Hibiki Lodge from above in deep snow, the rice fields behind it and the Myoko mountains beyond.

Jōetsu, Niigata

A whole house in snow country, for your group.

Rice fields on one side, cedar forest on the other. Myoko's ski resorts are 8 to 25 minutes away.

Book now See the house
The stay

A house for groups, in snow country.

Hibiki Lodge is on the edge of Jōetsu, 8 to 25 minutes by car from the main Myoko slopes.

The house looks out over rice paddy fields to the mountains. Most guests mention the view first.

It sleeps up to 14, and there is always a quiet corner when you want one.

Sleeps up to
14
To the slopes
8-25 min
From Tokyo
3-3.5 hr
To the forest
1 min

Inside the house.

The whole house is yours, with room for a large group to spread out.

The long dining table set for a group, snow visible through the balcony doors.
A tatami room seen through open sliding doors, futon laid out beneath a window onto the mountains.
A small table by the window, low winter sun across the floorboards and snow-covered fields beyond.
The kitchen: a long counter with sink, hob, oven and dishwasher, and windows onto the snowy mountains.
The bathroom with a bathtub, a separate shower and a wood-panelled wall.
A second shower room with a glass shower cubicle and a basin, a window onto the mountains behind.
A bedroom with futons on wooden floors, built-in cupboards and two windows onto the snow and mountains.
The window at the top of the stairs, looking over snow-covered rice fields to the mountains.

Big snow, small crowds.

Myoko has several ski resorts, and each one makes for a different day out. All of them are under thirty minutes from the house.

By car from the house
  • Lotte Arai Powder 8 min

    A big resort built around powder. A gondola takes you up from the base, and much of the mountain between the trails is open for off-piste skiing when the ski patrol says it is safe. It gets heavy snow off the Sea of Japan. Best for confident skiers, though there are easier runs too. The restaurants and the Hoshizora onsen are at the base.

    Official website for Lotte Arai (opens in a new tab)
  • Ikenotaira Families and beginners 20 min

    A relaxed resort with wide, gentle runs. Most of the slopes suit beginners and intermediates, and school groups come here to learn. There is a netted kids area with a moving belt on weekends and holidays, and a terrain park for anyone who wants one.

    Official website for Ikenotaira (opens in a new tab)
  • Akakura Onsen Beginners, closest to town 20 min

    The easiest place in the area to start. About half the runs are beginner runs, wide and gentle. It runs night skiing in the evenings, so you can ski after a late start. It is named after the hot spring village at its base, so a soak is close by.

    Official website for Akakura Onsen (opens in a new tab)
  • Seki Onsen Quiet, local 20 min

    A small, quiet local resort with a handful of runs and two chairlifts, so it rarely feels crowded. It is known for some of the deepest snow in Japan, with a base of over two metres common in mid-winter. There are gentle runs for beginners and an ungroomed powder run for strong skiers.

    Official website for Seki Onsen (opens in a new tab)
  • Akakura Kanko Steeper, and the views 21 min

    Higher up and steeper. The Champion B course is a long, competition-standard run with views out to Lake Nojiri and, on a clear day, the Sea of Japan. The Sky Cable gondola and lifts link up for long runs. One lift pass covers neighbouring Akakura Onsen too, for a bit extra.

    Official website for Akakura Kanko (opens in a new tab)
  • Suginohara One of Japan's longest runs 25 min

    Known for one very long run, advertised at 8.5 km, that drops over 1,000 metres from the summit to the base. It is wide and mostly groomed, so confident intermediates will enjoy it most. The gondola takes you to the top, with views of Lake Nojiri. There are around 16 courses in all, mostly for beginners and intermediates, plus a snow park.

    Official website for Suginohara (opens in a new tab)
  • Kurohime Kogen Snow Park Families, just over the border in Nagano 25 min

    Set up for families. The slopes are wide and gentle, with good views. There is a Family Park with sleds and snow toys, and an indoor play area for bad weather. Some courses welcome dogs.

    Official website for Kurohime Kogen Snow Park (opens in a new tab)

The house all year round.

Most people come for the snow. Spring, summer and autumn are worth the trip too.

Takada Castle's turret lit up at night, cherry blossom all around it and reflected in the moat.
Photo: Cp9asngf, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)

Cherry blossom season lasts longer here.

In most of Japan the blossom is over in about a week. In Niigata it can last close to a month, because the cool air off the Sea of Japan slows it down. Takada Castle is 30 minutes from the house. At night around 4,000 trees are lit up along the moat, and it's known as one of the three best places in Japan to see blossom after dark.

Nearby

What is there to do?

Restaurants and cafés 7 places
Groceries and convenience 5 places
Pharmacy 1 place
Places of interest 5 places
Activities 6 places
Fuel and car 2 places
Also in range
  • Naena Falls
  • Zenkō-ji
  • Kamakura snow huts
  • Snowshoe tours

Getting here

Train, then a rental car 3-3.5 hr from Tokyo
  1. 01 Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT) to Tokyo Station Haneda is about 25 minutes. Narita is about 55. 25-55 min
  2. 02 Shinkansen to Jōetsu-Myoko Station 2 hr
  3. 03 Rent a car at the station Rental cars are at Jōetsu-Myoko Station.
  4. 04 Drive to Hibiki Lodge 20 min
Rent a car at the airport About 4.5 hr from the airport
  1. 01 Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT): pick up a rental car after you land
  2. 02 Drive to Hibiki Lodge 4.5 hr
Map of Niigata prefecture with Jōetsu marked on the coast below the Myoko mountains.

Four friends from Malaysia.

We were brought together by travel, snow and a reason to come back to Japan every year.

We hope that you will enjoy the area and have a chance to stay at Hibiki Lodge.

Andre, Caryl, Sylvia and Julien.

The four owners of Hibiki Lodge standing in the upstairs room, snow through the window behind them.
The four of us, upstairs, first winter.
Bookings

Come and stay.

We take one group at a time, so the whole house is yours.

Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will write back.

Please give us a first name to reply to.

Please give us a last name.

Please check the email address.

Choose your country, then the number without the leading zero.

Please give a country code and a number between 6 and 15 digits.

Infants do not count towards the fourteen beds.

Please give at least one adult.

Arrive and leave. We take one group at a time.

Please give an arrival date and a leaving date that follows it.

Are you flexible on dates? Optional

Skiers, small children, dietary needs, arrival time.

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Your details are sent to Cloud 9 Property Management, who handle bookings for Hibiki Lodge.

FAQ

How do I get there?
  • About 3 to 3.5 hours from Tokyo, door to door.
  • Take the train to Tokyo Station, then the shinkansen to Jōetsu-Myoko Station. It takes about 2 hours.
  • From the station, it is a 20-minute drive to the house.
  • Driving the whole way takes 4 to 5 hours.
Do I need a car?
  • Yes, we highly recommend one.
  • Rental cars are available at Jōetsu-Myoko Station.
  • In winter, you must have an AWD vehicle or winter tires.
  • A car makes the ski resorts, the onsen and the supermarket much easier to reach.
What is there to do nearby?
  • Skiing: seven ski areas, 8 to 25 minutes by car.
  • If you do not ski, you can go snowshoeing or snowmobiling, or visit Jōetsu city.
  • Within an hour you can reach onsen, a winery, a shrine and a castle.
  • A forest is a one-minute walk from the door.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
  • No. We do not speak Japanese either.
  • A phone and some patience have been enough so far.
  • Questions before you arrive? Send us an enquiry and we will help.
Can we book just a room?
  • No. The house is booked whole, for one group at a time.
  • It sleeps up to 14.