Travel Tips Archives - Myoko House & Myoko Apartments

Car Rental in Myoko Kogen & Surrounds

28 April, 202019 May, 2024in Travel Tips, winter by MyokoHouse

There are a few things to consider when travelling to Myoko. One is deciding if a car is of benefit to you. If the answer is “yes” there are a few more important things to consider when it comes to car rental in Myoko.

If the amazing snow is number one on the list of reasons to visit Myoko during winter, then the number of resorts you’ll have access to is a close second. At Myoko House, we provide free morning transfers daily to Akakan, Akakura Onsen, Ikenotaira and Suginohara. From there, it’s either a simple walk or a short bus ride home. Beyond that, there’s a selection of ski resorts you can visit easily by bus, such as Lotte Arai, Madarao, Tangram, Seki Onsen and others (As Myoko Apartments is a fully self-contained accommodation, we recommend guests have their own transport).

While the above is enough for some, others prefer the ease of a car, which also opens up other possibilities as easy day trips; Togakushi, Kurohime, Nozawa Onsen, Togari Onsen, Shiga Kogen, Kijimadaira, etc.

A car provides greater freedom and with so much choice, it’s quite a good option for many. But if you decide having a car is the right option, there are a few important things to consider first when it comes to car rental in Myoko Kogen and the surrounding area.

Please see the bottom of this page for detailed transfer/parking inclusions at both Myoko House and Myoko Apartments as they vary according to the property.

Car Rental in Myoko

Picking up a car at Nagano Station or Joetsumyoko Station is typically the best way to go (although there is a local Myoko Kogen option opening in time for the 2024/25 season). From Nagano or Joetsumyoko, it’s a drive of between 30 and 60 minutes to Myoko House and Myoko Apartments, depending upon snow conditions. Check out our Getting Here page for exact details.

There are a few important things to consider when driving to Myoko;

As mentioned above, it’s a good idea to rent from Nagano. They’ll already know the conditions in which you’re about to drive. If you rent in Tokyo or another city that sees only a little snow, you might get stung with steep extras for winter tyres, etc., or perhaps they won’t be included at all which is dangerous.
Always, “yes” to the question of winter tyres and/or 4WD.
you will need an international driver’s license
Japan has a 0.00 BAC policy on its roads
we have squeegees, scrapers and shovels at Myoko House and Myoko Apartments to clear your windscreen and dig you out after a dump.

Please see below for transfer/parking inclusions at both Myoko House and Myoko Apartments as they vary according to the property.

If you have any other questions whatsoever about travelling to Myoko please don’t hesitate to get in touch and ask us. We’re always here to answer any questions, any time of the day, week, month or year!

Transfer/Parking Details for Myoko House (see Myoko Apartments below)

For those who won’t be driving, we provide free pick-up and drop-off to/from Myoko Kogen Station at the beginning and end of your stay (strictly no earlier than 3 pm on the day of check-in and no later than 10:30 am on the day of check out), and free transfers to one of the four main resorts each morning (Akakura Kanko, Akakura Onsen, Ikenotaira, Suginohara), if required. There is a bus stop 350 metres up the street for access to other resorts. Getting home from the resorts of an afternoon typically involves either a bus or an easy walk of less than 1km. We will provide other transfer requests when possible, such as dinner transfers.

All guests please note; on days of particularly heavy snow, the train from Nagano may run only as far as Kurohime Station. We are unable to do pick-ups or drop-offs from/to Kurohime. When this is the case, a taxi to or from Kurohime will probably be your best option. We can help you organise this.

Parking Details for Myoko Apartments

Myoko Apartments guests have free parking directly in front of the property. We strongly advise that guests hire a car from Nagano rather than Tokyo as this will ensure no hidden costs relating to not having winter tyres included and that your insurance covers snow conditions.

Transfers are not included. If you need help hiring a car or have any other enquiries, please feel free to ask. The closest bus stop is 350 metres from Myoko Apartments.

Akakura Kanko – 800m, Akakura Onsen – 1.5km, Ikenotaira – 2.3km, Suginohara – 5.8km, Kurohime – 9km, Tangram – 12.7km, Madarao – 17.5km, Lotte Arai – 22.5km, 27.1km, Nozawa Onsen – 43.2km.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions.
Email us at hello@myokohouse.com or call Nathan on +81 7044030103 or Akiko on +81 8081567346.

Myoko restaurants; great places to eat in Myoko

15 April, 202028 April, 2020in Food, Travel Tips by MyokoHouse

The obvious place to start is right here at Myoko House. But there are plenty of other great Myoko restaurants to choose from when you need a break from delicious homemade gyoza and local sake. The following is not an exhaustive list by rather, a large handful of favourites in various parts of the area. Be sure to let us know if you have a favourite not mentioned.

Myoko bars and restaurants — Homemade gyoza nabe at Myoko House.

