Discover Myoko Kogen, Japan: A Hidden Gem For Skiing, Culture, And Culinary Delights In 2025

Published on September 15, 2025

Japan, pinch its heavy snow-covered mountains and rich | skis culture, is accelerated becoming a top destination for ski enthusiasts astir nan world. Among nan galore renowned resorts, Myoko Kogen stands retired for its rich | history, abundant snowfall, and heavy relationship to some accepted Japanese hospitality and modern-day adventure. Unlike nan much commercialized resorts for illustration Niseko and Hakuba, Myoko Kogen offers a much friendly acquisition for those seeking pristine snow, taste immersion, and a unsocial atmosphere. As nan 2025 skis season approaches, Myoko Kogen continues to allure some seasoned skiers and newcomers to nan slopes pinch its blend of accepted charm and modern conveniences.

Myoko Kogen: A Historical Ski Destination pinch Fresh Ideas

Situated successful Niigata and Nagano, Myoko Kogen is 1 of Japan’s oldest skis resorts, renowned for its 14 meters of snowfall each year. For complete half a century, it has attracted visitors to its snowy hills and long, steep skis runs, nan longest and steepest successful Japan. While it whitethorn not tie nan aforesaid monolithic crowds arsenic places for illustration Hakuba aliases Niseko, Myoko Kogen remains a beloved destination for those successful nan know, offering a quieter, much authentic experience.

The charm of Myoko Kogen lies not only successful its unthinkable snowfall but besides successful its relationship to nan local culture and history. Skiing present intends much than conscionable gliding down slopes; it’s astir immersing oneself successful nan surrounding organization and culture. AIR Myoko, a seven-room ryokan opened successful precocious 2018, is simply a premier illustration of this philosophy. Nestled connected nan separator of Akakura Onsen village, this ryokan was reimagined by Australian mates Nana Kazama and Liam Mugavin, who brought their ain unsocial imagination and expertise to nan Japanese skis edifice scene.

AIR Myoko: Where Australian Hospitality Meets Japanese Tradition

For those looking for a unique and cozy retreat successful Myoko Kogen, AIR Myoko offers nan cleanable operation of modern design and accepted Japanese elements. This ryokan is dissimilar immoderate other, blending Japanese taste touches specified arsenic tatami rooms, shoji screens, and stone basins pinch Australian hospitality influences, particularly successful nan cautiously crafted communal areas. The ryokan’s onsen (hot outpouring bath) pinch views complete nan slopes adds an other furniture of relaxation to nan experience.

The dining experience astatine AIR Myoko is conscionable arsenic remarkable. Liam Mugavin, an Adelaide furnishings maker who moved to Japan to thatch English and snowboard connected weekends, designed nan communal eating table utilizing section timber. This serves arsenic a abstraction wherever guests tin enslaved complete freshly prepared meals, often created by artists-in-residence who sojourn nan ryokan to stock their culinary skills. This collaboration betwixt section and world chefs results successful a perpetually evolving paper that highlights nan champion of Niigata’s location ingredients.

Unique Culinary Experiences astatine AIR Myoko

Over nan past fewer seasons, nan room astatine AIR Myoko has hosted respective salient chefs, including Sydneysider Joel Bennetts and Luke Burgess. One of nan much notable chefs to grace nan room was Peadar Lewis, an Irish-born cook who spent nan wintertime of 2024 grilling eggplants for illustration pieces of eel and preparing dry-aged katsuo pinch binchotan charcoal. The unsocial dishes often item nan usage of section ingredients specified arsenic kanzuri (a snow-fermented chili paste) and local tofu utilized successful house-made focaccia.

Despite its comparatively mini scale, AIR Myoko has proven that it tin harvester fine dining pinch a laid-back atmosphere, creating a welcoming environment for some skiers and food lovers. Guests tin bask meals prepared by chefs while looking retired astatine nan mountains, often indulging successful delicious dishes that bespeak nan region’s culinary heritage.

The Food Scene successful Myoko Kogen

The eating options successful Akakura Onsen, nan colony nearest to AIR Myoko, widen beyond nan ryokan. For a much casual experience, nan Udon nary Fu noodle edifice is simply a section favorite, offering delicious bowls of udon that visitors committedness by. For those successful hunt of a much rustic meal, Yakitori Asagao serves up immoderate of nan finest skewers successful nan area, though booking a array tin beryllium a challenge.

For those aft thing wholly different, nan Kebab 501 Igloo offers a one-of-a-kind acquisition pinch hearty kebabs and reggae music that gives a playful touch to lunchtime connected nan slopes. Even person to nan skis lifts is Krone, a café that specializes successful hot canine pretzels—a quirky but satisfying luncheon action for skiers looking for thing speedy and filling earlier heading backmost to nan slopes.

Skiing and Adventure Beyond nan Slopes

The entreaty of Myoko Kogen isn’t conscionable constricted to skiing. The surrounding villages and landscapes connection visitors a chance to acquisition traditional Japan astatine a slower pace. AIR Myoko hosts a scope of workshops and taste activities passim nan year, from art courses to skiing retreats, ensuring that nan acquisition extends beyond conscionable nan wintertime months.

For those willing successful outdoor adventure, Myoko Kogen offers much than conscionable its celebrated skis runs. Guests tin besides return portion successful snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, and different wintertime sports. With its surrounding nationalist parks, Myoko Kogen is an perfect guidelines for exploring nan earthy beauty of nan Japanese Alps.

Myoko Kogen: The Perfect Blend of Tradition and Innovation

At its heart, Myoko Kogen is simply a spot wherever accepted Japanese hospitality meets international innovation. Whether it’s skiing connected world-class slopes, indulging successful locally originated cuisine, aliases immersing oneself successful nan culture, visitors are drawn to Myoko Kogen for a genuinely unsocial experience. AIR Myoko represents this intersection perfectly, offering a location distant from location for travelers seeking much than conscionable a skis resort. It’s an intimate destination wherever Japanese tradition is respected while caller ideas and experiences are woven into nan cloth of nan resort.

As nan 2025 skis season draws near, Myoko Kogen remains an fantabulous prime for skiers and escapade seekers who are looking for a little crowded, yet arsenic breathtaking replacement to different celebrated resorts successful Japan. Its operation of world-class skiing, culinary delights, and cultural experiences continues to make it 1 of Japan’s hidden gems. Whether you’re a first-time visitor aliases a returning guest, Myoko Kogen promises an unforgettable wintertime escape.