Travel to Myoko Suginohara / Kokusai with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort is located in the southwest of the Niigata prefecture, not far from Myoko Kogen town and it is the ideal ski destination for families with children. This fairly quiet resort is easily accessed from Tokyo and boasts many varied slopes, great snow, short ski lift lines, night skiing and a halfpipe for snowboarders.

The ski resort of Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai is self-contained and it rarely gets too busy, even during holiday periods. Facilities are satisfactory, with a ski shop that supplies rentals for skiers and snowboarders and a ski school.

Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort has 24 slopes, the longest of which is just over five miles, as well as a huge vertical drop of 3,689 feet. For those who enjoy challenging skiing, the upper part of the resort has plenty of options, including a giant slalom that is accessed by a high-speed quad lift. There are 15 ski lifts in total, with a capacity to lift 16,000 people per hour.

Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort has plentiful ski-in, ski-out lodges situated along the lower runs as well as pensions in the nearby villages. There are also a number of eateries including an on-slope restaurant; however, après-ski here is fairly quiet.

There are many resorts in the area offering alternative snowboarding and skiing, with nearby Arai Mountain & Snow Park offering additional runs and plenty of powder, while the famed Hakuba ski resorts lie to the south in northwestern Nagano prefecture and are well worth the journey. Nearby attractions to Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort include the hot springs at the Pine Valley Hotel, which are highly recommended.

Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort’s ski season extends from early December to early April and the best snow can be found here in January and February, while cheaper rates are on offer on weekdays, as with other Japanese resorts. Trains run all the way from Tokyo as far as Myoko, from where buses run on to Myoko Suginohara.

Skiing in Myoko Suginohara / Kokusai

Situated in an area rich with ski resorts, Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai in Niigata’s southwest is great for beginner and intermediate skiers as well as snowboarders. Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai has some great powder runs and the resort also boasts night skiing and easy access from Nagano and Tokyo.

There’s not that much for expert skiers at Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai, although the highest reaches of the resort offers some challenging runs, including the Giant Slalom, while the lower runs are aimed at beginner and intermediate skiers. The pistes are split into 40 per cent as suitable for beginners, 40 per cent for intermediates and 20 per cent for experts and they are fed by a series of 16 ski lifts, including a high-speed quad lift.

There isn’t that much in the way of alternative winter activities at Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort, although you can go ski touring and snowshoeing here. The Pine Valley Hotel in the village has wellness facilities that include comprehensive hot springs, while après-ski is confined to the larger hotels and restaurants.

Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort is lucky enough to have ski-in, ski-out lodges at the lower slopes and more reasonably priced accommodation in the villages in the form of lodges and pensions. There are ski and snowboard rental facilities at the slopes, where you can rent a complete outfit or just individual items such as skis, boots and gloves and so on.

Those who are after perfect snow conditions should head for Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai in January or February of the December to April ski season. Trains from Tokyo go via the city of Nagano, where bullet trains run part of the way and limited express services continue on to Myoko. Buses meet all trains for the final journey to the ski resort, with a journey time of 30 minutes.

Transportation to Myoko Suginohara / Kokusai

Located in southwest Niigata about 200 miles northwest of Tokyo, Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort is only directly accessible by road; however, rail services going most of the way are available from the capital and Osaka. The most practical way to get here is to take the Shinetsu line from Tokyo to Myoko via Nagano and then continue by bus.

Those travelling by car to Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort need to take the Chuo expressway west from Tokyo as far as the town of Suwa, from where the Nagano expressway continues north through Nagano and onto Myoko. From Osaka, take the Chuo expressway north to Suaw and then the Nagano expressway to Myoko.

By train, Myoko Kogen is a 3-hour, 20-minute journey from Tokyo along the Shinetsu line. Trains go via Nagano, from where the town of Myoko is a further 30 minutes by train; buses run from Myoko to Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort. Trains from Osaka run along the Kosei & Hokuriku line before joining the Shietsu line.

Tokyo’s Narita International Airport lies to the northeast of the city and receives the bulk of air traffic into Japan. Transfer services into Tokyo and beyond are frequent and efficient, with fast rail and road access and numerous shuttles and bus services. Osaka Kansai International Airport is another point of entry and Myoko Suginohara/Kokusai ski resort is also accessible from here.

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