Straddles Niigata and Nagano; among Japan's snowiest · Updated 15 Oct 2026
Myoko and Joetsu Webcams & Snow Report
Hot-spring villages such as Akakura, Ikenotaira, Suginohara and Seki are scattered across the lower slopes of Mount Myoko, with the ski runs rising just above their streets. Seven hot-spring villages here, each with water of a different colour and character, are known together as the Myoko Kogen onsen district. Buses climb to the main lodging villages from Myoko-Kogen Station on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway. To the north, below Mount Ogenashi and Mount Hiuchi, most of the terrain at Arai and Charmant Hiuchi is unpisted. Sources: mlit.go.jp, niigata-kankou.or.jp, princehotels.co.jp, lottehotel.com, charmant-hiuchi.jp (sources read 2026-10-13)
No new snow has fallen at Myoko and Joetsu's ski areas in the last 48 hours.
Live cameras
5 of the 11 ski areas have official live cameras (5 in all). Each link opens the operator's own page or YouTube stream.
- Akakura Kanko Ski Resort
- Live camera on the official home page ↗akr-ski.com
- Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort
- Centre house ↗YouTube
- Madarao Kogen Mountain Resort
- Madarao Kogen slopes ↗madarao.jp
- Myoko Suginohara
- Gondola top and Mitahara No.2 lift top ↗princehotels.co.jp
- Tangram Madarao Ski Circus
- Tangram slopes ↗tangram.jp
No slope camera found yet: Akakura Onsen Ski Area, Arai Mountain Resort, Kurohime Kogen, Kyukamura Myoko, Seki Onsen Ski Area, Ikenotaira Onsen Alpen Blick Ski Resort
Footage remains the copyright of each operator. JAPANSNOWLINE neither stores nor redistributes it. Road cameras are listed on each resort’s page.
The season at a glance
| Ski area | Typical winter | Worst–best of 12 | Snow quality (of 397) | Adult day ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akakura Kanko Ski Resort | 445 cm | 273–560 cm | 92 | ¥7,000 |
| Akakura Onsen Ski Area | 445 cm | 273–560 cm | 93 | — |
| Arai Mountain Resort | 663 cm | 273–816 cm | 156 | — |
| Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort | 690 cm | 388–816 cm | 166 | — |
| Kurohime Kogen | 432 cm | 230–560 cm | 68 | — |
| Kyukamura Myoko | 445 cm | 273–560 cm | 103 | — |
| Madarao Kogen Mountain Resort | 432 cm | 230–560 cm | 64 | — |
| Myoko Suginohara | 357 cm | 230–435 cm | 48 | ¥8,000 (last season) |
| Seki Onsen Ski Area | 689 cm | 273–867 cm | 30 | — |
| Tangram Madarao Ski Circus | 432 cm | 230–560 cm | 63 | — |
| Ikenotaira Onsen Alpen Blick Ski Resort | 432 cm | 230–560 cm | 74 | — |
Typical winter is the December–March average over the last 12 winters (calculated). “Worst–best” is the leanest and the deepest of those 12 winters, which is the range a trip booked a year out has to live with. Ticket prices are checked on each resort’s own site; “—” means we have not checked one yet.
Compare Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort, Seki Onsen Ski Area, Arai Mountain Resort →
When the snow falls
In Myoko and Joetsu, the most snow falls in January. March brings 41% of January's, or about 71 cm. The one that keeps snowing latest is Myoko Suginohara, where March still brings 49% of January's snowfall.
| Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 140 cm | 172 cm | 113 cm | 71 cm |
Monthly averages over the last 12 winters, averaged across the ski areas in this area. This is what falls in each month, not how deep the base is.
The mountains themselves
| Ski area | Base to top | Vertical | Spread of the runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akakura Kanko Ski Resort | 675–1,102 m | 427 m | 3.7 km |
| Akakura Onsen Ski Area | 675–1,102 m | 427 m | 3.0 km |
| Arai Mountain Resort | 289–1,147 m | 858 m | 4.8 km |
| Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort | 366–998 m | 632 m | 2.1 km |
| Kurohime Kogen | 742–1,301 m | 559 m | 2.4 km |
| Kyukamura Myoko | 719–922 m | 203 m | 1.5 km |
| Madarao Kogen Mountain Resort | 914–1,200 m | 286 m | 2.4 km |
| Myoko Suginohara | 760–1,470 m | 710 m | — |
| Seki Onsen Ski Area | 859–1,139 m | 280 m | 1.2 km |
| Tangram Madarao Ski Circus | 861–1,261 m | 400 m | 2.3 km |
Elevations come from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan and OpenStreetMap. “Spread” is the width of the area the runs cover, not the total length of piste.
Questions people ask
Which ski areas in Myoko and Joetsu have live webcams?
5 of the 11, with 5 cameras in all: Akakura Kanko Ski Resort, Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort, Madarao Kogen Mountain Resort, Myoko Suginohara, Tangram Madarao Ski Circus. Each one opens on the operator's own page.
How much snow does Myoko and Joetsu get in a typical winter?
From December to March, the most falls at Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort: about 690 cm. The least in the same area is Myoko Suginohara, at about 357 cm — elevation and aspect make the difference. Calculated from the last 12 winters.
What happens in Myoko and Joetsu in a bad winter?
Over the last 12 winters, Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort ranged from 388 cm in its leanest winter to 816 cm in its deepest, against a typical 690 cm, so a poor winter brought 56% of the usual amount.
What does a lift ticket cost in Myoko and Joetsu?
Adult day tickets we have checked on the resorts' own sites run from ¥7,000 at Akakura Kanko Ski Resort to ¥8,000 at Myoko Suginohara.