Welcome to the Myoko Kogen reviews page. Want to know first hand info about skiing in Myoko Ski Resort? Well, check out the Myoko reviews below.

Write your own Myoko Ski Resort Review!

The crew at World Snowboard Guide has just released their first book on Japan - Snow-search Japan. We will be doing a review for them in the next couple of months, so watch this space. To check out a snippet of what's inside see this page on Myoko entertainment options.

Meanwhile, do you want a free copy? If you have been to Myoko Kogen recently or are going next season write up your own Myoko trip report, journal, photo essay or review in our journal pages. The best report filed by March 31st, 2011 will receive a free copy in their mailbox, so get cracking now and tell us all about your adventures in the Myokokogen snowfields! Consolation prizes of the humourous Japan bio "My Mother is a Tractor" will also be presented. See this years winning report.

For those who didn't get to Myoko Kogen this year and would still like a copy you can order via the WSG shop and enter the code “MYOKOSSJ” during the checkout process. This will give buyers 20% off

Myoko Kogen Ski Resort Reviews - What others say about Myoko

In October 2007 the Myokokogen area was designated by The News Corporation Travel Section as one of the best ski resorts in Japan. It claimed, "Myoko Kogen is a large-scale resort with great snow, numerous runs and a fast, efficient lift and gondola system. The village is connected to three linked resorts: Suginohara, Akakura and Ikenotaira. Akakura is the main area with a good selection of hotels and entertainment. There are natural hot springs in the area." Read more...

In December 2008 it was listed in the world's TOP 10 resorts by The London Telegraph. The author stated that the, "..Japanese have embraced snowboarding culture, leading the way with the sport's innovations. This hidden gem, just two hours from Tokyo on the bullet train, receives 40ft of snow each winter. It offers floodlit terrain parks as well as the unique experience of riding through birch trees. The atmosphere is unmistakably Japanese: most households have mini JCB diggers to clear snow rather than shovels, while a dip in the local hot springs is the perfect way to unwind." Read more...

In the same month Qantas Travel Insider said that Myoko Kogen, "...may well be off the beaten track, but canny skiers know it’s worth the effort. After a 45-minute bus trip from Nagano City, you’ll discover a slice of Japan not yet on the mass-market radar. The snow can be so deep and light that even aficionados of more famous ski destinations rave about its quality. Six ski areas are linked to Myoko Kogen, with plenty of options for off-piste skiing, often in neck-deep snow. Seki Onsen Resort is the perfect place for back-country skiers..." Read more...

The Sydney Morning Herald wrote two reviews of Myokokogen. The first says, "An hour north of Nagano City sits Myoko Kogen in the Niigata prefecture. It is ideal for families, with a mix of terrain suitable for everyone and both Western and Japanese hotel and hostel options. Mt Myoko-San ski area is made up of nine mountains and the area boasts an annual snowfall of 13 metres, as well as stunning lake views and silver-birch trees. The village is known for its onsens and intimate bars as well as more than 40 restaurants and a variety of hotels... " Read more...

The next article from this well known newspaper was even more effusive, "It's a fact of life that Australian skiers are the most adventurous on the planet; find a mountain anywhere on Earth and, without doubt, you will find an Australian who found it before you did. But if you'd like to avoid Australians en masse and have a genuinely Japanese ski holiday, Myoko Kogen could well be your idea of alpine heaven. It is one of Japan's oldest ski resorts and Westerners have yet to infiltrate it fully. It's also where the Japanese Royal family chooses to ski. Although it's not far from the popular ski regions of Shiga Kogen and Hakuba and it boasts more than 14 metres of snowfall a season, Myoko Kogen has traditional Japanese accommodation with few options for nightlife outside soaking in onsen and competitive karaoke competitions with locals, who take their singing very seriously. Skiing here is as far as you can expect from the ''Australianised'' experience you'll have at Niseko. In Myoko Kogen you're still a novelty - I counted only three Australians in a week, two of whom worked there.

