» Akakura Onsen

A video review of a snowy January in Myoko Kogen

Tim — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 08:49:27 +0000

With February well under way, I’ve put together a video of the action from the month just gone. It was a January we’ll be talking about for years to come, with snow almost every day making for day after day of deep fresh lines…..

Today in Myoko Kogen

The snow expected for today has taken a while to settle in but it is snowing quite steadily at the moment. Around 5 to 10cm awaited the eager holiday crowds this morning, and at least that has fallen throughout the day. It’s looking like continuing into the night so it should be a fun day out there tomorrow. Monday night is looking snowy as well, before a spell of fine weather on Wednesday and the possibility of warmer conditions and rain towards the end of the week. Let’s just hope it stays cold and that precipitation falls as snow too!

Current official snow depth around the Myoko area:

Ski Area	Akakura Kanko	Akakura Onsen	Ikenotaira	Suginohara	Seki Onsen
Snow depth (cm)	280	260	260	210	530

Sunshine and 10cm of fresh fun

Tim — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:06:22 +0000

By around midnight last night the snow had pretty much stopped, but there was still around 10 or 15cm of nice dry powder on the ground this morning. With the sun shining brightly today, it was another great day on the mountain. Once again, the stunning views across the surrounding landscape provided a backdrop to the days sliding and the small dump made for some great fun on one or two planks.

There is more snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow, and the weekend is looking like bringing a decent dump too. Conditions will be nice and cold so we should be in for another dose of Myoko powder magic….

Current official snow depth around the Myoko area:

Ski Area	Akakura Kanko	Akakura Onsen	Ikenotaira	Suginohara	Seki Onsen
Snow depth (cm)	255	250	260	210	520

Heavy snow one minute, sunshine the next

Tim — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:50:16 +0000

We’ve had a day of crazy mixed up weather here in Myoko, with around 20cm of snow overnight and periods of heavy snow throughout the day followed by patches of blue sky and sunshine….followed by more heavy snow! The fantastic snow conditions made for smiles all round and as usual for a weekday there were very few people around meaning plenty of fresh lines all day. Light snow and snow showers are forecast for tomorrow before a heavier fall Saturday night and Sunday morning, so it looks like we’re in line for more of the same great Niigata powder. Better have a nice long soak in the Hotel Mumon Onsen and an early night…..

clockwise from top right:
All smiles for the powder
Taking a break
Craig gets in deep
Karol takes in the view
20cm+ on the car by the afternoon

Current official snow depth around the Myoko area:

	Akakura Kanko	Akakura Onsen	Ikenotaira	Suginohara	Seki Onsen
Snow depth (cm)	275	270	275	230	450

Beautiful Myoko sunrise, and now it's snowing again

Tim — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 07:20:48 +0000

After an amazing sunrise this morning, the clouds have rolled in bringing fairly heavy snow. There is only about 20cm predicted for the next couple of days but I’d say there should be at least that much on the ground by tomorrow morning if it keeps falling at this rate. Should be another fun day!

Current official snow depth around the Myoko area:

	Akakura Kanko	Akakura Onsen	Ikenotaira	Suginohara	Seki Onsen
Snow depth (cm)	265	265	270	230	450

Myoko Kogen snow report Wednesday 24th February 2010

Tim — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:31:47 +0000

Akakura Onsen is warm and sunny today – hardly a cloud to be seen and an expected top of 10 degrees C. Clouds are expected to move in over night and bring rain by Thursday evening with heavy rain forecast for Friday morning, Saturday night and Monday night. So lots of slushy skiing fun to be had today and tomorrow before the rain comes and lets just hope it gets cold sometime soon….

New Snow (Resort): 0 cm

New Snow (Village): 0 cm

Weather: Light southwesterly wind and an expected top of 10 degrees C. Excellent visibility.

Official statistics:

Resort	Status	Base yesterday (cm)	Base today (cm)	Current temperature (degrees C)	Current weather
Suginohara	All areas open	190	190	2	Fine
Ikenotaira	All areas open	260	260	2	Fine
Akakura Kanko	All areas open	260	250	3	Fine
Akakura Onsen	All areas except Maruyama triple lift and mogul challenge course/alpen course open. Night skiing 5:00 ~ 9:00 at Kumado	255	250	1	Fine
Madarao/Tangram	All areas open	190	190	2	Fine
Seki Onsen	All areas open	560	560	3	Fine

( Click on the resort names in the table above to see more information about each ski area )

Farewell to Myoko (for now)

This is my last posting for the season from Myoko Kogen as I will be moving over to Nozawa Onsen for March (and writing reports for the Nozawa part of this site).

Thanks to all the great people of Akakura Onsen for a wonderful time there over the last two months and I hope to see you all again next season! Thanks also to readers of the blog – I hope you’ve enjoyed the photos and videos and I hope to see you in Myoko next season too!
– Tim

Click here to check out what’s happening in Nozawa Onsen today

Maeyama hike video posting

Tim — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:25:15 +0000

Here is a little video from the hike up Maeyama on Sunday…..

