stretching 8.5 kilometers. This run is mellow and picturesque, ideal for most skiers and snowboarders.
• Suginohara reaches a high maximum elevation of 1855 meters, surpassing both Hakuba Happo One and Nozawa Onsen.
• The broader Myoko Kogen area, including Suginohara, is one of Japan's oldest ski areas. It features three distinct resorts: Myoko Akakura, Myoko Suginohara, and Ikenotaira Onsen.
• Myoko Kogen has approximately 40 lifts across all its resorts.
• The region enjoys an impressive average annual snowfall of 13 meters.
• Myoko Kogen offers diverse terrain: 42% beginner slopes, 41% intermediate, and 17% advanced.
• From central Tokyo, you can reach the Myoko region in about 1.5 hours by shinkansen to Nagano, followed by shuttle buses or local trains. The total journey from Narita Airport takes approximately 4.5 hours.
• Most accommodation is centered in Akakura village, which serves as the central hub for the interconnected resorts.

Lotte Arai Resort is located on the northern outskirts of the Myoko ski area1.

• It is accessible in approximately 2 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen1.
• The resort averages a massive 15 meters of snowfall annually1, offering diverse terrain with an impressive 951 meters of vertical descent1.
• The resort has 5 lifts1.
• The ski terrain breakdown is 25% for beginners, 45% for intermediate, and 35% for advanced skiers1.

Tangram Ski Circus sits on the north-west flank of Mt Madarao in Shinano-machi, Nagano Prefecture, and links directly with neighbouring Madarao Kogen at the summit.

• The compact area packs 14 official courses serviced by five lifts (2 quad chairs, 3 doubles) and delivers a respectable 520 m of vertical—from the 800 m base to the 1,320 m peak.
• Recent seasons have seen Tangram introduce five designated tree-run zones and relax off-piste rules, complementing its wide groomers and gentle beginner slopes.
• A joint “Madarao + Tangram” ticket unlocks a combined 51 courses across the two mountains, all reached via a short crossover lift at the top.
• Frequent Sea-of-Japan storms blanket the north-facing slopes in reliable, dry powder and reward riders with views of Hokushin Gogaku and Lake Nojiri.
• The slopeside Hotel Tangram offers true ski-in/ski-out convenience plus on-site onsen, an indoor pool, restaurants and rental desks—ideal for hassle-free family stays.
• Access is straightforward: about 45 minutes by local bus or taxi from Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and roughly one hour by reservation shuttle from Nagano Station.

Seki Onsen Ski Resort is a boutique, family-run hill in the historic Seki Onsen hot-spring village of Myoko, Niigata Prefecture—about a 30-minute drive northwest of Akakura and 12 km from Myokokogen town.

• It operates just two vintage chairlifts that serve roughly four official runs, delivering 310 m of vertical drop from 900 m to 1,210 m.
• Storms rolling off the Sea of Japan dump an eye-watering 14–16 m of snow each winter (a staggering ~19 m fell in 2021/22), giving Seki legendary powder depth.
• Official trail stats list 20 % beginner, 50 % intermediate and 30 % advanced, but almost the entire mountain is left ungroomed and managed under an open-boundary policy, feeding quick laps through tight trees and sidecountry bowls.
• Public-transit access is simple: Sekiyama Station on the Myōkō Haneuma Line lies 8 km away, with buses or a 10-minute taxi bringing you to the base in about 20 minutes.
• The surrounding Seki Onsen village is dotted with traditional ryokan whose natural hot-spring baths make après-ski soaking effortless.
• Expect a decidedly retro, no-frills vibe—ticket sales from mama-san’s living room and plastic-covered sofas included—which only adds to the resort’s charm.

Myoko Akakura Ski Resort is a key part of the larger Myoko Kogen ski area, located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Myoko Kogen is one of Japan's oldest ski areas and comprises several resorts, with Akakura village serving as the central point for the resort area.

• Specifically, Myoko Akakura often refers to the connected resorts of Akakura Onsen and Akakura Kanko. These are the only connected resorts within Myoko Kogen, offering a significant amount of terrain for all levels.
• The Myoko Kogen area, including Akakura, is renowned for receiving an ample, even "ridiculous," amount of snowfall each year, providing some of the deepest powder in the world. It receives an average annual snowfall of 13 meters across Myoko Kogen generally.
• The terrain at Akakura caters to all skill levels. Beginners can enjoy expansive green runs in the lower areas of Akakura Onsen, while intermediate and advanced riders will appreciate the upper areas of Akakura Onsen and Kanko, which typically offer big powder, steep terrain, and access to backcountry.
• Akakura Kanko Hotel, located directly on the Akakura ski hill, was one of the very first European-style ski resorts in Japan, offering ski-in/ski-out convenience.

Madarao Kogen Snow Resort is a ski resort situated on the border of Niigata and Nagano prefectures.

• The resort consists of two connected resorts, Madarao and Tangram.
• It receives an average annual snowfall of 12 meters.
• Madarao offers 15 lifts, including those in Tangram.
• The ski terrain is divided as 30% beginner, 35% intermediate, and 35% advanced.
• Madarao is particularly known for having the highest number of official tree runs in Japan12 and features 60% ungroomed courses.
• It provides an exciting alternative to larger resorts1 and is considered a small resort that offers many surprises.