You'll also experience uncrowded ski runs on Myoko Kogen's nine mountains, which have everything from steep black runs to easy, wide-open beginner slopes. What's more, the tree runs (just be careful of where you're allowed to go) are well spaced and have deep snow. There's about a kilometre of vertical descent, with some runs more than nine kilometres long." Read more...

' Check out Myoko Kogen accommodation and hotels here!

A travel writer for their rival Sydney Daily Telegraph rated her day at Suginohara as "...the single best day's skiing of my life"

The World Snowboard Guide enthusiastically blogged, "With wide eyes and open mouths we drove through the main street – narrow, snow-covered, shop-lined and truly authentic. After the slightly ‘Aussiefied’ Hakuba, Myoko felt like the heart of Japan....This resort just blew us away. Without a doubt, Akakura became the whole teams most favourite resort in Japan. The freeriding possibilities, along with the great snow, kept us in fits of over-excited hysterics, giggling like Japanese school girls, all day long. So many lines and so little time.This resort just blew us away." Read much more here...

Camilla Stoddart, sports photographer, visited in 2008 and again in 2009. She said, "We went to Myoko and I fell in love with this small and very non-commercialised place instantly. Myoko is one of those undiscovered gems that you don’t want to tell too many people about. It is a real slice of true Japanese skiing with friendly locals, cool wee hang outs, a crazy onsen in the middle of the mountains and amazing pillow line stashes. I will be back to this place!!"

Rabid K9 wrote a now legendary Japan trip report and photo essay on ski.com.au. His began his journey in Akakan Resort, Myoko. "Myoko, to me, now sets the benchmark against which I mentally measure snow in other Honshu areas. It seems reports out of here may underestimate actual falls, especially when compared to well known nearby resorts... You know the day is going to be good when you steam down the untracked main piste with knee deep powder billowing in all directions on your first run. Enjoying the luxury of good lift accessed riding, fresh snow & no crowds...

In summary, I would return to Myoko without hesitation. Huge snowfalls, some decent resorts to warm up in & a host of good solid backcountry. I think Akakura Kanko resort itself may be overrated, but the underated areas around compensate for that. I love the genuine Japanese feel of the place & I'd probaly aim to have a car to explore some more of the out of the way areas..." Read much more...

Smitty 484 wrote us a winning trip journal for us that included these comments, "I decided to head to Ikenotaira for the pow day and it did not disappoint. Like all of the resorts in Myoko there was absolutely no ropes and there were plenty of trees to get in to. I have said this before, but the inbounds stuff at Myoko is not particularly steep, however if you are after easily accessed off-piste tree runs it is great....I really enjoyed the time in Myoko, the resorts were very off-piste friendly, there was lots of snow..the people were really friendly and it wasn't overrun by Aussies."

When asked "What was the best thing you saw?" this Lonely Planet Japan writer enthused, "The best thing I saw was fresh powder at 4pm in the afternoon (in Myoko Kogen)."

This poster enthusiastically proclaims the merits of Myoko over Hakuba, "There is tape. There are boundaries, but NO ONE gives a crap if you go out of bounds or play in the trees. It also has places for hiking and playing in. Again, the policy is, you go out of bounds and we have to rescue you, youll be paying through the nose for it, but otherwise, have a nice day! Myoko is well worth a visit. Unlike Hakuba and Nozawa its totally uncrowded...the lifts are top notch (fast and long), the slopes are beautifully maintained, the powder is epic, and the scenery is spectacular. And dont underestimate how much freedom you have :) Its awesome!...Free pow, freeride, and a tonne of free space."

Lastly (but not at all leastly), Above Below Tours from Taiwan came to Myoko to film a number of promotional videos. One of their many claims was that, "The snow was phenomenal, the food was tasty, and the people were most accommodating. I can't wait to go back!" See one of the videos below:

See our 'Myoko Kogen in the News' forum thread for more links.

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