Ski resort in HAKUBA

Big white ski resort

The Hakuba Valley incorporates 11 ski resorts that offer an expanse of terrain. The Hakuba ski resorts aren’t interconnected via the slopes (except for Hakuba 47 and Goryu, and Cortina and Norikura), but they can be accessed off a common lift ticket and there are free shuttle buses to get around to the different ski areas. The ski resorts from north to south are: Cortina, Norikura, Tsugaike Kogen, Iwatake, Happo-One, Hakuba 47, Goryu, Sanosaka, Kashimayari, Jigatake, and Minekata is on the opposite side of the valley from the town of Hakuba. Check out the Ski Hakuba page for an overview of each of the ski areas to help you decide which resorts you want to go to.

One major advantage of Hakuba is the terrain size on offer with 960 hectares of skiable terrain which equates to 137km of piste and 200+ courses, 135 lifts (5 gondolas) and at least 9 terrain parks.

The Hakuba skiing is varied across the resorts but it’s generally very well suited to beginners and intermediates with many long perfectly groomed runs and fantastic fall-line. Advanced skiers and snowboarders will also love the steep groomers at a few of the resorts, and if you’re into bumps you’ll be in heaven. You can join many of the Japanese who just adore moguls! Freestylers are also well catered for.

Expert riders and powder hounds may get a little frustrated with the uptight approach to tree skiing at many of the Hakuba ski resorts. Some of the resorts are old-school strict whereby off-piste skiing is completely banned and heavily policed, a couple of resorts may tolerate a little bit tree skiing, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Cortina is a relaxed freeriding powder mecca.

Hakuba Snow

Hakuba is blessed with plenty of snow; an average of 11 metres of powder per season. Hakuba offers lots of powder days and plenty of opportunity to sample the famous Japow! The Hakuba snow isn’t quite as dry as Hokkaido powder but it’s still very good.

Where is Hakuba?

The town of Hakuba is located 44km west of Nagano (about one hour drive) in the Nagano Prefecture. Hakuba is located on the island of Honshu (the main island of Japan), about 270km northwest of Tokyo.

Hakuba is easily accessed from Tokyo or the Tokyo International Airport (Narita) via bullet train and bus, or a direct transfer. See the Hakuba travel page for more information.

DEEP POWDER SNOW

are precisely the greatest blessings of nature that Japan boasts to the world.

HAKUBA47&GORYU From the lodge 10min free shuttle bus Lifts 19 Runs 30% Beginner 40% Intermediate 30% Expert Longest run 5km Steepest run 40 Elevation Top 1676 Night skiing Yes Hakuba47 is located in the Hakuba Valley cascading down the apron of the Northern Japanese Alps. The Mecca of Japanese snowsports has 10 ski resorts and over 200 runs. The alpine scenery from Hakuba47 is truly spectacular with huge rugged mountains towering to the sky, notably Goryudake and the famous three peaks of Hakuba Yarigatake.	HAPPO-ONE From the lodge 5min free shuttle bus Lifts 33 Runs 30% Beginner 50% Intermediate 20% Expert Longest run 8km Steepest run 38 Elevation base 760m Top 1831m Night skiing Yes HAPPO-ONE is blessed with breathtaking panoramic views of Hakuba’s hugely impressive mountain range and striking beauty of excellence. It is also known as the competition venue for the 1998 Olympic Winter Games Nagano and thus offers visitors to the region exciting and challenging ski slopes.
IWATAKE From the lodge 5min free shuttle bus Lifts 16 Runs 30% Beginner 50% Intermediate 20% Expert Longest run 4.5km Steepest run 35 Elevation – Top 1289m Bottom 750m Night skiing no From the lodge 5min free shuttle bus Iwatake is an intermediate skiers dream and boasts the best views in the valley along with one of the best halfpipes. The summit of Iwatake mountain is separated slightly from the main range which gives it those great views.	TSUGAIKE From the lodge 20 mins by bus Lifts 26 Runs 40% Beginner 40% Intermediate 20% Expert Longest run 8km Steepest run 35 Elevation Top 1700m Bottom 730m Night skiing Yes From the lodge 20 mins by bus (500yen) or 15 minutes by taxi (3000yen) Tsugaike is actually situated in Otari village, the next village over to the north of here but is fairly easy to reach by bus from the lodge and is well worth a visit.
CORTINA Lifts 19 Runs 40% Beginner 30% Intermediate 30% Expert Longest run 5km Steepest run 42 Elevation Top 1443m Bottom 693m Night skiing Yes Hakuba Cortina and Norikura resorts share the same ski lift pass and are located on the northern end of the Hakuba valley. They are known for getting the most snow in the valley with a huge total of 15m falling in an average season.	KASHIMAYARI Lifts 22 Runs 42% Beginner 35% Intermediate 23% Expert Longest run 5km Steepest run 38 Elevation Top 1550m base 740m Night skiing Yes KASHIMAYARI, surrounded by forests and lakes, includes a wide variety of courses that make use of the area's natural geography and are sure to please everyone from beginners and people skiing with their families to experts. We have everything from a powder zone to terrain park. Challenge yourself on the moguls course! There are four levels - for beginners to

