4 reasons to start your next ski trip in Morioka & Nagano Cities
Located in the Chubu region of Honshu, Nagano Prefecture (長野県 Nagano-ken) is known for its abundance of mountain ranges, natural sites, and deep cultural history. The prefecture has earned global recognition as a world-class winter sports tourist destination since its hosting of the 1998 Winter Olympics. If you’re serious about skiing, another prefecture to look out for is Iwate Prefecture (岩手県 Iwate-ken)—otherwise known as the second largest prefecture in Japan at 15,275km2. The highest peaks of the Ou Mountains (奥羽山脈 Ōu-sanmyaku), which is the longest mountain range in the whole of Japan, is shared between Iwate and Akita prefectures of the Tohoku region.
While some ski enthusiasts may prefer settling into the quieter, suburban towns where ski resorts villages are often found, there are tangible benefits when choosing an accommodation in the city instead. In this article, we’ll share how Morioka City (盛岡市 Morioka-shi) in Iwate Prefecture and Nagano City (長野市 Nagano-shi) in Nagano Prefecture are the ideal base-stops to start and end your skiing adventures. Here are four reasons why:
1. Direct access from the station
The exterior facade of Hotel Metropolitan Morioka. (Image credit: JR East Hotels)
Assuming that you’re a traveller who values convenience and accessibility, choosing a hotel that is close to any major train stations would be a natural choice. Introducing Hotel Metropolitan Morioka—a trusted hotel that offers direct access from JR Morioka Station (盛岡駅 Morioka-eki)! This cosy hotel is just a 1-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Morioka Station, which serves as a gateway to access various attractions like Morioka Castle Ruins, Iwate Museum of Art, and the Morioka Handiworks Square.
The spacious and well-equipped suite of Hotel Metropolitan Nagano. (Image credit: JR East Hotels)
If you would rather start your skiing adventure in Nagano Prefecture, Hotel Metropolitan Nagano would be an ideal choice—this 4-star hotel is found within the JR Nagano Station (長野駅 Nagano-eki) building! Nagano Station is served by both JR East as well as private lines, such as the Nagano Electric Railway Nagano Line and the Shinano Railway Line. This station will connect you to a plethora of sightseeing destinations, such as Karuizawa, Snow Monkey Park, and Shibu Onsen Village.
2. Short travel times to multiple ski resorts
(Video credit: ウィンタースポーツ協議会)
Having the luxury of staying in a hotel just minutes away from major train stations would open up a door of endless possibilities. If you’re a newbie in winter sports, there is value in taking some time to try out different ski resorts each day! You’ll be surprised to discover the personalities and perks of each resort, and decide which is the best fit in terms of difficulty, accessibility, and range of amenities. Whether you choose to be based in Morioka City or Nagano City, most ski resorts in the respective areas can be accessed in less than an hour.
Skiing near Morioka City (APPI Kogen, Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Hachimantai Resort)
There are 21 trails in APPI Kogen for visitors of all levels to explore in this snowy wonderland. (Image credit: Iwate Prefecture)
Hop on to the direct bus that runs between Morioka Station to APPI Kogen (安比高原スキー場 Appi Kogen Sukījō) during the winter season (December to March) every year. This service is run by the Iwate Kenpoku bus company, so do head over to the homepage to check their bus schedule in advance.
Shizukuishi Ski Resort offers dramatic views of Mount Iwate, and allows children under 13 to ski for free! (Image credit: Iwate Prefecture)
Visit Shizukuishi Ski Resort (雫石スキー場 Shizukuishi Sukījō) by bus during the weekends for a time of good family fun! This resort is famous for its unblocked view of Mount Iwate (岩手山 Iwate-san), the highest peak within Iwate Prefecture. There is a direct bus service from JR Morioka Station to Shizukuishi Ski Resort. The bus runs from late December to late March and takes about 50 minutes of journey time.
Hachimantai Resort is split into two ski areas: Panorama and Shimokura, each catering to different levels of difficulty. (Image credit: Iwate Prefecture)
And lastly, Hachimantai Resort (八幡平リゾート) is also accessible by the Iwate Kenpoku bus service. Known as the “holy land” of powder snow, Hachimantai Resort is also equipped with Snow Cat vehicles which are optimised for traversing on snow. Strong intermediate to advanced skiers who are fairly confident in their skills can consider joining the Hachimantai Powder Snow Cat Skiing Tour that is offered in the same vicinity.
