Hakuba

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 6600 yen. Longer validities and other combination tickets are also available, while some locals hotels offer further discounts to staying guests.

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
(November 26, 2021 to May 8, 2022)

Lifts

20 lifts

Tickets

Full day 5500 yen

Half day 4600 yen

Nighter no nighter in 2021/2022

Access

Bus/Train 6 minutes by bus from Hakuba Station.

Car 2.5 kilometers west of Hakuba village center.

* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.

Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 group

A ticket bought at either Hakuba Goryu or Hakuba 47 can be used at both resorts.

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 November 26, 2021)

Lifts

12 lifts

Tickets

Full day 5500 yen

Half day 4500 yen

Nighter 2500 yen

Access

Bus/Train 5 minutes by shuttle bus from Kamishiro Station.

Car 4.5 kilometers southwest of Hakuba village center.

* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.

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 November 26, 2021)

Lifts

5 lifts

Tickets

Full day 5500 yen

Half day 4500 yen

Access

Bus/Train 10 minutes by shuttle bus from Hakuba Station.

Car 4.5 kilometers southwest of Hakuba village center.

* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.

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 is located just outside of the Hakuba village limits next to Tsugaike Koen.

Season*

Mid December to early April
(December 18, 2021 to March 31, 2022)

Lifts

9 lifts

Tickets

Full day 4100 yen

Half day 3200 yen

Nighter N/A

Access

Bus/Train 20 minutes by bus from Minami-Otari Station.

Car 10 kilometers north of Hakuba village center.

* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.

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 18, 2021 to April 3, 2022)

Lifts

6 lifts

Tickets

Full day 4200 yen

Half day 3200 yen

Nighter 1500 yen

Access

Bus/Train 20 minutes by bus from Minami-Otari Station.

Car 12 kilometers north of Hakuba village center.

* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.

Other Resorts

Hakuba Iwatake is located close to central Hakuba, and is one of Hakuba's largest single resorts.

Season*

Mid December to late March
(December 17, 2021 to March 27, 2022)

Lifts

10 lifts

Tickets

Full day 4600 yen

Half day 3800 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.

Car 3 kilometers north of Hakuba village center.

* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.

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 1, 2021 to May 8, 2022)

Lifts

19 lifts

Tickets

Full day 5500 yen

Half day 4400 yen

Nighter no nighter in 2021/2022

Access

Bus/Train 30 minutes by bus or shuttle bus from Hakuba Station.
Served by express buses from/to Nagano.

Car 7 kilometers north of Hakuba village center.

* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.

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 5200 yen. A set of two tickets is available for 9400 yen and must be used within three months.

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

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- Backcountry Lodge Hakuba
  Mid-range
  
  Situated in Hakuba, 7 km from Happo-One Ski Resort and 7 km from Hakuba Jump Arena, Backcountry Lodge Hakuba features accommodation with free WiFi, air conditioning, a bar and a shared lounge. There is a fully equipped private bathroom with shower and free toiletries. A continental breakfast is available each morning at the lodge. Hiking and skiing can be enjoyed nearby. Hakuba Cortina Ski Area is 8 km from Backcountry Lodge Hakuba, while Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort is 12 km from the property. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 74 km from the accommodation.
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- Pension Ringo-no Ki
  Budget-friendly
  
  Pension 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.
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- Le Bocage - Hakuba Echoland Chalets
  Mid-range
  
  Le 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.
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- Pension Belnina
  Mid-range
  
  A 5-minute drive from Hakuba Happoone Ski Resort, Pension Belnia offers cosy accommodations and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. The air conditioned rooms have carpeted floors, a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a refrigerator. Each comes with slippers and free toiletries. At Belnia Pension, guests can purchase ski passes, rent ski equipment and use the luggage storage service. A garden and vending machines can also be found on site. A breakfast featuring home baked bread is served at the dining room. JR Hakuba Train Station is a 10-minute drive from the property, while Hakuba Iwatake Ski Area is a 12-minute drive away. Tsugaike Kogen Station on the Tsugaike Gondola Lift is located within a 21-minute drive.
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- Nomad Hakuba
  Budget-friendly
  
  Set in Hakuba, Nomad Hakuba offers free WiFi, and guests can enjoy a bar, a shared lounge and a garden. Guests at the bed and breakfast can enjoy a continental breakfast. A ski equipment rental service and ski storage space are featured at Nomad Hakuba, and guests can go skiing in the surroundings. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Happo-One Ski Resort, Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal and Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 68 km from Nomad Hakuba.
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- Pension Tomato
  Budget-friendly
  
  A 10-minute drive from Hakuba Happo-One Winter Ski Resort, Pension Tomato offers spacious Western-style rooms with a loft area. Free WiFi is available at the entire property and guests can reserve a private open-air bath overlooking the forest. A free shuttle is available from JR Hakuba Train Station, which is a 5-minute drive away and must be reserved at time of booking. Forest views are available from the 2nd floor of the accommodation. Pension Tomato is located within the popular Hakuba Echoland, and several bars and restaurants are within a 5-minute walk from the property. The air-conditioned rooms feature carpeted floors, a sofa and a TV. Bathrooms and toilets are shared. Ski equipment and bicycle rentals are available on-site, while ski storage is offered as well. Western dishes are served for breakfast and dinner at the dining room. Tomato Pension is a 25-minute drive from Hakuba 47 Winter Sports Park and a 1-hour drive from JR Nagano Train Station.
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- HakubaGoryu Pension&LogCottage Arumu
  Budget-friendly
  
  Offering a ski pass sales point and ski storage space, HakubaGoryu Pension&LogCottage Arumu is situated in Hakuba, only 100 metres away from the Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort lifts. Free private parking is available on site. All rooms come with a flat-screen TV. Each room is equipped with a private bathroom equipped with a bath. HakubaGoryu Pension&LogCottage Arumu features free WiFi . You will find luggage storage space at the property. Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort is 200 metres from HakubaGoryu Pension&LogCottage Arumu, while Hakuba Jump Arena is 3.7 km from the property.
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- Hakuba Ski-Kan
  Budget-friendly
  
  Situated 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 �gkotatsu�h 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.
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- Reposer Hakuba
  Mid-range
  
  Located 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.
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- Hotel La Neige Higashi-kan
  Luxury
  
  Featuring 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 hotel�fs rental bicycles, or go hiking or skiing. French food is served at the hotel�fs 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.
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