Known for its mountainous winter resorts and windswept Japan Sea coastline, its rice fields and sake, Niigata prefecture is a complete break from the urban sprawl of Tokyo a few hundred kilometres to the south. That includes the accommodation. You won’t find international five-star brands in Niigata, but you will get places to stay with lots of character, including cosy inns, boutique hotels and family-friendly ski resorts. Read on for the best.
When the Akakura Kanko Hotel opened its doors in the mountainous hot-spring area of Myoko Kogen in 1937, it was one of the first European-style ski resorts in Japan. Today, there are 21 area ski lifts (six specifically at Akakura Kanko) connecting slopes suitable for all levels of skiers and snowboarders – including one marauding four-kilometre run.
At an elevation of 1,000 metres, there are sweeping mountains views from the Akakura’s open-air communal hot-spring baths and its 52 recently renovated Western- and Japanese-style rooms – the former featuring contemporary dark woods and the latter tatami mat floors. For an added touch of indulgence book one of the premium rooms and suites, some of which have private open-air hot-spring tubs.
These days, Akakura isn’t just a winter resort. The hot-spring bathing is year-round. Once the late December to mid-April ski season is over, spring and summer activities come to the fore: hiking, mountain biking and rounds of golf on the Akakura’s 18-hole course.