Hakuba (”’”n), located in the Northern Alps of Nagano Prefecture, is one of Japan's most popular ski areas, offering good snow and several large ski resorts to choose from.
During the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, Hakuba gained world wide recognition as it hosted several Olympic competitions, including alpine (downhill, super g, and combination) and nordic (ski jump and cross country) events. Today some of the Olympic facilities remain in use, such as the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium. There is also the Hakuba Olympic Village Memorial Hall, a small but interesting museum, located within walking distance of the ski jump.
Hakuba can be reached relatively easily not only from Tokyo, but also from the Nagoya and Kansai regions. While it is possible to do a day trip from Tokyo, Hakuba is best enjoyed overnight. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there are hot springs (onsen) available around town.
Ten of the major resorts (including all of those listed on this page) have teamed up to offer the "Hakuba Valley Ticket" to be used at any of the participating resorts. A one-day ticket costs 7600 yen. Longer validities and other combination tickets are also available, while some locals hotels offer further discounts to staying guests.
Happoone
Happoone is the the largest and most famous resort in Hakuba. In 1998 it hosted the downhill, super g, and combination ski events of the Nagano Winter Olympics. It is also the resort located closest to the village center and Hakuba Station.
Season*
Late November to early May
(December 10, 2022 to May 7, 2023)
(December 10, 2022 to May 7, 2023)
Lifts
20 lifts
Tickets
Full day
6500 yen
Half day
5500 yen
Nighter
no nighter in 2022/2023
Access
Bus/Train
6 minutes by bus from Hakuba Station.
Car
2.5 kilometers west of Hakuba village center.
Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 group
A ticket bought at either Hakuba Goryu or Hakuba 47 can be used at both resorts.
Hakuba Goryu
Hakuba Goryu is located relatively close to central Hakuba village and is located on the same mountain as and connected to Hakuba 47.
Season*
Late November to early May
(From December 9, 2022)
(From December 9, 2022)
Lifts
12 lifts
Tickets
Full day
6000 yen
Half day
5000 yen
Nighter
3200-3500 yen
Access
Bus/Train
5 minutes by shuttle bus from Kamishiro Station.
Car
4.5 kilometers southwest of Hakuba village center.
Hakuba 47
Together with its larger brother Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba 47 makes up the second most popular resorts in the area.
Season*
Late November to early May
(From December 9, 2022)
(From December 9, 2022)
Lifts
5 lifts
Tickets
Full day
6000 yen
Half day
5000 yen
Access
Bus/Train
10 minutes by shuttle bus from Hakuba Station.
Car
4.5 kilometers southwest of Hakuba village center.
Hakuba Norikura and Hakuba Cortina Group
Located just outside of the Hakuba village limits. A combination ticket to both resorts costs 5000 yen.
Hakuba Norikura
Hakuba Norikura is located just outside of the Hakuba village limits next to Tsugaike Koen.
Season*
Mid December to early April
(December 17, 2022 to April 2, 2023)
(December 17, 2022 to April 2, 2023)
Lifts
9 lifts
Tickets
Full day
5000 yen
Half day
4000 yen
Nighter
N/A
Access
Bus/Train
20 minutes by bus from Minami-Otari Station.
Car
10 kilometers north of Hakuba village center.
Hakuba Cortina
Hakuba Cortina is the furthest major resort from central Hakuba. It is just next to and partnered with Hakuba Norikura.
Season*
Mid December to early April
(December 17, 2022 to April 2, 2023)
(December 17, 2022 to April 2, 2023)
Lifts
6 lifts
Tickets
Full day
5000 yen
Half day
4000 yen
Nighter
1500 yen
Access
Bus/Train
20 minutes by bus from Minami-Otari Station.
Car
12 kilometers north of Hakuba village center.
Other Resorts
Hakuba Iwatake
Hakuba Iwatake is located close to central Hakuba, and is one of Hakuba's largest single resorts.
Season*
Mid December to late March
(December 16, 2022 to March 26, 2023)
(December 16, 2022 to March 26, 2023)
Lifts
10 lifts
Tickets
Full day
5000 yen
Half day
4200 yen
Nighter
N/A
Access
Bus/Train
15-20 minutes by bus or shuttle bus from Hakuba Station.
Served by express buses from/to Nagano.
Served by express buses from/to Nagano.
Car
3 kilometers north of Hakuba village center.
Tsugaike Kogen
Tsugaike Kogen is the second largest resort in the area. It is located next to Hakuba Iwatake, just outside the Hakuba village limits.
Season*
Late November to early May
(December 11, 2022 to May 7, 2023)
(December 11, 2022 to May 7, 2023)
Lifts
19 lifts
Tickets
Full day
5900 yen
Half day
4700 yen
Nighter
no nighter in 2022/2023
Access
Bus/Train
30 minutes by bus or shuttle bus from Hakuba Station.
