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Hakuba

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Hakuba Valley Ski Resorts

With steep slopes, 9,842 feet-high peaks (3000 meter) and some of Japan’s longest vertical, the Hakuba Valley is the one area in Japan most often compared to the European Alps. It is located on Japan’s main island Honshu, and filled with rugged mountains flanked by 9 resorts sporting over 200 runs, all of which are accessed with one ski pass. The region is blessed by more than 32 feet (10 metres) of snow and being so vast, it offers huge variety in every aspect from lodging to restaurants, activities and cultural experiences and even a helicopter skiing operation. The Genki-Go shuttle bus service connects the entire Hakuba Valley. Options for eating and drinking are numerous, spanning everything to quick snacks to casual to a la carte. Natural hot-springs are in abundance and there are plenty of day trips and activities available outside of skiing and snowboarding.

Hakuba lies in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, home to Hakuba Happo One which hosted many of the skiing events for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. This famous resort has 3,635 feet (1,180m) of vertical and is ranked among the best ski areas in the world for its demanding slopes and breadth of skiing and snowboarding terrain. It still hosts many FIS World Cup events earning it the reputation as a world-class ski resort. Each year sees several international ski jumping, alpine ski and snowboarding, cross-country and biathlon competitions events.

Hakuba Ski Area SkiBookings.com

Skiing started in the Hakuba Valley in 1911 when visiting Austrian officer Theodore Van Lech introduced the sport to the local population. It was not until 1928 that skiing officially started when Hosono ski club was formed and Happo ski resort become the centrepiece of the valley.

In more recent times Hakuba has attracted much attention from Westerners who have established businesses and hotels to cater to the area’s growing popularity with tourists and skiers, yet its authenticity and infectious appeal remains firmly intact.

Hakuba Valley Accommodation

Hakuba is a sought-after destination not only for its excellent slopes but also extensive array of hotels, self-contained cottages and private cabins, lodges, many Western-style apartments and Japanese style pensions.

Happo and Wadano are the two main ski towns in the Hakuba Valley and as such have the bulk of the accommodation plus apres ski, dining and nightlife options to suit all tastes and budgets. Goryu has ski-in ski-out hotels and pensions running up the side of the slopes, particularly handy as the area has premium night skiing.

Top-tier hotels include Hakuba Resort Hotel La Neige Higashikan and the Hakuba Tokyu Hotel. Both sit on the pointy end of the five star scale with exceptional architecture and restaurants serving 7 course meals. The Hakuba Springs Hotel is a modern western-style hotel in the heart of Happo-One Village.

Hakuba Valley Mountains and Ski Terrain

A total of 135 ski lifts, including five gondolas, lead to over 200 runs some of which offer the longest vertical in Japan. From the complete novice to the expert, there is something to please everyone – the gentlest of green slopes to challenging steeps, long bump runs and even longer groomers plus plenty of powder stashes.

The size of the Hakuba Valley means lift queues are virtually non-existent. There is also a substantial amount of side country and backcountry skiing to be explored. Taking a guide is highly recommended: expert backcountry guiding operations include Hakuba Powder Tours run by Australian Winter Olympian and former World Cup racer Steven Lee.

Hakuba’s 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics’ events location Happo-One has the largest ski lift network (33 lifts) of all the valley’s areas. The other resorts  are Jiigatake, Kashimayari, Sanosaka, Goryu, Hakuba47, Iwatake, Tsugaike, Norikura Onsen and Cortina. Each ski area has a mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced slopes ensuring levels are catered for as equally as possible no matter where people ride.

Goryu and Hakuba47 have the steepest runs, up to 40 degrees in places, plus quality intermediate slopes. Hakuba47 is the freestyle capital of the valley and home to large impressive terrain parks and a superpipe.

Tsugaike is a groomer’s paradise with terrific off-piste for those powder days. This is also where helicopter skiing operates ,usually from early March. Iwatake has loads of easy wide terrain and is also a good place to take shelter on storm days thanks to its location. On clear days however, the highest points offer jaw-dropping 360 degree views of the region. Sanosaka is a freestylers hang out, and has cruisy trails as well. Cortina is known for receiving some of the lightest driest powder in the area.

