Akakura Kanko
In addition to Akakura Kanko hotels, other accommodation options include lodges and pensions. The Akakura Kanko area is also known as Akakan for short or Shin Akakura (ie new Akakura). The village of Shin Akakura sits at the base of the Akakura Kanko Ski Resort (which is interconnected with Akakura Onsen Ski Resort). There are a small number of restaurants and bars, otherwise it's a 550 metre walk up to the bigger village of Akakura Onsen. Just south (and a little east) of Shin Akakura opposite the golf course is the little hamlet of Higashi Akakura (ie east Akakura) where there are lots of inexpensive lodgings. These require a decent walk to the get to the slopes and it's about 1.5km to get to the start of the Akakura Onsen village. Some lodges offer shuttles.
Akakura Onsen
Akakura Onsen hotels are the most popular accommodation because of the zone's proximity to the majority of the Myoko restaurants and bars and other amenities such as ski and snowboard rental shops, child care, and a snowsports school that offers group lessons. The upper village of Akakura Onsen is very close to many of the slopes of Akakura Onsen Ski Resort (which is ideal for beginners and intermediates), and the lower parts of the village are close to the Chuo chair of Akakura Onsen Ski Resort. The Champion #1 chair lift of Akakura Kanko (Akakan) Ski Resort has now been retired so access to Akakura Kanko is now via the slopes of Akakura Kanko or bus.
Ikenotaira Myoko Accommodation
The village at the base of the
Ikenotaira Ski Resort is called Ikenotaira Onsen, although it's more of a small assortment of pensions, hotels and ryokans than a village. Ikenotaira Onsen only has a limited number of evening dining options, although some of the hotels/penions offer meals. Ikenotaira accommodation offers a quiet spot to stay and unless you’re a beginner and only want to ski at Ikenotaira, it’s best if you have a car or stay at lodging that offers shuttles. The village has a mix of Japanese lodging where very little English is spoken along with renovated western lodges
Myoko Kogen Accommodation
The Myoko area has a large range of accommodation spread across various villages. Myoko Kogen accommodation caters to most budgets and tastes and includes pensions, lodges, and ryokans (Japanese hotels), some with their own onsen. There are plenty of Japanese owned lodgings where you can get some good cultural immersion, although some are rather dated (see the
Japanese accommodation page for an overview of western vs Japanese rooms and the types of lodging typically found at the Japan ski resorts). Myoko has also seen an influx of foreign ownership, so there are lots of renovated lodges with hosts that speak English as their first language, where you can get plenty of support and mingle with other foreigners.
Seki Onsen Hotels
Sekiyama at the base of the
Seki Onsen Ski Resort is cute and traditional and has ryokans and other Japanese style accommodation. And it’s not called Seki “Onsen” for nothing with various onsen hot springs in the ryokan. The Seki Onsen village is very quiet and definitely not for party animals. Seki Onsen is not a common place for westerners to stay, but keen powder hounds who want fresh tracks at Seki Onsen ski resort may want to stay here. Seki Onsen is about a 30 minute drive from the main Myoko village of Akakura Onsen and if you want to visit other ski areas you’ll need a car.
Suginosawa Accommodation
The little Suginosawa Onsen village at the base of
Suginohara ski resort has a small range of accommodation. There are some westernised lodges that are great for mingling with other riders, as well as traditional Japanese pension that are great for some cultural immersion. A pro is that the accommodation is inexpensive and ski-in ski-out or very close to the slopes. There is only one bar/restaurant in the village so most of the lodges provide half-board. If you want to chase powder at ski areas other than Suginohara, you’ll want to have a car because bus transport is somewhat limited and too late in the morning for first lifts. Another potential con is that only private ski and snowboard lessons are possible at Suginohara.