Served by express buses from/to Nagano.
Served by express buses from/to Nagano.
Car
7 kilometers north of Hakuba village center.
Getting there and around
From Tokyo
By shinkansen and bus via Nagano
Take the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano (100 minutes, 8000 yen) and then an express bus from Nagano to Hakuba (60-90 minutes, 2200-2400 yen), where the bus stops at Hakuba Station and directly at the base of several ski resorts. The Japan Rail Pass covers the shinkansen trip but not the bus journey.
By train via Matsumoto
Take the JR Azusa limited express train from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station to Matsumoto and transfer to a local train on the JR Oito Line to Hakuba. Some Azusa limited express trains run all the way to Hakuba. The one way journey takes about 4 to 4.5 hours and costs around 8000 yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
By highway bus from Tokyo
Alpico operates several buses per day between Tokyo (Busta Shinjuku) and Hakuba, where the buses stop in the village center and at the bases of the Goryu and Happoone resorts (in summer they stop at the Hakuba Happo Bus Treminal). The one way journey takes around 5 hours and costs about 6000 yen.
From Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka
Take the JR Shinano limited express train from Nagoya to Matsumoto and transfer to a train along the Oito Line to Hakuba. From Nagoya, the one way journey takes about 3.5 hours and costs around 7000 yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
How to get from Kyoto to Nagoya
How to get from Osaka to Nagoya
Questions? Ask in our forum.
Links and Resources
English
Japanese
Hakuba Valley
Official website of the ski resort collective.Hakuba Village
Official website.Happoone
Official website.Hakuba Goryu
Official website.Hakuba 47
Official website.Hakuba Norikura
Official website.Hakuba Cortina
Official website.Hakuba Iwatake
Official website.Tsugaike Kogen
Official website.Alpico Bus
Official website of the local bus operator.Hotels around Hakuba
Top rated in Hakuba
powered by
Budget:
-
-
![]()
Pension Ringo-no KiPension Ringo-no Ki is a completely non-smoking property located in Hakuba. Free WiFi access is available in this lodge. There is a hairdryer, free toiletries and slippers on site. Other facilities offered at the property include a shared lounge, ski storage and ski pass vendor. The property offers free parking and an open-air bath. Check out Hakuba Koruchina Ski Area located 16 km away. Hiking can be enjoyed in the surroundings during summer season. Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal is 1.2 km away from the property. JR Hakuba Station is 1.4 km away from the Pension.View on Booking.com -
![]()
Bergtour MarukitaFeaturing an indoor and an open-air hot spring bath, Bergtour Marukita offers Japanese-style rooms, free wired internet and Japanese multi-course (kaiseki) dinners. It provides a free shuttle from Hakuba Station. Rooms have tatami-mat flooring, Japanese futon bedding and a seating area. They come with an LCD TV, a safe and an en suite bathroom. A fridge and a tea/coffee maker are provided. Guests can soak in a public hot spring, relax in the sauna, or unwind with a massage. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, and it offers luggage storage. Japanese meals are served in the dining room, upon advance request. Drinks are also available in vending machines. Marukita Bergtour is just a 6-minute drive from Hakuba Saegusa Museum, and a 12-minute walk from Hakuba Happo One Ski Resort. The Hakuba Botanical Garden is a 20-minute drive away.View on Booking.com -
![]()
Hakuba Ski-KanSituated a 2-minute walk from the Happo Bus Terminal, the completely non-smoking Ski-Kan features a hot-spring bath and hotel-wide free WiFi. The compact Japanese rooms have futon bedding and an LCD TV. Each room at Hakuba Ski-Kan combines a tatami (woven-straw) floor with a gkotatsuh leg-warmer. Air conditioning and heating facilities are included. Some rooms have a private bathroom. The hotel is a 5-minute drive from JR Hakuba Train Station and 800 metres from Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort. The shuttle stop for free transfers to/from Happo One Ski Resort is only a 1-minute walk. On-site parking is free. The Ski-Kan provides a complimentary costume photo service for each guest, offering them to dress as a samurai or a Japanese princess. Guests can also make a Japanese calligraphy of their own name free of charge. The hotel provides ski storage and sells ski passes. A coin launderette is on site.View on Booking.com -
![]()
Wadano Gateway Suites & ApartmentsLocated in Hakuba, Wadano Gateway Suites & Apartments provides free WiFi, and guests can enjoy free bikes, a restaurant and a bar. The units come with parquet floors and feature a fully equipped kitchenette with a fridge, a dining area, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom with shower and free toiletries. A microwave, a stovetop and toaster are also featured, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle. Guests at the aparthotel can enjoy a continental breakfast. Wadano Gateway Suites & Apartments also provides a business centre and free private parking. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy billiards on site, or go hiking or skiing in the surroundings. Tsugaike Kogen Ski Area is 7.5 km from Wadano Gateway Suites & Apartments, while Nagano Station is 44 km away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 67 km from the aparthotel.View on Booking.com -