Skiing near Nagano City (HAKUBA VALLEY Snow Resort)
(Image credit: Arvind Thampi)
The Hakuba Goryu Snow Resort is stunning even at night. Try your hand at nighttime skiing! (Image credit: Tourism Commission of Hakuba Village / JNTO)
HAKUBA VALLEY Snow Resort (白馬バレースキー場 Hakuba Barē Sukījō) is Japan’s largest snow resort, stretching over 30km in length, with 10 individual ski resorts to choose from including Happo-One Snow Resort and Hakuba Goryu Snow Resort among others. During the winter season (December to March), you can take Alpico Bus’ direct express service for HAKUBA VALLEY from the bus stop directly outside of Hotel Metropolitan Nagano. Be sure to read through HAKUBA VALLEY’s Essential Guide before embarking on your ski trip, especially if you are visiting for the first time.
Hop on to Alpico’s direct express service to HAKUBA VALLEY! You can board this bus from the bus stop outside of Hotel Metropolitan Nagano. (Image credit: Alpico GROUP)
3. Alternative plans in case of bad weather
Outdoor thrill-seekers like us are often at the mercy of the weather—we’re sure you’ve experienced having some travel plans foiling at the very last minute due to unexpected bad weather. One huge advantage of choosing a city centre as your base, though, is the flexibility to maneuver through such roadblocks like a seasoned-traveller (pun intended).
Should any of the ski resorts close due to unfavourable skiing conditions, visitors can simply choose to visit another ski resort. This is especially useful if you’re based in Morioka City, since there are 19 ski resorts within Iwate Prefecture itself!
However, if the God of Good Weather refuses to grant you clear skies for that dreamy snowboarding trip, fret not! Come rain or shine, here is a helpful list of alternative plans that are worth a visit.
Weatherproof plans near Nagano (Karuizawa, Kamakura Snow Dome Village)
Karuizawa: a mountain resort town where nature and Japanese hospitality coincide. (Image credit: raneko)
If you’re looking to fulfil your shopping desires, look no further than Nagano Prefecture’s trendiest mountain resort town, Karuizawa (軽井沢). This picturesque haven is littered with premium outlets, pockets of serene nature, and Instagram-able cafes along Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza Street for your daily coffee and cake fix.
Sometimes, the weather may be mild enough to enjoy some form of outdoor activity, so it is really a waste to stay indoors! Additionally, weather in Japan works quite differently from what we are used to in Singapore—unlike our sunny island, the expanse of the land is HUGE, and therefore witnessing thunderous skies in the mountainous region may not necessarily mean bad weather throughout the entire Prefecture. In times like these, consider visiting the Kamakura Snow Dome Village (かまくらの里 kamakura no sato), which is easily accessible via a 15-minute taxi ride from JR Iiyama Station (飯山駅 Iiyama-eki). You can read more about our fellow Japan Lover community member’s recommendation on Kamakura Snow Dome Village here.
Weatherproof plans near Morioka (Koiwai Farm, Wanko Soba Challenge)
Koiwai Farm is a one-stop attraction where families can get in touch with nature. (Image credit: Yoshihide Urushihara)
Visit the Koiwai Farm (小岩井農場 Koiwai Nōjō), a spacious farm that welcomes visitors of all ages to have a first-hand experience with idyllic farm life. A single visit to this farm can fill a half-day worth of activities, such as making your own butter, or a wildly fun tractor ride through the forest! You can read more about our fellow Japan Lover community member’s experience at Koiwai Farm here.
Another fun activity you could try is the Wanko Soba challenge! One of our fellow Japan Lover community members has personally attempted this dining challenge, and you can read her article here. Speaking about food, we got in touch with our friendly hotel concierge teams based in Nagano and Morioka Cities to share our fourth and final point:
4. Must-try foods endorsed by locals
A common sentiment among visitors who base themselves in the quieter, suburban areas is the limited food choices available within the vicinity of ski resorts. By choosing an accommodation near the city, you’ll be greeted by a wider variety of food establishments who observe longer operating hours as compared to family-run eateries in the suburbs. No trip is complete without food, and what’s more, authentic cuisines that are recommended by the locals themselves! The concierge teams of Hotel Metropolitan Morioka and Hotel Metropolitan Nagano count these as must-try spots when you visit their lovely towns.
