Japan City Guides: Hakuba, Nagano

Hakuba Ski Resorts | Hakuba Access | Hakuba Accommodation

Hakuba　白馬

• Population - 9,000 full-time.
• World-class ski resorts
• Site of the 1998 Winter Olympics
• Easy access from Nagano to the south east
• Famous for its powder snow
• A total of around ten ski resorts in the Hakuba Valley
• Great hiking, cycling and canoeing in summer
• Situated at the foot of the northern Japan Alps

Ski Resorts in Hakuba

The ski resorts of the Hakuba Valley in Nagano Prefecture, in central Japan, along with Niseko in Hokkaido, offer some of the very best skiing and snowboarding in Japan.

Located in the Japan Alps, 60km northwest of Nagano, Hakuba increasingly appeals to the international ski-set from as far afield as Australia, China, Hong Kong and Europe.

The snowfall in the area is heavy and the quality of the powder snow arguably some of the best on Japan's main island of Honshu. Hakuba's slopes offer good skiing for all ranges of ability and every visitor to the area will share the spectacular backdrop of the 3,000m peaks of the Japan Alps.

Happoone was the site of the 1998 Nagano Olympics downhill skiing course and is the largest of Hakuba's ski resorts. One or two-day ski-passes are available here and at the other main resorts in the valley. Gondolas run up to the start of the ski runs and there are chairlifts to the tops of the mountains for fantastic views of the snow-covered peaks.

The linked ski resorts of Hakuba 47 and Hakuba Goryu are the next largest after Happoone and offer up to 5km downhill slopes from the top of the piste. Ski passes are valid for both resorts. Hakuba 47 is a popular spot for snowboarders. Hakuba 47 has 8 pistes, 6 ski lifts and 800m of vertical descent.

Other resorts in the Hakuba Valley are Iwatake, Cortina, Norikura, Sun Alpina, Yanaba and Tsugaike Kogen.

In addition to the skiing, there is also good hiking in the nearby hills and mountains in summer and some fantastic onsen (hot spring baths).

Hakuba Access

Hakuba is about one hour by bus from Nagano city. The JR Oito Line connects Hakuba to Matsumoto (1 hour). Oito Line trains from Hakuba or Kamishiro station go to Yanaba. It is easy to connect a visit to Hakuba with seeing the amazing Matsumoto Castle in Matsumoto and Zenkoji Temple in Nagano.

Air

Shinshu Matsumoto Airport (Tel: 0263 57 8818) is the nearest airport to Nagano. There are flights to Osaka (55 mins), Fukuoka (1 hour, 40 mins) and Sapporo (1 hour, 30 mins).

Train

There are JR express Shinano trains from Nagoya (2 hours, 45 minutes) and Osaka (5 hours). Nagano shinkansen trains run twice hourly from Tokyo Station (1 hour, 20 mins).

There are highway bus services to Shinjuku, Tokyo, Nagoya (3 hours, 10 mins), and Osaka to Nagano as well as direct buses to Hakuba from Shinjuku, Tokyo and from Nagoya Station.

Hakuba Tourist Information Center

Hakuba Tourist Office
JR Hakuba Station
0261 72 2279

Accommodation in Hakuba

New places to stay in Hakuba are appearing every year and many of them are foreigner-friendly. Accommodation options include hotels, guesthouses and ryokan (Japanese inns).

The 5-star Hakuba Tokyu Hotel is 5 minutes from the station. Also near the station is Hotel Hakuba Nagano. The Yamano Hotel Hakuba is convenient for the slopes of Happoone.

Cheaper guesthouses with dorms include the Yama no Oyado Alupu, Backpackers Hostel Ks House Hakuba Alps, Snowbeds, Lodge Tabi-tabi, Hakuba Alps Backpackers, Hakuba Cedar House Terry and Wind Jacket Lodge.

Book Hotel Accommodation in Hakuba Japan

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Hostels in Tokyo - Hostelworld.com
Hotels in Nagano - Agoda

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