Itinerary
The Myoko Adventure
RESORT & SIDE-COUNTRY / SKI GUIDED for 5 days
This is the perfect hybrid tour - at its heart there are six days of skiing (or snowboarding) in the Myoko Kogen region, but this is then book-ended with a stay in Tokyo to begin with and several days at Kyoto at the end, both with the freedom to explore by yourself.
So let's begin with the skiing. Whilst you have six days on the mountain, the first day on the slopes of Akakura Kanko and Akakura Onsen is without ski guide. Use this day to find your ski legs, test out any rental kit we've organised and get used to the unique powder snow. Then come five days with your guides and, on any given day, you'll head to one of 13 different nearby resorts with a simple modus operandi - let's find the best powder snow in the Japanese Alps. There will no doubt be a mix of skiers and snowboarders in the group, of varying ability - but the guides will take care of that and you will ski / ride with a small group of like-minded powder enthusiasts and no-doubt spend time in amongst the trees, in the terrain parks, on the groomers or deep in the back bowls. Whatever floats your boat.
The holiday begins with a flight to Tokyo, where you spend a couple of nights before catching the bullet-train north in to the Japanese Alps. This time in Tokyo affords you some time to get to grips with jet lag before the ski slopes and, more importantly, gives you time to explore the world's most exciting city. After you six days on the slopes, you then continue on by train to Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital. Another couple of days at leisure awaits - you've left the group behind at the ski resort, so this is free time to explore at your own pace. Finally, we've organised a shared-taxi transfer to get you out to Kansai airport for your homebound flight(s).
Day-By-Day Itinerary
Dates, Cost & Inclusions
DATES
23rd December 2020 - 5th January 2021
30th December 2020 - 12th January 2021
6th January - 19th January 2021*
13th January - 26th January 2021
20th January - 2nd February 2021
27th January - 9th February 2021
3rd February - 16th February 2021
10th February - 23rd February 2021
17th February - 2nd March 2021
24th February - 9th March 2021
COST
£3,798 per person* / single supplement = £650
*note that this cost may vary and this is usually down to the costs of the international flights. This is more likely over Christmas / New Year or other peak dates. We will confirm the price if you call us (or email) to check availability.
TOUR INCLUSIONS
International flights on British Airways.
2 nights in the Gracery Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Twin share. Breakfast is included.
7 nights in a lodge in Akakura Onsen village. Twin share. Breakfast is included.
3 nights in the Vista Premio Nagomitei in Kyoto. Twin share. Breakfast is included.
Shinkansen (bullet-train) tickets from Tokyo to Nagano Station.
Private transfers between Myoko train station and your hotel.
6 days lift pass in Myoko Kogen and nearby ski resorts.
5 days ski guiding (Monday to Friday).
Daily transport.
On-ground staff support in Myoko Kogen, providing 24hr care.
Bullet-train tickets from Joetsumyoko Station to Kanazawa and then Thunderbird Express to Kyoto.
Shared taxi transfer from Kyoto accommodation to Kansai Airport.
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Rental equipment.
Avalanche gear rental.
Accommodation & Ability Requirements
ACCOMMODATION
Gracery Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
The Lodge in Akakura Onsen village.
Vista Premio Nagomitei in Kyoto.
The lead-in cost for this tour is based on the Gracery Hotel in Kyoto, the Vista Premio Nagomitei in Kyoto and a Japanese-style lodge in Myoko Kogen. All are very comfortable, well located and the breakfasts they serve hearty. However, there is opportunity to upgrade your accommodation selections in all three instances.
SKI / SNOWBOARDING ABILITY
This tour is perfect for any ability. However, most of your fellow guests will likely be either upper-intermediates, experts and advanced and powder will be in everyones sights. Therefore some confidence and experience in the deep stuff is obviously advantageous.
The terrain is accessed by the ski lifts in the resorts, so no hiking or touring is required. However, you will spend most of your time away from the pistes, in amongst the trees or in the slack-country.