Myoko Restaurants

Shin Akakura (Akakan area)

Myoko House Gyoza Bar

Of course, we’re biased but that doesn’t mean it’s not good! Akiko makes both her famous (within our growing circle of friends anyway) traditional pork and vegan-friendly tofu gyoza.

The gyoza nabe dish (pictured above) was an instant hit and provides cost-effective warmth and satisfaction. Nabe (hotpot) is a bit of a winter tradition in Japan. Gyoza nabe by the fire, while the snow falls out the window, is as good a way to end the day as we can think of. In addition, Akiko knocks up a rotating array of delicious desserts to extinguish sugar cravings.

For those who are thirsty, we have you sorted. An ever-growing interest in learning about the wonders of sake means we’ll have at least a handful of choices on hand. We tend to stock local favourites from Myoko and nearby Iiyama, as well as the occasional special bottle from further afield. If you can wrestle the latter away from the barman he may oblige!

We also have Myoko Kogen craft beer, draught beer, umeshu (plum wine), whiskey and, for the more cultured of our visitors, Bundy Rum.

We generally don’t take bookings as such. However, as we have a fairly small area, a phone call before making the effort to come to see us probably wouldn’t hurt; +81704403019103. If you have a second, perhaps you’d like to check out a few of our reviews.

Opening Hours – 4-8pm (last order at 7:30pm).

Myoko House — We look forward to seeing you!

A few of our favourites…

Pontaro

We had to start the best of the rest with Pontaro. Located just 2 minutes walk from the Akakura Kanko gondola (a few doors down from Konayuki), Pontaro is an izakaya serving all sorts of delicious dishes. They also have all the beer, nihonshu and shochu your heart may desire.

This place was extremely popular with our guests during our first winter season and with good reason!

Click here for reviews of Pontaro.

Akakura Onsen

Pomodoro

Italian probably wasn’t the first thing you had in mind when looking up what to eat in a traditional Japanese village. However, pizza and pasta tend to be fairly good in Japan. Myoko’s best example of this is Pomodoro, on the main drag in Akakura Onsen. An English menu is available.

Click here for reviews of Pomodoro.

Udon-no-Fu

Directly downstairs from Pomodoro is Udon-no-Fu. For the unfamiliar, udon noodles are the thick white best usually served in a hot broth. The restaurant has an old-school, authentic Japanese feel and is its own little world.

We’ve never tasted anything approaching anything other than delicious here. Your eyes may not believe your taste buds but the squid ink udon is a must-try. Hot tip; use the apron provided and maybe don’t wear white!

Click here for reviews for of Udon-no-Fu.

Miyoshiya

This place is a favourite for us here at Myoko House for two reasons. It was the very first restaurant we ever visited upon making the decision to start our Myoko lives. Secondly, the hiyashi chuka was delicious. It should be noted it was lunchtime during the offseason when we visited and perhaps this particular dish is better suited to the warmer months.

You can find Miyoshiya at street level above Asagao at the Akakura T-junction. It’s a fairly cost-effective place to eat with an extensive menu. Oh and orders are placed by using the ticket machine at the entrance.

Click here for reviews of Miyoshiya.

Asagao

While we’re in the neighbourhood, beneath Miyoshiya you’ll find Asagao (and Shiro). This is a small place reminiscent of other old-fashioned izakayas and yakitori joints. The sort of place that would be murder if, like a lot of those places in the city, allow smoking inside. Mercifully, Asagao doesn’t. It’s cosy but that lends to the atmosphere.

Yakitori items dominate the menu and they also stock a decent range of nihonshu and shochu (and cold beer, of course) to wash it down.

Click here for reviews of Asagao.

Ikenotaira

Eika

While we could be wrong and are always happy to be corrected, we think this is the only Chinese restaurant in the area. And it just so happens to be delicious. You’ll find Eika in the Ikenotaira area, just up from the Landmark Onsen Cafe in the direction of Imori Pond.

Click here for reviews of Eika.

Arakin Ramen

Arakin Ramen is diagonally across for the Landmark Onsen cafe and as the name suggests, serves ramen. They also have a bunch of other dishes too, of course, meaning it has more of an izakaya-type feel at night. While there, make sure you check out the omiyage/sake shop attached.

Click here for reviews of Arakin Ramen.

While in the neighbourhood…

The Landmark Onsen itself is worth visiting with a big onsen bath (for each sex), a konbini (sans ATM) and a restaurant all within the same building. You’ll find many hidden treasures within. While the relaxation area includes comics, massage chairs, table tennis, darts, pool, pachinko machines and an arm-wrestling table, the restaurant offers a very reasonably-priced Myoko Kogen beer nomihodai (all-you-can-drink for 90 minutes).

Click here for reviews of the Landmark Onsen Cafe.

Myoko Village

Yabu Soba

If you have a car or prepared to cab it, there are a small number of places to eat in Myoko village (train station area). One we can vouch for is Yabu Soba, just across the road from post office.

