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. Here is an individual snapshot of what each resort has to offer.
Happo-One Mountain and Terrain
The long vertical of Happo 3,513 feet (1,071m) makes it one of the ‘go to’ places to ski and ride the epic powder on the large-scale slopes and you’ll need more than a day to get to know Happo and all that it has to offer.
Beginners Skiers and Riders
The bulk of the beginner runs are at the bottom of the mountain and are well serviced by a number of smaller ski lifts. Sakka lifts 2 and 3, Shirakaba 1 and 2 are a great option to find your feet and get back into the skiing and riding grove. Laps on Sakka 3 are near the Snow Plaza Sakka, which is a great option if you need a pit stop or to refuel. For the more confident beginner, there are easy trail and cat-track options that wind done skiers left and right from the top of Panorama and Kokusai 3 chair lifts. Skies left feeds you back into the Sakka area and skier right will see you end up in the Nakiyama area.
Intermediates Skiers and Riders
The good news is Happo hosted many of the Olympic runs for a reason because of its fantastic selection of open, groomed, and fall-line superhighways. Head straight to the Gondola Adam and lap the Riesen Slalom Course and remember to cut back skiers left before the bottom of the run to link back with the Gondola or cut skiers left at the top of the lift for the Panorama Course, which drops you back at the Gondola. Another red run favorite is lapping off the Kurobishi Quad chair.
Advanced Skiers and Riders
There is a lot to like Happo for advanced skiers. Warm up on Olympic Course 2 or the Central Course on the Adam Gondola and then head high a low and you’ll find great terrain across the mountain. If you head up Kurobishi 3 you can drop into Urakuro or head skiers right down the double black into the black Skyline 2 and double black Kitaone Course and you are guaranteed thrills and heart-pumping action.
Happo One On A Powder Day
Just get to where you want to go as quickly as possible as it’s all fabulous on a powder day and as you would expect the majority of inbounds skiing will track out fast. You can also access the backcountry from Happo but it is strongly recommended you go with one of the guiding companies as the terrain is extremely avalanche prone and so it best to wait until conditions are stable and go with experts who have a better chance of keeping you safe (and alive).
Goryu and Hakuba47 Mountain and Terrain
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. The resorts are both fairly small, but they are interconnected at the top, which opens up much more terrain possibilities. The snow quality remains high in the area, especially in Hakuba 47 thanks to its northerly aspect so the skiing goes late into the season. Hakuba47 is 3 miles (5km) from Happo and it’s a 2 mile (3km) wide between the village at Hakuba47 to Goryu’s Iimori ski base village.
Beginner Runs at Goryu
Your best bet is to head to Gory and hit the Tohmi and Iimori slopes as they are ideal for beginners, kids, and families. It also has a large night skiing area, if you really want to exhaust the kids.
Intermediate Runs at Goryu
On Goryu a warm-up in the Iimori is excellent and then head into the Alps-Dara Zone and be sure to take a run on Panorama into Super Course into Champion Dynamic Course into Woody Course and make sure you head skiers left into Woody Course or you’ll find yourself in the double black Champion Expert Course.
Advanced Runs at Goryu
There are some open tree riding off the skiers right towards the bottom of the Champion Expert Course, however, you’ll need to be there quick as there are only a handful of lines available as the area is quite small.
Powder Skiing Day at Goryu
It’s all good! Just be sure to stay inbounds and out of the closed areas if you want to keep your ski pass.
Hakuba47 Beginner Runs
The best tip is to ski Goryu, but if you have to you can catch the Gondola you can lap Route 7 which is a gentle cat track, and later you can cut skiers left down Route 6 to the Quad Lift Line C hair and up the Panorama Course Alps 1St Chair and enjoy a top to bottom ride along Route 8 into Route 7 and go from there.
Hakuba47 Intermediate Runs
Route 1 offers some open terrain and some open tress sections so lap it up and enjoy the pow.
Hakuba47 Advanced Runs
The Adventure Couse into Snow Diving Course like the names suggest on a powder day will have you coming back for more. Route 2 and 3 are the top pics to get your turns in although they are shorter runs Route 3 will drop you back at the top of the terrain park.
