Why you've got to go!
- Ski 8 unique ski fields with one lift pass
- The average snow depth for the Hakuba area over is over 2.5 metres
- The average snowfall for the season is over 14 metres
- Hakuba's terrain ranges from beginner slopes to expert terrain parks
- Hakuba boasts some of the steepest terrain in Japan
- There is something for everyone and everyday is a new experience
The Hakuba Region
The Hakuba valley is located deep within the Japanese Alps inside the Nagano Prefecture. The valley incorporates 10 ski resorts, over 200 runs, 139 lifts, huge towering peaks, a local village, ski /snowboard shops, a combination of traditional or western dining and Apres entertainment. This is the heart and soul of snow sports in Japan and played host to many events during the 1998 winter Olympics including, downhill skiing, ski jumping and the super G.
Hakuba Resort information
Hakuba's ski season runs from early December to late April each winter, receiving on average an astonishing 11m of snowfall each winter. From the southern end of the valley Sun Alpina incorporates 3 ski areas to the linked resorts of Hakuba 47, Goryu-Toomi and the Olympic ski resort Happo-One, situated in the heart of Hakuba. Towards the northern end of the valley, Iwatake, Tsugaike, Norikura and Cortina resorts are all impressive and rate highly amongst skiers and boarders alike.
There is a huge range of accommodation options in Hakuba, from Western style self contained log houses and condominiums to Japanese pensions, budget and boutique ski lodges, fine 5 star hotels and everything in between. Other facilities in the valley include a wide variety of restaurants (everything from traditional Japanese to Mexican is available), pubs and bars. Onsen-style hot spring baths to soothe tired muscles are another popular apres ski activity. The Olympic Ski Jumping Stadium can also be found in the Happo area and can be worth checking out when competitions and other events are on.
The Hakuba valley and its ski resorts are becoming increasingly popular with international tourists. In 2008 the Warren Miller ski film crew visited the area shooting footage, World Snowboard Guide stopped by for some articles and journalists from ski and board magazines worldwide hit the local powder. This truly amazing area is a must visit destination for all skiers and snowboarders.