Travel Myoko Akakura - Powder Fields in Japan

Day 3
Today we find our own powder turns, high above the resort of Akakura Onsen. After which we drank beer from yet another vending machine, before a taxi ride to Seki Onsen.

Day 3: Pete Coombs Snowboarding a ridge line in Akukura Onsen

Day 3: Pete Coombs in a blue bird powder day - Akukura Onsen — Day 3: Pete Coombs in a blue bird powder day – Akukura Onsen

Day 3: Ridge snowboarding in Akukura Onsen

Day 3: Powder snow near the top of Akakura Onsen

Day 3: Locals learning to snowboard on a too steep and too deep slope

Day 3: Mad snowy evening drive to Seki Onsen

Day 3: View across the valley from Akakura Onsen

Day 3: More evening snow in Akakura Onsen

Day 3: A vending machine beer after a hard day on the slopes

Day 4
Snow, snow, more snow, and a single man chair lift. The tiny resort of Seki Onsen is a powder hounds dream. With light fluffy snow up to your eyeballs; it’s often hard to see where you’re going, but it’s always a joy getting there.

Day 4: The lift pass ticket office in Seki Onsen

Day 4 Pete Coombs alone on a single seat lift Seki Onsen — Day 4: Pete Coombs alone on a single seat lift Seki Onsen

Day 4: Heading into the forest of Seki Onsen ski resort

Day 4 Alone in the trees in Seki Onsen — Day 4: Alone in the trees in Seki Onsen

Day 4: Pete Coombs vanishing into the trees

Day 5
Meet Mr Inoue-san, the owner of Seki Onsen, in his crazy little office. He arranges us a guide, with a little flag on the end of a piece of bamboo. We take a long hike above the resort, through pristine birch forest, before blasting back down.

Day 5: Entrance to an Onsen where you wash in the hot volcanic wate

Day 5: Pete Coombs with Guide and Owner in Seki Onsen.

Day 5: Pete & Mark Borland with local guide

Day 5: Following the guisde in an off piste adventure

Day 6
Sadly we leave town through more falling snow, after a quick morning on the board. Mark and I agree that it’s easy to love Japan, and we vow to return for another snowboarding adventure really soon.

Day 6: Pete Coombs takes a powder turn before heading for the airport

Day 6: Leaving town through a seasons worth of snow

Travel Information
Flights
British Airways offers direct flights from Heathrow to both Tokyo airports – Narita and Haneda – from £580 return.
www.britishairways.com

Train
Best option is to buy a Japan Rail Pass starting from £166.00 for 7 days travel £265 for 14 days www.jrpass.com

Airport Transfers
Limousine Bus, Airport to down Town £17 each way.
www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/

Ski Resorts
Seki Onsen Ski Resort www.sekionsen.com/ Lift tickets £20/day
Akakura Ski Resort www.akakura-ski.com/english.php
Akakura Onsen Ski Area www.akr-ski.com/english
Guide

Dancing Snow Back Country Guides. One day tour is ¥15,000 per person (£85), which includes guide fee, insurance, lift tickets, lunch, and transportation. www.dancingsnow.com

Hire
Ski/Snowboard Hire Ski and Boots from £26/day Snowboard and boots from £20/day www.spicy.co.jp/english

Where to stay
Pete Coombs stayed at the Akakura Hotel Annex – Myoko Hotel www.myokohotels.com and the Yama no Yu Sekizen Hotel in Seki Onsen

2 thoughts on “Travel: Myoko Akakura – Powder Fields by Peter Coombs”

Nic says:
Hi Peter. Nice wrap on Myoko.

Just to let you know that the owner of Seki Onsen is Inoue-san (not Daisuke – maybe that was your guide’s name).

Cheers, Nic

February 24, 2015 at 9:27 am
- Pete Graham says:
  HI Nic, Many thanks for the info and comment.. have updated the feature with the correct name. regards, Pete
  
  February 24, 2015 at 10:05 am

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