![]()
MARILLEN HOTEL by Hakuba Hotel GroupSituated right on the Nakiyama Slope of Happo One mountain, MARILLEN HOTEL by Hakuba Hotel Group features Austrian-style d?cor, carved wood furniture and a fireplace. It provides ski equipment storage. The Happo Bus Terminal is only a 5-minute walk away, and the nearest train station a 5-minute drive. Free WiFi and parking are available. The comfortable rooms feature alpine chalet-style d?cor. Rooms come with comfortable beds, a small lounge area and balcony, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with complimentary toiletries. The large windows at the on-site restaurant & bar allow guests to relax and enjoy the stunning panoramas of the Happo One Mountain by day and night, while listening to live music and warming up with Gluhwein mulled wine. Tokyo International Airport is a 3-hour ride away on the bullet train or bus.View on Booking.com -
![]()
Hotel La Neige Higashi-kanFeaturing a hot tub, massage treatments and tennis courts, Hotel La Neige Higashi-kan offers rooms with a balcony and nature views. It provides a free shuttle service and free Wi-Fi. Cosy rooms have large windows and a living area with a sofa. Amenities include an LCD TV, a DVD player and a fridge. Some rooms feature a spa bath. La Neige is a non-smoking hotel, offering a concierge and ski equipment rentals. Guests can tour the surrounding nature with the hotelfs rental bicycles, or go hiking or skiing. French food is served at the hotelfs restaurant, while drinks can be enjoyed at the bar and the terrace. Room service is available. The hotel provides a free shuttle service to/from JR Hakuba Station, Happo Bus Terminal and the Happo-One Gondola. It is a 5-minute drive from the Hakuba Jump Arena. Guests can contact the hotel in advance to arrange a shuttle bus or a taxi from Narita Airport at an additional charge.View on Booking.com -
![]()
K's House Hakuba Alps - Travelers HostelA 9-minute walk from JR Kamishiro Station, K's House Hakuba Alps features a common lounge area and rooms with free Wi-Fi. It is located in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture. Dormitories and Japanese style rooms are available at K's House Hakuba. Some dormitories offer shared bathroom facilities. Guests can buy drinks from a vending machine at Kfs House or play games at the lounge. Free private parking is available. Hakuba is one of Japanfs popular hiking areas and is accessible from Tokyo by taking the Shinano Omachi by JR Ltd Express "Azusa" from JR Shinjuku Station.View on Booking.com -
![]()
Le Bocage - Hakuba Echoland ChaletsLe Bocage ? Hakuba Echoland Chalets are situated in Echoland, a popular nightlife site where more than 30 bars and restaurants can be found. The property offers free in-room WiFi and on-site parking. Featuring a patio, each charming chalet with wooden furnishings is equipped with a full kitchen and a seating area with a flat-screen TV. Private bathroom is fitted with both a bath and a shower and free toiletries are provided. Extras include a dishwasher and a washing machine. At Le Bocage ? Hakuba Echoland Chalets, free shuttle services are provided to and from local supermarkets and Hakuba Station during the winter season. Ski storage is available at the reception house. From the property, Hakuba Happo bus terminal is 1.1 km away, and the major ski resorts are a 10-15 minute bus ride or drive away.View on Booking.com -
![]()
Reposer HakubaLocated just a 10-minute drive from Happo One ski slopes, Reposer Hakuba offers cosy and rustic private rooms in a large log cabin. Free private parking is available on site, and free WiFi is provided in all areas. Featuring mountain views, each room is fitted with a flat-screen TV and a working desk. Private bathroom comes with a shower and free toiletries. At Reposer Hakuba, guests can enjoy hand-made cake and Italian coffee at the on-site dining area. There also are a shared lounge with a fireplace, a garden and a terrace where guests can relax while enjoying views of the surrounding mountains. The property offers ski rental and storage services as well as ski school.View on Booking.com -
![]()
Anise GardenSituated in Hakuba, 11 km from Tsugaike Kogen Ski Area, Anise Garden features accommodation with free bikes, free private parking, a garden and a shared lounge. Featuring a terrace, the 2-star guest house has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The property is non-smoking and is located 42 km from Nagano Station. All rooms in the guest house are fitted with a flat-screen TV with cable channels. Anise Garden provides some units with mountain views, and all rooms have a coffee machine. At the accommodation the rooms are fitted with bed linen and towels. An American breakfast is available each morning at Anise Garden. Guests at the guest house will be able to enjoy activities in and around Hakuba, like hiking, skiing and cycling. Zenkoji Temple is 44 km from Anise Garden, while Happo-One Ski Resort is 2.3 km from the property. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 65 km from the accommodation.View on Booking.com
-
