Hakuba

Hakuba

Hakuba

Hakuba is the perfect destination for skiers and boarders of all abilities with 10 ski resorts to choose from, including Happo One, Hakuba 47, Iwatake and Cortina. Each of the resorts is accessible via shuttle, although being well spread out, you’ll probably only ever ski one resort in a day. Hakuba is relatively westernised, making this an easy first-time destination in Japan, however you can still experience traditional Japanese culture with local restaurants, temples, natural onsen and even snow monkeys in the area. Book your next Hakuba ski package with Travelplan Ski today!

Difficulty

Beginner 30%
Intermediate 40%
Advanced 30%

At a Glance

Terrain Area

220ha

Summit

1,831m

Mt. Vertical

1,071m

Season

Dec-Apr

Lifts

135

Food & Bars

75

Accommodation Hakuba

Japan’s Finest Ski Resorts

While the majority of Hakuba accommodation is Western-style, including self-catered apartments, you can also find more traditional Japanese experiences in the local hotels, pensions and ryokans. There are three main areas of accommodation to choose, from according to your needs. If you’re aiming to ski all day and party through the night, book into Happo Village with its close proximity to the Happo Nakiyama base area, where there are great bars and restaurants. Though quieter, Lower Wadano has plenty of dining options and bars, and the added convenience of a ski rental shop and Happo-one Kokusai base area is within a five to 10 minute walk. The more peaceful Upper Wadano is about 15 minutes walk from Lower Wadano and has limited après activity, however it is closer to the Happo Sakka base.

Skiing & Boarding

Hakuba’s Options

With 10 resorts to choose from, there’s new and varied terrain to explore at Hakuba every day, and with an average 11 meters of snow each year, you’re pretty much assured of great conditions. This breathtakingly beautiful resort boasts Japan’s steepest slopes, tree lined powder filled back country (accessible with a guide) and moguls to challenge every advanced skier or boarder. But don’t worry, if you’re a beginner or looking to move to the next level, book into one of the resort’s many fantastic ski schools, which are close to the accommodation and staffed by English speaking instructors. The Hakuba valley also offers endless perfectly groomed runs to help you hone your turns, pick up your speed…or simply enjoy the spectacular panorama. Most of the resorts at Hakuba also have terrain parks for all levels of skiers and boarders.

Activities

With 10 mountains to choose from, it’s unlikely you’ll have a moment to spare during your days at Hakuba, but it’s a great idea to make the effort because despite this being a Westernised resort, you’ll find some wonderful authentic Japanese cultural experiences – from making sushi, to visiting an historic Japanese temple and observing the snow monkeys soaking themselves in the hot springs. Don’t miss the opportunity to savour amazing Japanese cuisine, or soak away the aches and pains in a natural hot spring onsen. And if you just can’t get enough of the cold stuff, experience snowmobiling and snowshoeing or explore one of the many terrain parks on offer. Looking for something to do at night? Happo Village is the place to be with its vast array of restaurants – both authentic Japanese and western style. And finally, be sure to experience the karaoke bars!

Getting There & Around

Ski Resort Transport

To get to Hakuba, fly into Narita and catch the fast train into Tokyo, then swap over to the Shinkansen bullet train for the trip to Nagano, which takes just over an hour and a half. Alternatively from Narita, the road trip to Hakuba is about four hours by private transfer, shuttle, or a daily scheduled bus.

How Far

Airport:
Narita Airport 340km

Transfer:
4.5 hours Bus or Drive

Our Staff Love ...

"Hakuba is such an easy destination to get to – only 3 hours from Tokyo and right in the heart of the Japanese Alps. Hakuba hosted the 1998 Winter Olympic Games and is one of the largest, you will never be short of areas to explore with terrain for all! My most memorable experience here was being taken out by a 'local' for lunch on a WhiteOut Day! It was amazing. Hakuba has a great variety of International & Traditional Dining – leaving you never hungry! 

Do make time during your stay to visit the Snow Monkeys, Matsumoto Castle & Zenkoji Temple – so much to see and do!"

Karen

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