Kogakuro Onsen in Myokokogen: Ski & Hot Springs & endless Snow
Winter time in Japan means ski and onsen. When I am in Tokyo in January or February I always try to get some days off and go to Akakura Onsen district in Myokokogen, near to Nagano.
Myokokogen Akakura Onsen is a little cozy snow resort. The hotel are all connected to the hot springs, which give the hotels hot healthy water to bath after a long skiing day.
There’s nothing better than coming back from the snow, changing your ski trousers to a kimono and then joining the ofuro.
First you sit down at a shower place and clean your body. Then you enter the hot bath, first inside then outside. At the outside bath you can also strengthen your body by rubbing it with the snow. Feels good!
Onsen in the winter is the best! Even when we are not in a snowing region during winter, we will make sure to search for a hotel with outdoor onsen.
That’s it. Whenever I am in Japan, I always try to stay at least for a weekend in an old traditional onsen place...