Hakuba47 On A Powder Day
Off Route 3 there are some open tress available to anyone and there are also some open trees you can access if your register. Head to the ski School and sign up, it’s free, for the “Double Black Diamond Ski Run Club” and you’ll receive a bib that allows you to access these areas.
Tsugaike Mountain and Terrain
Tsugaike is a groomer’s paradise with a wide-open bottom area that offers a fabulous experience for beginners and intermediates. It also has terrific off-piste for those powder days. Plus, you can register to ski their breathtaking trees. It’s a large ski area compared with many other resorts in the valley and is usually less crowded the best part is you can get to the top via their 3-mile (5km) gondola ride. This is also where helicopter skiing operates, usually from early March.
Tsugaike Beginner Terrain
Everything in the lower third of the mountain offers an excellent beginner terrain skiing and riding experience that is well-serviced by a handful of ski lifts.
Tsugaike Intermediate and Advanced Terrain
Laps on the gondola give you the best value for hitting some great top to bottom runs.
Tsugaike on a Powder Day
Tsugapow DBD offers spectacular tree skiing. You will need to watch a short safety video and then collect your DBD pass, so ski patrol knows you have done the safety course. You can access the tress from 4 gates off the black Uma-no-se Slope and from there it’s strap in and hang on as the tree skiing in Tsugapow DBD will not disappoint.
Iwatake Mountain and Terrain
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. It has the lowest top elevation in the valley 4,229 feet (1,289m) and is the first to be impacted by warm weather. Iwatake does offer some of the most varied terrain of all the resorts in the valley.
Iwatake Beginner Terrain
It’s not really a beginner’s mountain, best to go to Tsugaike or Goryu but if you are there your best bet will be the Sawa Course.
Iwatake Intermediate Terrain
There are lots of options off the Gondola that take you to the top. A great warm-up is Gozan into Paradise. From there it’s another ride up to the top and you can spread out from there.
Iwatake Advanced Terrain
Head into the Iwatake Back Bowl and lap the view runs. View A is a large natural gully and the most fun. To get into the area head straight off the gondola and keep the bakery on your right and you can’t miss it.
Iwatake’s DC Terrain Park is one of the best parks in the Hakuba Valley. It is a great progression Park with a variety of features.
Iwatake on a Powder Day
The area is great for intermediates so you will find great skiing and riding in every direction you decide to take.
Sanosaka Mountain and Terrain
Sanosaka is a freestyler hang out, has cruisy trails as well, and is best for stronger beginners and intermediate skiers and riders.
Cortina Mountain and Terrain
Cortina is known for receiving some of the lightest driest powder in the area. It was one of the first to open up its tree skiing and it’s steep, up to 42 degrees in some areas, and world-class but you would want to be at least a strong intermediate to make the most out of the, at times, tight trees and steep terrain. There is also a backcountry “no hike” gate at the top but you will need to know what you are doing, and have all of the avalanche gear and this is only recommended for highly experienced backcountry skiers.
Cortina Beginner Terrain
There is good beginner skiing and riding at the bottom of the mountain Ikenota Gelande is the pick.
Cortina Intermediate Terrain
There is some great intermediate skiing and riding off the No. 3 Quad Lift including Rabbit Course and Kamoshika Course.
Cortina Advanced Terrain
The rest of the mountain is there for the taking. Best to ski and ride with someone that knows the area as you are responsible for yourself in the trees and the tree skiing is world-class.
Mountain Stats
Skiable Terrain | 543 acres (220 hectares) |
Vertical | 1071 m (3513 ft) |
Top Elevation | 1837 m (6007 ft) |
Base Elevation | 760 m (2,493 ft) |
Average Snowfall | 11 m (36 ft) |
Beginner Terrain | 30% |
Intermediate Terrain | 50% |
Advanced Terrain | 20% |
Trails | 13 |
Winter lifts Total | 22 |
Gondolas Trams | 1 |
Chair Lifts | 21 |
Longest Run | 8 km (5 mi) |
Season Opens | November |
Season Closes | May |