Myoko Ski Holidays: Boutique Ski Retreat With Lift-Accessed Riding, Japan

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • Experienced, local JMGA-certified guides with extensive knowledge of the area (2 guides for a group of 8)
    • 7-day Myoko ski holidays (5 days of guided riding with certified instructors/guides)
    • Accommodation for 6 nights at your guides’ boutique lodge
    • All breakfasts
    • All dinners (3 chef-prepared dinners at the lodge, 3 dinners at local restaurants)
    • Natural wine and craft brewed beer at dinners
    • Lift tickets for 5 days
    • Daily transportation to/from ski areas
    • Arrival pick-up from Myoko-Kogen station
    • Departure drop-off to Myoko-Kogen station

  Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):

  • • Single occupancy room

  Not included:

  • • Flights to Japan
    • Transportation to Myoko (your guides can provide guidance on trains or transfers)
    • Lunches (you can grab food at the resort or in town)
    • Additional alcoholic beverages
    • Insurance — available to add at checkout
    • Guide gratuities — optional
• How fit do I need to be?

  These Myoko ski holidays are designed for confident resort skiers who’ve been waiting for a chance to ride powder and go off-piste! This isn’t a ski school, but it’s not a super advanced backcountry ski trip either.

  This week has been created for people who are ready to build off-piste confidence the right way. It’s a fully guided and hosted adventure focused on real progress and good times. You can expect a supportive environment where you’ll learn to ride powder, read terrain, make smart line choices, and get more comfortable in deeper snow and varied conditions.

  The snow is deep and it might get a little daunting at times, but that’s why your guides will be by your side the whole way through! You’ll start with mellow glades and work your way toward terrain that challenges you just enough to grow. You’ll be with a small group (one guide per four participants), riding alongside experienced guides and instructors who care more about your confidence than your speed.

  For more ski adventures in Japan, click here!

• What kind of terrain can I expect?

   Akakura Onsen & Akakan (Myoko Kogen) — your backyard

  • • Best for: Warm-up laps, mellow powder, confidence building
    • Why ride here: These two connected resorts are just minutes from the lodge. Perfect for Day 1 or low-vis days. They offer wide-open runs, accessible off-piste, and classic Japan tree skiing. When it’s dumping, these hills are gold.

  Ikenotaira Onsen

  • • Best for: Learning to ride trees, mastering soft snow
    • Why ride here: Low-angle terrain, glades for days, and almost no crowds. It’s the perfect progression resort. You’ll feel like a hero here as you dial in your powder turns.

  Seki Onsen

  • • Best for: True Japan experience, deep days
    • Why ride here: Seki doesn’t believe in grooming. It’s all natural terrain, barely developed, and a true throwback. The lifts are slow, but the snow is deep and untouched. This is the “hidden gem” you always hear about.

  Madarao & Tangram

  • • Best for: Pillows, playful terrain, creative lines
    • Why ride here: Madarao embraces off-piste. It has dedicated tree zones, gentle powder runs, and enough side hits to keep you smiling all day. This is progression paradise—forgiving terrain that rewards trying new things.

  Suginohara (Myoko Kogen)

  • • Best for: Long cruisers, sidecountry for confident intermediates
    • Why ride here: Home to the longest run in Japan (8.5km), Sugi is where we test your legs. There are some fun powder pockets and plenty of room to open it up. If you’ve built your skills all week, this is where you show them off.

  Lotte Arai (Special Weather-Dependent)

  • • Best for: Big terrain, lift-accessed back bowls, alpine feel
    • Why ride here: If conditions align, we’ll take a trip out to Lotte Arai—home of Japan’s most luxurious resort with wide-open, avalanche-controlled off-piste terrain. It’s where the locals go when they want bigger lines and deeper turns. Think North America meets Japan. A perfect final challenge for guests who are feeling strong.
• What do I need to bring?

  Gear:

  • • Powder skis or a powder snowboard (highly recommended for the best experience)
    • Ski or snowboard boots
    • Poles (skiers only)
    • Helmet (required)
    • Goggles
    • Spare goggles or an extra lens (highly recommended for storm days)
    • Sunglasses

  Outerwear:

  • • Waterproof jacket
    • Waterproof ski pants or bibs
    • Insulating mid-layer (fleece or light puffy)
    • Base layers (top and bottom)
    • Packable down or synthetic jacket

  Accessories:

  • • Warm waterproof gloves or mittens
    • Lightweight glove liners (optional)
    • Neck gaiter or balaclava
    • Warm ski socks (2–3 pairs)
    • Beanie

  Pack Essentials:

  • • 15–25L backpack
    • Water bottle and snacks
    • Sunscreen and lip balm
    • Avalanche safety equipment (beacon, shovel, and probe) — strongly recommended; while we do not travel in the backcountry, carrying avalanche equipment is encouraged in deep snow conditions so everyone is equipped to assist in an emergency

  Got everything you need? Grab your gear through Active Junky and earn cash back on top outdoor brands — plus a $10 bonus on your first $25+ purchase. Shop now at Active Junky!

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For these Myoko ski holidays, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 4:1. 
    • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 8 participants.
    • A private group booking is possible—reach out to us if you’d like to make your week private!

  Myoko ski holidays can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the Myoko ski holidays on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Is a single occupancy room available?

  The price for these Myoko ski holidays is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee, you can add it at checkout.

  Triple-share rooms are also available—if you want to stay here, the price of the tour goes down, you can let us know at checkout.

  Solo travelers can share a room with another traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee (if available).

• Getting there and meeting location

  The starting point of your Myoko ski holidays is Myoko, Japan. To get there, most people fly into Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita Airport (NRT), or Osaka/Kyoto’s Kansai Airport (KIX). From all of these, you’ve got several hours of public transportation to reach Myoko, by a mix of trains and buses. Alternatively, you can rent a car or let us know in advance if you need a shuttle.

  If you need any tips on traveling from Handera Airport/Narita Airport to the guide’s lodge, contact us! We’re happy to help.

  If you’re spending a couple of days or more anywhere in Japan before coming to Myoko, we highly recommend sending your luggage and ski/snowboard bags ahead of time using Yamato Transport (TA-Q-BIN / Black Cat). This will make your train journey much easier, especially with ski bags. We only recommend using this service once you are already in Japan, as delivery usually takes 1–2 days. Send your luggage to: 191-6 Taguchi, Myoko, Niigata 949-2106 (most hotels and airport counters can help you arrange this).

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

  Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

• Cancellation policy
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48 hours grace period.