Food recommendations near Morioka City
The main branch of Azumaya. Fifteen bowls of Wanko Soba make up one normal serving of soba noodles. (Image credit: Azumaya, Iwate Prefecture)
Azumaya (そば処東家 盛岡駅前店)
Have you heard about the three great noodles in Morioka? They are Reimen (冷麺), Jajamen (じゃじゃ麺), and perhaps the most unique of the lot—Wanko Soba (わんこそば). To partake in the Wanko Soba challenge, take off the lid of your bowl and allow the server to pour one portion of soba noodles into your bowl. As you devour one mini-serving at a time, the soba servers will continually refill your bowl while chanting "Hai Don Don" to cheer you on. The common goal is to reach 100 bowls, as only diners who have reached this milestone will be awarded a wooden plate called the tegata (手形) to commemorate this feat! Azumaya is the most popular restaurant that serves this traditional dish, with over four outlets in Morioka City. The main branch is a 30-min walk away, but the closest outlet to Hotel Metropolitan Morioka is only a 3-minute walk away.
Frequented by locals but highly popular with tourists, the izakaya offers an English menu for foreign guests. (Image credit: Yanagiya)
Yanagiya (柳家 盛岡駅中フェザン店)
This ramen shop prides itself in valuing the quality of wheat used in their noodles: only locally cultivated wheat from farms in Iwate Prefecture is used. Yanagiya is a well-known brand with over 40 years of history, established with the mission of “Issho Ippin” (one life, one dish) which exemplifies the amount of thought and effort put in to create a good bowl of ramen. Look out for their original creation that is the Kimchi Natto Ramen—the sourness and spiciness of kimchi is a surprisingly perfect match with natto! This restaurant is located in FES”AN shopping mall in Morioka Station, which is just a 3-minute walk from Hotel Metropolitan Morioka.
Food recommendations near Nagano City
And next up, our friendly concierge at Hotel Metropolitan Nagano is pleased to recommend the following food haunts around their city.
Shinshu Nagaya Sakaba (信州長屋酒場)
Frequented by locals but highly popular with tourists, the izakaya offers an English menu for foreign guests. (Image credit: Shinshu Nagaya Sakaba)
The Shinshu Nagaya Sakaba is an izakaya with a characteristic exterior and interior design that has been proven to be highly popular among foreign travellers and locals alike. They serve local specialities such as Shinshu Soba and a wide range of sake and wine from Nagano.
A patron enjoying freshly-made Shinshu Soba in Shinshu Nagaya Sakaba. (Image credit: JR Times / Sue)
With delicious food and alcohol, rustic interiors, and a bustling and warm atmosphere, this will be the perfect place to end a fruitful day of sightseeing or winter sport. Besides, this izakaya is just a 4-minute walk from Hotel Metropolitan Nagano.
Kusabue (草笛)
The restaurant’s open-concept soba-making workshop offers visitors a glimpse into the life of a soba noodle master. (Image credit: Kusabue)
Kusabue is a soba shop that is widely popular for its handmade Shinshu Soba noodle dishes. In fact, the noodles are so freshly made that you can watch the soba chef preparing the noodles through a see-through workshop right by the entrance of the store! Kusabue is found within the JR Nagano Station building. Simply take the West Exit and you’ll reach the shop within 5 minutes on foot.
A final tip...
While some travellers may prefer to retreat into the idyllic suburban areas, choosing to stay in the city is an advantageous option for the casual winter sportsman (or sportswoman). If you’re serious about maximizing your time in the ski resorts to hone your skills, choosing an appropriate ski resort as your accommodation will be a logical choice. However, for the rest of us who are just exploring winter sports for the first few times, settling near the city will bring the flexibility and freedom to discover many other attractions (and food haunts!) in the vicinity.
Here’s one final tip for travellers who are looking for convenient and affordable hotel accommodations near JR train stations: sign up for the free JR Hotels Membership programme! Members will get exclusive discounts, earn points for rebates, and get treated to perks like express check-ins and even late check-outs. Membership is free, valid for a lifetime, and there are currently 89 participating hotels spread across Japan. Bon voyage!
Hotel Metropolitan Morioka (ホテルメトロポリタン盛岡)
Address: 1-44 Moriokaekimaedori, Morioka-shi, Iwate, 020-0034
Nearest station: Morioka Station (盛岡駅)
TEL: +81 19-625-1211
Hotel Metropolitan Nagano (ホテルメトロポリタン長野)
Address: 1346 Minamiishidou-cho, Nagano-shi, Nagano, 380-0824
Nearest station: Nagano Station (長野駅)
TEL: +81 26-291-7000
All information listed are accurate at the time of writing. Please refer to the official sites for the latest updates.
Header image credit: Arvind Thampi
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