Whether you’d like a rest day from snowboarding/skiing through bottomless Japow snow, or because there’s too much snow (yes that’s a thing in Myoko) or perhaps you’re visiting with friends or family, who are very keen to get onto the mountain, but you’re actually here to relax and have a holiday.
The list is mostly for when the snow in Myoko isn’t plentiful though, you’re not that keen on hiking in the backcountry or going to the park. Here’s a list of 10 activities that you can do when the weather conditions aren’t very good or you’d just like a rest day (not all of the below are rest day activities though).
Whether you’re staying in Akakura Onsen, Shin-Akakura, Ikenotaira or in Suginosawa. You may need to rent a car to go to get to some of these areas around the Myoko area. Or at least have access to the local train station at Myoko Kogen. If you don’t want to drive, you could kindly ask your hotel/lodge to help you out on how to get there.
A little shameless promotion, but seriously come to along to a yoga class! Yes, you may feel stiff, it doesn’t matter, you’ll benefit even more if you can’t touch your toes. I teach beginner Yoga lessons, where you’ll get to relax, move your body, breathe, feel a little less sore after skiing/snowboarding and a whole lot more zen.
Natural Hot Springs go hand in hand with the skiing experience in Japan. The onsen source is usually close to the village, the natural minerals have many health benefits and a long soak in a bath can seriously make a world of different to your sore body, to recover from a big day on the mountain.
It really is a must if you’re visiting Myoko, or if you’re in Japan, this is very much a part of Japanese culture and it’s the best. You just have to get past the awkwardness of being naked, just remember you were born naked.
Also if you need some tips on how to onsen, here’s a blog I wrote to ease your anxieties or certain questions you have had, click here to read more. I’ve also listed my favourite Onsens in Myoko.
Price from ￥350-￥5,000
Here’s a very thorough list of all the onsen from the Myoko tourism website:
https://myokotourism.com/onsen/
Naena Taki, or Neana Waterfall, is one of the green season assets of the Myoko area. It is a little hidden away, near Suginohara Ski resort, at the end of Suginosawa village and at the border of Nagano Prefecture. I would recommend going to this via a guide (link below) or with someone who has been there before. The Myoko Kogen Visitor Centre, rents out both snowshoes or cross country skis for only ￥1,000. You’ll definitely need these, as it gets very snowy all the way into May in the valley below the waterfall.
The best time to go is on a sunny day, the walk from the top of the road, takes about 45 minutes in all one way. You can always bring some food with you, picnic once you’re at the waterfall before walking back, please make sure tot take all your rubbish with you though.
Myoko’s deep powder isn’t just great for skiing and snowboarding, the abundant snow also creates delicious rice, Niigata is well known for its yummy rice and also its delicious Sake. I’ve even been to Sushi restaurants in fancy parts of Tokyo, where they serve Niigata sake.
You can go to a local Sake Brewery for a tour, which I would highly recommend, as Kimi no I is one of the best sakes in the Myoko area.
For more information and bookings:
https://myokotourism.com/kimi-no-i/
Snowmobiling is fun and it isn’t just for the boys, ladies you can totally also try this experience. I’ve had the chance to ride a snowmobile a few years back and it is a really fun experience, although much like snowboarding/skiing powder, snowmobiling through powder snow definitely requires a higher set of skills. There’s a few places that you can snowmobile at, I’ve listed a them below and take your pick.
￥3,000 – ￥40,000
Suginohara Ski Resort
https://myokotourism.com/myoko-snowmobile-land/
Hikari Ga Hara
https://coubic.com/neverlandlws/219083
Yuki Bancho Rental
https://japow.japaho.com/en/snowmobiletour/
Cat touring is probably not a day off activity, but it could be a good option for finding untouched terrain, as it’s a little further away from the Myoko area.
A cat will take you up the mountain, in a small group, you’ll get to ride/ski 5-7 runs, The tour includes a guide, transfer from the base of the village to the CAT tour case and lunch is included. For bookings, use the contact form on the link below.
Minimum 6 people, Max 12 people.
Cost: ￥43,000 per person
I would highly recommend to see the snow monkeys. Although they are called snow monkeys, they‘re there all year, but in winter, you’ll get to have the real snow monkey experience. In winter monkeys tend to prefer to bathe in the onsen, which is very cute. Also if you go in the peak of winter late December – early February (depending on the snow conditions), you’ll also be able to see the monkeys in the snow.
The monkeys are used to humans, they almost seem to be like instagram celebrities, with tourists flocking to take pictures of them. I also really enjoy the walk to the Jigokudani park area, through the woods. Make sure to wear appropriate footwear, as it is a walk through the forest and it can be quite snowy or muddy.
If you would like to see the monkeys but can’t really be bothered, there’s a live streaming, link below:
http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/livecam2/video_en.php
To see the snow monkeys, if you haven’t hired a car, either your lodge/hotel could book you onto a tour. Or you can make your own way via Nagano City, by bus or train from Myoko Kogen station.
Takada is a city in Myoko, near to Joetsu, with an old castle with its surrounding moats and gardens. If you’re not driving there, you can get there by train from Myokokogen Station to Takada Station, its about a 20 minute walk.
If you’re lucky enough to be here in Spring, April is the ‘hanami’, cherry blossom viewing season, there are thousands of sakura (cherry blossom) trees around the park, with lots of stalls selling all sorts of Japanese street foods. I would recommend to come in the late afternoon, around sunset and catch the illumination of the blossoms, where the trees are covered in fairy lights once nighttime comes around.
I haven’t been, but there is a 107 year old cinema in the middle of Takada, called Takadanosekaikan Cinema where they show movies from all over the world.
There’s also plenty of nice Japanese restaurants to visit, if you’d like some sushi, here’s the link, there’s a restaurant close to the station with parking.
Togakushi is a national park area connected to Myoko, in Nagano Prefecture. The temple is located at the top of the hill, where you first have to walk through ancient cedar trees lined up along the path, to get to the temple. This is a lovely walk, you may want to take some snowshoes or wear your snowboard gear. Its a lovely area, where you can get some amazing photos next to the huge trees. There’s a soba restaurant at the bottom of the path if you’d like a bite to eat. There’s also Togakushi Ski Resort nearby, where you’ll be the only westerner there. It’ll be like what Myoko was like 5 years ago!
The temple city of Nagano held the Olympics in 1998, this created a great boost to the local ski resorts of this prefecture next to Myoko’s Niigata Prefecture. Nagano seemed like a empty city the first time I visited it for my birthday a few years ago in January.
I have since worked in the city, over the summer and discovered that it is a lot more lively that I first thought.
You must visit Zenkoji Temple, Nagano City developed around this 7th Century Buddhist temple.
You can visit the temple, get a Mikuji, a fortune, make a prayer. Tip: visit the underground passage, in the inner chambers of Zenkoji Temple, to search for the “key to paradise” in total darkness.
The streets in front of the temple are lined with shops, still in keeping with a traditional Japanese architecture in parts, while near Nagano Station, the city is more modern and has various shops and restaurants tucked away in little streets.
I would highly recommend to walk through the little streets, up to Zenkoji temple, find second hand shops, 100 yen shops, cool coffee shops like Foret Coffee, restaurants, record shops
Want to ride / ski better, for longer? Get access to free yoga sequences, to help you, warm up and relax before an amazing day on the mountain.