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A snowboarder slashing deep powder through birch trees in Japan
Destinations

Japan

Deep snow, and a different world after the lifts close. We start in Myoko, where three Ikon Pass mountains sit a train ride from the hotel, with Niseko's Hokkaido powder on the list.

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Japan

Where we ride

Three Ikon Pass resorts within reach. If you have an Ikon, every lift day is already paid for — 7 days at each on the full pass, 5 on Base, no blackout dates.

A deep-snow cedar forest in Japan, representative of Arai's tree terrain

960 m vertical

Lotte Arai Resort

84% ungroomed terrain

¥1,000 round trip from the station

The long cruising runs of Myoko Suginohara with the Niigata plains below

1,124 m vertical

Myoko Suginohara

8.5 km — Japan's longest run

¥2,480 round trip from the station

Mount Madarao and its ski runs under fresh snow

440 m vertical

Madarao Mountain Resort

Best tree skiing in the area

¥4,420 round trip from the station

Deep powder in a birch forest in Japan

Yuzawa, Niigata

Yuzawa resorts & Mt. T Resort on Ikon

The Yuzawa resorts, about 80 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen, and Mt. T Resort, which is on the Ikon Pass. Yuzawa town is about 2 hours by train from the station in Myoko, so it's a possible day trip when there's powder worth chasing.

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Trips

Trips in Japan

Two weeks in Myoko in January 2027, booked yourself.

Joetsu, Niigata · Japan

Japan on a Budget: Myoko, January 2027

We're in Myoko all of January 2027, with three Ikon Pass resorts on the doorstep. Come for a few days or the whole month and book it all yourself.

  • Three Ikon Pass resorts accessible from the train station right in front of the accommodation.
  • You book your own flight, hotel and trains, and pay for them directly.
  • Ten spots. The $299 gets spent on you in Japan.
See the full trip

Jan 1–30, 2027 · $299 planning fee

Japan

Narita to Joetsu in about three hours

  1. 01

    Fly into Tokyo Narita (NRT). Haneda works too, with a different train across the city.

  2. 02

    Keisei Skyliner, Narita to Keisei-Ueno: 45 minutes, ¥2,470.

  3. 03

    Hakutaka Shinkansen, Ueno to Joetsu-Myoko: about 2 hours, ¥9,130 unreserved or ¥9,660 reserved.

  4. 04

    From Joetsu-Myoko the local lines run to the hills. The hotel is a short walk from the platforms.

Japan

Good to know

Language
Japanese. English is limited outside the big resorts, but station signs are bilingual and a translation app covers the rest.
Money
Yen. Cash still matters in small towns and at onsen; 7-Eleven ATMs take foreign cards.
Tipping
None. Service is included, and a tip can cause confusion.
Power
100V. Type A plugs (two flat pins), the same as the US.
Visa
Many passports, including the US, UK, Canada and the EU, need no visa for a tourist stay of up to 90 days.Rules depend on your passport and can change. Check with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you book.
Ski season
December to March; January and February bring the deepest snow.

Food

  • Ramen after the lifts, izakaya dinners, and a konbini run at midnight.
  • Sake, local craft beer, and hot canned coffee from the vending machine on the platform.

Culture

  • Onsen: wash before you get in, no swimsuits, and some baths turn away visible tattoos.
  • Trains leave on the minute. Keep it quiet on board and save calls for the platform.
  • Shoes come off at the door in homes, many ryokan and some restaurants.

Between runs

Steaming water in a private open-air onsen in Kinosaki, Japan
Onsen after the lifts close
A 7-Eleven storefront lit up at night in Japan
7-Eleven at midnight
A Japanese izakaya entrance glowing with paper lanterns at night
Izakaya on the corner
A vending machine glowing on a snowy street at night in Japan
Vending machines glow all night

Want your own dates?

Hokkaido, Hakuba, or a Tokyo night on either end: tell us the week and we'll plan Japan with the people we know there.

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Photos: uka0310 (CC BY 2.0; resized and cropped for layout) · takaokun (CC BY 2.0; resized and cropped for layout) · Roméo A. (Unsplash License; resized and cropped for layout)

Ski Japan: Myoko and Niseko | Bluebird Ski Trips