HAKUBA47&GORYU

From the lodge 10min free shuttle bus Lifts 19 Runs 30% Beginner 40% Intermediate 30% Expert Longest run 5km Steepest run 40 Elevation Top 1676 Night skiing Yes Hakuba47 is located in the Hakuba Valley cascading down the apron of the Northern Japanese Alps. The Mecca of Japanese snowsports has 10 ski resorts and over 200 runs. The alpine scenery from Hakuba47 is truly spectacular with huge rugged mountains towering to the sky, notably Goryudake and the famous three peaks of Hakuba Yarigatake.

HAPPO-ONE

From the lodge 5min free shuttle bus Lifts 33 Runs 30% Beginner 50% Intermediate 20% Expert Longest run 8km Steepest run 38 Elevation base 760m Top 1831m Night skiing Yes HAPPO-ONE is blessed with breathtaking panoramic views of Hakuba’s hugely impressive mountain range and striking beauty of excellence. It is also known as the competition venue for the 1998 Olympic Winter Games Nagano and thus offers visitors to the region exciting and challenging ski slopes.

IWATAKE

From the lodge 5min free shuttle bus Lifts 16 Runs 30% Beginner 50% Intermediate 20% Expert Longest run 4.5km Steepest run 35 Elevation – Top 1289m Bottom 750m Night skiing no From the lodge 5min free shuttle bus Iwatake is an intermediate skiers dream and boasts the best views in the valley along with one of the best halfpipes. The summit of Iwatake mountain is separated slightly from the main range which gives it those great views.

TSUGAIKE

From the lodge 20 mins by bus Lifts 26 Runs 40% Beginner 40% Intermediate 20% Expert Longest run 8km Steepest run 35 Elevation Top 1700m Bottom 730m Night skiing Yes From the lodge 20 mins by bus (500yen) or 15 minutes by taxi (3000yen) Tsugaike is actually situated in Otari village, the next village over to the north of here but is fairly easy to reach by bus from the lodge and is well worth a visit.

CORTINA

Lifts 19 Runs 40% Beginner 30% Intermediate 30% Expert Longest run 5km Steepest run 42 Elevation Top 1443m Bottom 693m Night skiing Yes Hakuba Cortina and Norikura resorts share the same ski lift pass and are located on the northern end of the Hakuba valley. They are known for getting the most snow in the valley with a huge total of 15m falling in an average season.

KASHIMAYARI

Lifts 22 Runs 42% Beginner 35% Intermediate 23% Expert Longest run 5km Steepest run 38 Elevation Top 1550m base 740m Night skiing Yes KASHIMAYARI, surrounded by forests and lakes, includes a wide variety of courses that make use of the area's natural geography and are sure to please everyone from beginners and people skiing with their families to experts. We have everything from a powder zone to terrain park. Challenge yourself on the moguls course! There are four levels - for beginners to

USEFUL LINKS

TRUE JAPANESE-STYLE ACCOMMODATION IN HAKUBA , JAPAN