[Zao 10/11]

Thanks ceecee, I still haven't heard from the Lucent but had a positive response from the Tsuruya. The distances must be quite short as they say about 5 mins to the lift and they are near the bus station which is further than the Lucent according to the map I have.

[Zao 10/11]

 

ceecee - how did you book the Lucent? I have sent them an email but no reply yet. The Lucent to bus terminal looks further than 3 minutes walk on the map, but am still trying to figure out a scale.

 

Could anyone recommend a ryokan or hotel? I have left the booking process a little late, but am still hopeful of finding somewhere to stay in February.

[Iiyama from Nozawa]

Looks like I have the local expert/resident here? I am reading quite a lot into your "Hmmmm" i-d, but given that it is only 15 mins and there is a little walk around a lot of (small) temples I will keep it in mind as a possibility. May have to get back to you for some specific directions - not a lot of info on the web, obviously not a big tourism centre! I have been to Nagano and will go again, but probably from Hakuba. Was thinking to explore a little around Nozawa.

 

Many thanks for the advice.

[Iiyama from Nozawa]

Hi. Anyone have advice re Iiyama as an excursion from Nozawa? Assuming not skiing and have seen the sights of Nozawa, is it worthwhile going to Iiyama for a look given its description as a "temple town"?

 

I think it is a short bus trip away (actually do the Nagano buses go via Iiyama on the way to Nozawa?). But are the temples worth a trip, and are they easy to walk around?

[Suginohara & Myoko]

This thread reminds me that I intended to post some notes as a thank you for all the help we obtained in planning our January trip – Tokyo/Nozawa/Myoko. We had spent the previous two seasons in Niseko so this was all new to us, and the information obtained was incredibly helpful. Myoko was certainly the hardest section to work out, but so glad we did, and I promised to pass on some info about our how and what for this area.

 

Us: A family of four; parents plus a 22 year old and 16 year old. All skiers. One retired, me, so sorry but this isn’t a “best snow†report.

 

Getting to Myoko:

Thanks to Amy at Myoko Tourism for organising a bus to take us from Nozawa to Myoko via the snow monkeys. The bus was just a little larger then expected for four people, but the costing was comparable with going to the snow monkeys and getting to Myoko independently – and it was door to door, from Chitosekan in Nozawa to Hotel Taiko in Myoko. And we loved seeing the monkeys!

 

In Myoko:

Amy met us at the Hotel Taiko, introducing us to the staff, and then taking us on a guided tour of the village. Plus, Amy arranged an amazing birthday cake for our 22 year old, with the hotel adding a bottle of wine – that was really special and unexpected (and delicious).

 

Taiko is a large hotel, and after choosing a ryokan in Nozawa, we opted for the western beds here. Only two western rooms on each floor. Parents took the room with western beds in one area, and a large Japanese style sitting area. Kids got the all western room which included a kitchen, couches and a spa bath in a pink/burgundy tiled room! Both rooms had great views over Myoko. The hotel onsen was spacious, clean and with a great outside area.

 

The staff at the Taiko were nothing but friendly and helpful. Despite a complete language barrier, after each of my day trips (being the retired skier) I was able to ring the hotel from the railway station, say in English that I was a guest and was at the station, listen to a reply in Japanese, then wait for the hotel bus to collect me! Having them take me to the station in the morning and being the only non-Japanese guests at this time obviously made it easier, but what a service!

 

The family used the free shuttle bus (a short walk from the hotel) – skied two days at Akakura Kanko (Akakan), one at Suginohara and one at Ikenotaira. Didn’t use the Big-4 pass as they only skied one area each day. We were originally worried about the split between Akakura Onsen and Akakura Kanko, and the possibility of ending up at the bottom of the wrong run, but it didn’t seem to be a problem (although would obviously be more user friendly if they were were on one pass without having to buy the Big-4 pass just to be able to ski back "home"). I had downloaded all the discount coupons before we left home (with the help of online translators).

 

More on the shuttle bus - the very friendly driver drove me right up to the Akakura Kanko Hotel one day to meet the others for coffee (normally stops at the bottom centre). Nice hotel but expensive meals, and unfortunately on that day a blizzard meant no views. But it does have free internet - although on reflection maybe that is intended just for guests.

 

As said in above posts Myoko is small and quiet, but it is friendly and has some great little bars/restaurants. We seemed to mostly end up at one or other of the two in the basement on the corner at the T-junction - one has an English menu, the other is an easy “point and pot luckâ€. Then a stroll down the road for crepes.

 

Sorry, I have photos but can't figure out how to upload them.

 

So thanks to everyone who patiently answered my questions and helped get us to Myoko.