Their most popular dishes include tempura soba or tempura udon but they have a large handful of other options too, including a deliciously warming nabe. It’s a little difficult to find TripAdvisor reviews for Yabu Soba but they’ve apparently been operating for the past 60 years so I think it’s fair to say they’re doing something right!

Click here for their Myoko Tourism listing, including opening times, etc.

An honourable mention…

Kaneta Omiyage

We’ve included this place as an “honourable mention” as it isn’t a restaurant and yet this is a (non-exhaustive) list of restaurants. It’s an omiyage shop directly across from the Myoko Kogen Train Station. As such, it makes a great time killer if you get there a little too early.

Within, you’ll find an assortment of goodies. If you’re a fan of chilli, don’t leave town without a jar or two of kanzuri (if you’re leaving having stayed at Myoko House there’s a good chance you’ve already heard of it – it’s made only in this area).

If you need a snack for the journey, they also have delicious savoury chimaki (rice and other ingredients wrapped in a bamboo leaf).

Marinated chillies are left on the snow for a few days during the kanzuri making process. This is said to make them a little sweeter. Photo courtesy of Myoko Tourism.

There’s more…

As mentioned a few times previously, this is not a complete list of places to eat in Myoko and there are surely many more delicious restaurants in the area. Then there’s the option of a trip into Joetsu where Gunchan and the ever-reliable Kappa Zushi are personal treasured choices.

If you uncover any gems or have any favourites people need to know about please let us know. The more time we spend in Myoko the more we get to indulge. We’re happy to take one for the team and spend the Myoko Green Season doing the research!

We hope to see you at Myoko House soon for some gyoza, beer and sake!

5 Hacks & Tips To Help You Get To Myoko Stress-Free

12 April, 202012 April, 2020in Japan Travel, Travel Tips by MyokoHouse

I’d argue Japan is a fairly easy country to navigate but of course, there exists the bias. Whether you agree or not, we’ve got you covered. Below you’ll find a large handful of travel tips and hacks to help you get to Myoko nice and easy, ready to shred.

Stay connected

We know Japan has a reputation for being technologically advanced. Whether or not this is deserved may depend upon which aspect of the country we’re talking about. Robot-like toilets; sure. Readily available WiFi; better now than it has been but still not totally reliable.

If you need reliable and free WiFi in between the airport and Myoko House but don’t see a Starbucks, you might have some luck at a 7/11. You might also like to check out our article on pre-paid sims.

Politely refuse plastic

For all of Japan’s wonders, one thing we’d like to see less of is excessive use of plastic. The best way to do your bit is to insist you don’t need a bag at a konbini (convenience store).

As the cashier reaches for one with the sleight of hand that would impress a seasoned poker dealer, slip in a “sono mama de” or “fukuro irimasen”. Or go with another of the suggestions mentioned here.

Visiting via Tokyo? Meet your good friend the Black Cat!

If you’re stopping to check out the sights and sounds, you don’t want to get caught dragging luggage around the largest metropolis on the planet. It sucks! Trust those who’ve done it and lived to tell the tale. Stand on the shoulders of giants!

Japan has a relatively cheap and very efficient takkyubin (delivery) system for getting your luggage to and from us. Kuroneko (Black Cat) Yamato couriers will safely get your luggage, skis and snowboards from the airport to Myoko House and back again. They can also send your gear on to your next destination. Check them out by clicking here or simply get in touch with us here at Myoko House and we’ll help you.

It means more freedom up and down stairs as well as assuring you avoid the ultimate nightmare situation; dragging a huge ski or snowboard bag onto a crowded Tokyo train!

Getting here; taxis, trains and faster trains!

How you reach Myoko will depend upon a few factors. Namely, which airport you arrive into and whether or not you’re spending time in Tokyo, another city or resort on your way. There’s the Nagano Snow Shuttle, Chuo Taxi, the Shinkansen and so on.

Each situation is different, so perhaps your most precious resource is our Getting Here page, which includes all options and should answer most of your questions. If it doesn’t please feel free to hit us up.

If you are spending time in Tokyo first (or last), you’re going to end up on a train sooner rather than later. Depending upon how long you intend on staying in the capital, there are savings to be had. Start with the Tokunai Pass and the Yamanote Line (basically, the city circle which visits most of Tokyo’s “must-see” areas). Note; if you have a Japan Rail Pass (mentioned below) you will be covered for the Yamanote Line.

Should I buy a Japan Rail Pass?

That’s an extremely good question and it depends upon how much travel you’ll do away from Mount Myoko. Click here for detailed information on your specific set of circumstances.

Just remember, while the Pass will cover your Shinkansen ride as far as Nagano, it will not cover the final leg to Myoko Kogen Station – you’ll need to hand over a small amount of cash for that local train.

Links to time tables, Myoko Tourism info and an array of further info you didn’t know you wanted may be found by checking out our website further. If you’re not sure where to start, click here.

As always, if you have any questions whatsoever, please get in touch with us.