Myoko Lift Passes

[BHB]

Hi, am more than a little surprised to hear that you cannot ski Akakura Onsen and Akakura Kanko on one lift pass. Is this correct? As far as I can see they are side-by-side, even overlapping, on the one slope. What happens if you end up at the bottom of the wrong run, do you have to buy another lift pass to get back up? Are there enough runs on either AO or AK for a few days or is it just too small for advanced skiers? Can you direct me to a map that clearly shows which trails belong to AO and which to AK. This is looking like a disadvantage of coming to Akakura  . You advice would be appreciated. Regards.

[myokoguy]

Hi BHB, When you're on the mountain the delineation between the two resorts is quite clear. There's only two trails that join the two so you will know when you're crossing over. I do it every now and then at the end of the day if I'm at shin-aka and want to get to the village. It's not that far to walk along the road (in snowboard boots - not ski boots!) or easy to catch a bus. You can spend a day in shin-aka (akakura kanko) no problem. Check out the new Akakura Kanko page and click on the map link. The yellow line show the boundary.

[Hawker]

They are two different resorts. If you don't want to pay for two lift tickets, then, yeah, I wouldn't go down the wrong path. Here's Akakura Onsen.  http://akakura-ski.com?There are combined tickets that won't cost what getting lost will cost, but to tell the truth, Akakura Kanko has some of the longest runs in Japan and a lot of forest runs. I never get over to Onsen much.

[myokoguy]

Sorry for some confusion. 

My wife just told me that the official name is Akakura Kanko Resort Ski Area but all the locals call it Shin-Akakura (which is what I've always called it). Tickets will cover both Akakura Kanko and Akakura Champion. The map is here: http://www.akr-ski.com/english/images/gelandemap_large.gif

Following recent mergers Akakura Onsen now also includes Akakura Chuo, Kumado and a couple of other smaller areas. A day ticket will set you back Y3,900. The website is http://akakura-ski.com/ and the guide map (in Japanese) is here: http://akakura-ski.com/gelande/index.html

There is a shuttle bus that runs between Akakura, Ikenotaira and Suginohara so you won't run out of options.

Right, I better go split and update the pages...

[BHB]

Thank you guys. I have to confess I am still a little confused (not being able to read Japanese doesn't help of course!).

Myokoguy - I have found the map with the yellow line so can see when we would be "crossing over".  I am assuming it is Onsen to the right and Kanko to the left - is that correct? But is the "shin-aka" you refer to, the Kanko or Onsen? Which is the village side?  ....Woops - while I was typing a message has come up with your new reply, thank you to your wife for answering my question about shin-aka!

Hawker, thanks for the link. Sounds like Kanko is the place to ski. But I have put your link to Akakura Onsen in Google translator and it has come up with the good news that I am now a senior - has to be some advantage to being old(-er)! Our "children" can buy their own lift tickets!

We are staying at Hotel Taiko - do either of you know where that would be relative to the yellow line?

Many thanks for all your help.

[BHB]

Hawker, think your link has changed. Under the new site link I am no longer a senior! Was that old link (http://wt-mogami.com/aka-spa/index.html) to a different resort altogether? As you can see I am still confused!

Would be able to point me to the Hotel Taiko on either http://www.akr-ski.com/english/images/gelandemap_large.gif or http://akakura-ski.com/gelande/index.html  - I will hopefully be able to get some idea of the layout.

I also have this map at http://www9.plala.or.jp/aoyamasports/aoyama/englishmap.htm which shows the hotels, but not in relation to the Kanko and Onsen lift systems.

Sorry to keep asking about this, but do appreciate the help.

[pikaski]

Hey BHB, Just scoped dat aoyama link. Yeah, sorry to tell you, Taiko is in the aka onsen area. Nice n central though. Easy to get a bus down to other places after yoiu dun aka onsen/kumado for a day or two.

dat moigami thing. it's in Yamagata. no wher near myoko. names right but not the place

[myokoguy]

I see Pika has been typing in while I busily prep the new pages - should be online later tonight

You'll still get senior discount BHB (if 60 or over) - See here and look for "" A one day ticket will be 2,700 yen

Go to the coupon page and you'll see that you'll get lift, lunch and discount coupon for only 2,800 yen.

Sorry, I amended that link of Hawkers. As Pikaski said it's for a place in Yamagata Prefecture. It does confuse  sometimes as there's even an Akakura Onsen train station there.

[BHB]

Thank you all for explaining the differences between the resorts. And MG you must have been up all night re-doing those pages. That is great. Many, many thanks. Looking forward to mid-January in Myoko!
PS Not a senior (yet) at Akakura, but was at the Yamagata resort!

[BHB]

Forgot to change from  to  .

[myokoguy]

No problemo BHB,

Snow will be awesome by mid-Jan. Already getting a good base. The snow depth report http://myoko-nojiri.com/weather.htm is showing 110cm already. Not sure about that but some of the resorts are gearing up to open in the next two weeks or so. Sometimes we don't have any snow on the ground at Christmas so it looks like we're in for a great season.

Let us know if you have any other questions. If you can please put a report up after you get back and keep spreading the word. 

Cheers, MG

[Hawker]

OOps! Didn't know there was an Akakura in Yamagata
Nice map, thouh, eh?
Here's some off piste hints http://www.hawkandhare.com/attractions.html#anchor_54
This map has Kanko (shinAka) on the left and Onsen on the right. Your hotel is a bit down and right of Onsen. You'll have good access to night skiing at Onsen's Kumado lift. And in the heart of the village. Some karaokes, an Italian place, a curry shop. Not Times Square, to be sure.

[grazza]

I'm staying at Hotel Alp which is in Akakura Onsen I believe? The tourist office said we can buy a Myoko big-4 pass which will let us ride both resorts, but is a bit more expensive. Is this worth doing? And why don't they just combine?

[myokoguy]

Well, everyone to their own but I think it's far more value just to buy the discount coupons (get coupons online - see the links at the Akakura Onsen and Akakura Kanko pages on the main site - or at the tourist office, or buy them at the local 7-11). You can easily spend a day at one resort without having to go to the other.

As for merging, they have already boiled about 6-7 small areas down to two and Tsubame Onsen Ski Area has closed. Given the current economy a further merger may happen down the road. It would definitely make things easier.

Good luck!
MG

[grazza]

Yeah I saw the coupons but not speaking Japanese I couldn't work out what was what. Can anyone enlighten me?