Hakuba Ski Area Gondola SkiBookings.com

Hakuba Statistics

Skiable Terrain543 acres (220 hectares)
Vertical1071 m (3513 ft)
Top Elevation1837 m (6007 ft)
Base Elevation760 m (2,493 ft)
Average Snowfall11 m (36 ft)
Intermediate Terrain50%
Advanced Terrain20%
Trails13
Winter lifts Total22
Gondolas Trams1
Chair Lifts21
Longest Run8 km (5 mi)
Season OpensNovember
Season ClosesMay

How To Get To The Hakuba Valley

There are numerous Airport Shuttle services from Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda Airports to Hakuba including the Chuo Taxi door-to-door service.

From Tokyo, the shinkansen (bullet train) takes about one hour and 40 minutes to Nagano Station followed by a one hour express bus ride to Hakuba.

Narita Airport to Hakuba Map SkiBookings.com

Hakuba Valley Snowsports & Ski School

There are 4 English language international snow sports schools in Hakuba. These include Evergreen International Ski School (EISS), which operates from the Kokusai base and was established by a Canadian ski instructor and backcountry specialist in 2000. It was the first English language ski school in Hakuba and employs a number of highly qualified Australian ski and snowboard instructors. Programs are available for beginner to advanced levels, children and adults. Evergreen also runs a backcountry guiding service.

The Hakuba Snow Sports School teaches group lessons from beginner to expert. However, you can book a half or full day private lesson with one of its multi-lingual instructors, to be taken at any resort in the Hakuba Valley.

Hakuba Ski Area Snowsports Ski School SkiBookings.com

Activities Facilities and Tours

Well-established in Hakuba are a variety of operators in cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, snow rafting and heli-skiing. Hakuba is also one of the Japanese destinations that offers immersive cultural experiences tourists such as learning how to make soba noodles, do origami, wrap oneself correctly in a kimono, and attend a Japanese tea ceremony.

Thanks to the legacy of the Olympics you can look down the barrel of a genuine Olympic ski jump at the Hakuba Jumping Station: take a chair lift and elevator to the top of the 90 meter and 120 meter jumps, walk out on the start gates and imagine what it would be like to descend on skis.

The famous Jigokudani Monkey Park where visitors can see wild macaques bathing in outdoor natural hot springs is a popular day trip from Hakuba. Close by is Zenkoji Temple, site of the first buddhist statue ever brought to Japan, and the historic town of Obuse, a terrific place to go for lunch, culture, shopping and sake.

Hakuba Ski Area Activities Tubing SkiBookings.com

Hakuba Valley Restaurants, Bars  & Nightlife

The influx of overseas investors has significantly impacted on the wining and dining scene, to the point where Hakuba ranks among top Japan’s top ski resorts for apres and dining. Visitors to Hakuba can find small authentic Japanese restaurants serving local, fresh ingredients, as easily as they can Western-style restaurants in the style of steakhouses or pasta and pizza outlets. There is also plenty of choice in fine dining. Many higher end hotels have employed overseas chefs and their wine lists include top French, Australian and New Zealand wines.

There are plenty of options in the valley for casual eating out with small Izakaya and restaurants serving hand made soba noodles and local pub-style tucker. The Japanese drumming and sake night with buffet and show is renown as one of Goryu’s best night’s out. Those with adventurous palates should seek out the Wasabi Farm for wasabi ice-cream and wasabi beer.

Echoland is a renowned go-to area for apres ski and nightlife. Located between Hakuba 47 and Happo ski area, it has the highest concentration of bars and restaurants offering  huge variety. The Korean-style charcoal  grilled barbecue here is a popular for its cook-your-own fare, as is Snow’d Inn, a small sports bar serving a range of dishes.

Hakuba Valley Shopping

Hakuba is particularly good for equipment shopping. Between Rhythm Snowsports and Central Snowsports you can source high quality ski and snowboarding equipment across demo, rental and retail. Central Snowsports has three locations – Happo-One, another closer to Wadano and Sakka and one at Goryu. The store is a go-to for one of the widest ranges you will find anywhere of powder snowboards, skis, the largest demo fleet in the valley plus Masterfit boot services.

Souvenir stores about throughout the Hakuba Valley and grocery stores and convenience stores are easy to find.

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