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The Hakuba Valley The Hakuba Valley is a huge expanse of resorts offering an incredible variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders alike. Situated in the heart of the Japan Alps, the alpine scenery is truly spectacular with huge rugged peaks towering above the town below. From one end of the valley to the other there are 10 resorts accessing over 200 runs, making Hakuba is the skiing mecca of Japan. ->Hint: A good plan is to use Happo One as your primary mountain, and to ski the others if time allows. Some of the other mountains offer better shelter on windy days, are less crowded on weekends and have amazing, often untracked terrain. Hire a car or organise a ride to explore the valley! |
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Mt Happo One |
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The biggest and arguably the best, Happo-One is the mountain of choice for most people. It covers a huge area and caters to skiiers and boarders of all levels. Access to backcountry from mid level and top lifts makes it a favorite amongst the locals. Happo-One was the host 1998 Winter Olympics Downhill and Giant Slalom events, and the courses remain for you to ski. |
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Hakuba 47 |
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Only minutes from Happo One, Hakuba 47 is a great fun mountain. North facing slopes hold the snow for a long time between snowfalls, making it possible to ski top to bottom at Hakuba 47 until the end of May. |
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Goryu |
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Hakuba Goryu is a large resort that connects to Hakuba 47. It has some great steep runs that catch and hold deep snow. There is an excellent beginner to intermediate area at the base of the Gondola station.
->Hint: Get a whole mountain ticket and ski Goryu amd 47 in the same day!
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Iwatake |
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One mountain to the north of Happo, Iwatake is a popular mountain for beginner and intermediate skiiers. With a variety of terrain and some spectacular views towards Mt Happo, Iwatake is an excellent all rounders mountain. |
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Sun Alpina |
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Twenty minutes south of Happo you will find the combined resort of Sun Alpina. This is probably the most picturesque resort in the district with pine trees along the side of runs that finish by the side of a lake. Sun Alpina suits all levels of skier and should definitely be considered if the weather is poor. |
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Tsugaike Kogen |
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A little further north than Iwatake, Tsugaike is a large mountain with a range of skiing options to choose from. A very popular choice for the Japanese, Tsugaike is best skiied during weekdays when the crowds are smaller. |
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Cortina and Norikura |
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The furthest north of the Hakuba ranges, Cortina gets more than it's share of powder snow. With some of the steepest inbound terrain in the regionj, Cortina makes a great day trip for those with time. |
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Back Country |
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There are huge areas outside the resort boundaries - and a variety of companies to guide you into them. Take a day with an experienced guide and see some spectacular, untracked back-country. |