Myoko Kogen snow report Tuesday 23rd February 2010

Tim — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:38:22 +0000

It is a very spring time feel here in Akakura Onsen today, with temperatures well above zero, sun in the sky and slushy conditions on the hill. A top of 6 degrees C is forecast for today and Thursday is looking extra warm with a top of around 13 degrees C before rain on Friday, Saturday and into Sunday morning. Not good for the snow pack but let’s hope it can hang in there until this “fake spring” blows over and we get back to the serious business of winter ….. hopefully!

New Snow (Resort): 0 cm

New Snow (Village): 0 cm

Weather: Light southwesterly wind and an expected top of 6 degrees C. Excellent visibility.

Official statistics:

Resort	Status	Base yesterday (cm)	Base today (cm)	Current temperature (degrees C)	Current weather
Suginohara	All areas open	200	190	1	Fine
Ikenotaira	All areas open	260	260	-1	Fine
Akakura Kanko	All areas open	260	260	1	Fine
Akakura Onsen	All areas except Maruyama triple lift and mogul challenge course/alpen course open. Night skiing 5:00 ~ 9:00 at Kumado	260	255	-1	Fine
Madarao/Tangram	All areas open	200	190	1	Fine
Seki Onsen	All areas open	560	560	2	Fine

( Click on the resort names in the table above to see more information about each ski area )

Click here to check out what’s happening in Nozawa Onsen today

Some more footage of riding Niigata pow

Tim — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:12:38 +0000

Here is a little video of some nice powder and funny jibbing done in late January 2010

Myoko Kogen snow report Thursday 11th February 2010

Tim — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:34:33 +0000

A little bit of new snow has fallen overnight, but less than 5cm so it’s not going to do much to help the sliding conditions. Still, it’s better than rain and it should continue through until Sunday morning. Indeed heavy snow is forecast for the upper slopes of Akakura this afternoon and tonight, with a total of around 30cm predicted by tomorrow morning. It has in fact started to snow lightly as I type this report.

New Snow (Resort): <5 cm

New Snow (Village): <5 cm

Weather: Very light northeasterly wind this morning expected to swing southeasterly in the afternoon before turning northeasterly again this evening. Light to moderate snow expected today and heavy snow tonight. Visibility will be affected by fog and snowfall.

Official statistics:

Resort	Status	Base yesterday (cm)	Base today (cm)	Current temperature	Current weather
Suginohara	All areas open	190	190	0	Cloudy
Ikenotaira	All areas open	280	265	0	Cloudy
Akakura Kanko	All areas open	240	240	-3	Cloudy
Akakura Onsen	All areas except Maruyama triple lift and mogul challenge course/alpen course open. Night skiing 5:00 ~ 9:00 at Kumado	245	240	-3	Cloudy
Madarao/Tangram	All areas open	190	180	-4	Cloudy
Seki Onsen	All areas open	570	570	-4	Snow

( Click on the resort names in the table above to see more information about each ski area )

A panoramic view to the coast from above Tsubame on a nice sunny day

Click here to check out what’s happening in Nozawa Onsen today

Myoko Kogen snow report Wednesday 10th February 2010

Tim — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:12:36 +0000

Still raining, but it’s trying to snow….

Temperatures are finally starting to return to a wintry level here in Akakura Onsen, although the official reports show freezing level has not yet been reached at several resorts. It is forecast to continue getting cooler quickly today as a very light northerly brings light snow in the afternoon and evening. Those conditions should persist right through to Sunday morning providing some much needed repair to the rain affected slopes. The snow depth is down more than 50cm at Akakura Kanko, partly because the new snow had not settled, but that’s still a big drop….

New Snow (Resort): 0 cm

New Snow (Village): 0 cm

Weather: Very light northerly wind in the afternoon bringing colder conditions and light snow. Rain and fog affecting visibility this morning.

Official statistics:

Resort	Status	Base yesterday (cm)	Base today (cm)	Current temperature	Current weather
Suginohara	All areas open	210	190	1	Cloudy
Ikenotaira	All areas open	290	280	0	Snow
Akakura Kanko	All areas open	250	240	3	Cloudy
Akakura Onsen	All areas except Maruyama triple lift and mogul challenge course/alpen course open. Night skiing 5:00 ~ 9:00 at Kumado	265	245	-1	Cloudy
Madarao/Tangram	All areas open	210	190	0	Cloudy
Seki Onsen	All areas open	570	570	-3	Sleet

( Click on the resort names in the table above to see more information about each ski area )

Great weather for an Onsen….

Outside of the village of Akakura Onsen, there are two main onsens that are easily accessible from the Mt. Myoko shuttle bus; “Landmark” in Ikenotaira (left) and “Naena no yu” in Suginosawa (right), just near Suginohara ski area. Both are supplied with natural hot spring water from high on the slopes of Mt. Myoko and are an excellent way to relax and soothe the muscles after skiing or boarding.

From Myoko – Onsens

Click here to check out what’s happening in Nozawa Onsen today