The Story of Muikamachi/Hakkaisan
Further up Route 17 to the North is the town of Muikamachi, which is one of the biggest in Snow Country and is also home to the famous Hakkaisan mountain. Most Japanese people have heard this name as one of the best sake brands but may not know that it takes its name from the mountain itself. It is a ski resort in winter with a long ropeway to the top, and in summer becomes a hikers paradise as one of the Top 3 Echigo Hiking destinations (along with Komagatake and Nakanodake.) For the more culturally inclined, this area offers some fantastic shrines to explore (of which Hakkaisan Jinja is a great example) and has sites of historical importance.
Our recommended access from Tokyo
Transportation Step1
-Take Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station to Echigo-Yuzawa. The price is 5,980JPY each way.
-By bus, take an express bus from West Exit of Ikebukuro station in Tokyo. The express buses arrive at Yuzawa IC so if you take an express bus then we need to request a pick up service from your hotel, so please let us know. The price is 3,000JPY each way.
Transportation Step2
Change from the Bullet Train to a Joetsu line (local train) to 'Nagaoka' from the Platform No.2 in the Echigo-Yuzawa station. The price is 320JPY to Muikamachi station.
