Car Rental in Myoko Kogen & Surrounds

in 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.

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
There was a car there when we went to bed…

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.

Car Rental in Myoko

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.

What to Bring to Myoko in Winter

in Japan Travel, winter by MyokoHouse

When heading abroad, sometimes it’s difficult to know what to bring with you and what to leave behind. This is especially true when you’re on your way to the ski fields of Japan. And so the question is; what to bring to Myoko?

Obviously, you’re going to need a jacket and maybe even some thermals, but nobody wants to be lugging the whole wardrobe around. So here’s the necessities for a comfortable winter visit to the powder capital of Myoko Kogen.

  • Good shoes – While we haven’t done complete surveys or study, we’d suggest that there is indeed nothing worse than allowing your feet to become cold and/or wet. That’s why shoes which will keep yours warm and dry are a must. You’ll see that gumboots (with warm inners) are the footwear of choice for the discerning local, however, any shoes which ensure the above will suffice.

    Gumboots aren’t too expensive to buy in Japan and so, if you don’t want to take up suitcase space, you can get a pair once you arrive in Japan.
  • Thermal underwear – suggesting that we practically live in ours may suggest we never wash them. Fortunately, we have the necessary personal hygiene and foresight to function as respectable, warm adults. Buy a couple of pairs. Maybe even 3!
  • Ski/snowboard gear – The vast majority of winter visitors to Myoko Kogen come on a powder mission. If you’re simply in town to experience the local hospitality, you can skip this one. But if it’s Japow you’re after, you’ve probably already considered the apparatus. It’s not necessary to bring ski gear with you. Accessing the ample rental gear available couldn’t be more simple.
  • That’s about it except for one last thing – a healthy respect for the local way of life. Wherever you’re from, it’s a given that Japan does things a little differently. Just as we love to see our guests get a kick out of experiencing the famous Japanese hospitality, so too do we aim to continue building a good reputation with the local people. With this in mind, we encourage our guests to both learn and respect local customs.

If you have any further questions about this post or absolutely anything else, please get in touch.