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Where to stay in Hakuba for skiers and snowboarders.

The Best Ski Hotels in Hakuba | Snow Explorers - SKI + SNOWBOARD + TRAVEL

The Best Ski Hotels in Hakuba

The Best Ski Hotels in Hakuba  | Snow Explorers - SKI + SNOWBOARD + TRAVEL

Hakuba Happo-One

Hakuba Norikura Onsen

The Happo

Hakuba Kashimayari Ski Resort

Mominoki Hotel

Hakuba 47

Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort

Hakuba Tokyu Hotel

Hotel Montblanc Hakuba

Hoshino Resorts Kai Alps

Hakuba Sanosaka Snow Resort

Holiday Inn Shinano-Omachi Kuroyon

Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort

Hakuba Iwatake

Hakuba Jigatake Ski Resort

Hakuba

Jigatake Ski Resort

Hakuba Valley Kashimayari Ski Resort

Goryu Ski Area

Snowsurf Hakuba

Color Sport Club

Evergreen International Ski School

Evergreen Backcountry Guides

Happo-one Ski School

Hakuba47 Ski Academy International

Kuri Board

Bamboo Tail Backcountry Guides

Hakuba Valley was one of the first areas in Japan to become an international ski destination. Home to the Japanese Alps and some of the highest mountains in Japan, the area offers steep descents for those who are up for the challenge. Hakuba also has resorts catering to families and learners. The sheer number of ski fields makes Hakuba a great holiday destination and with the all valley ticket, you can explore them all.
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<h3>Skiing in Hakuba</h3>
The Hakuba Valley is made up of 10 ski resorts, when taken together makes for 1000 hectares of skiable terrain. There is enough variety here to satisfy skiers and boarders of every level. The popular Happo One Is a sprawling ski field with something for everyone. It has the highest vertical drop in the area at 1070m. From the top you can link four runs for a combined skiing distance of 8000m. There are also 3 special designated powder areas for experts. Hakuba 47 is a freestylers mecca with a massive park and competition half pipe. Next door is Goryu with 3 areas to ski - Alps-daira, Tohmi and Iimori. Hakuba 47 and Goryu can be skied on a combined ticket. Cortina&rsquo;s secret is that it somehow gets more powder than the other Hakuba resorts and it has several ungroomed powder areas and tree zones for you to enjoy it. Next door, Norikura is more suited to beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders. Both Norikura and Cortina are linked and can be skied on a combined ticket. JIgatake is the best resort for beginners and families. Most of the slopes are easy greens and there are widely spaced tree runs when you want to challenge yourself. Iwatake is also great for skies and sightseers. The gondola takes you to the summit where you take in panoramic views of the mountain ranges and a plateau where you can engage in snow play. The wide slopes are well suited to beginners and intermediates and there are powder areas for experts. Tsugaike is the largest resort in the Hakuba and one of the best resorts for beginners with half of the runs being easy greens. For experts, head to the special TsugaPowDBD powder areas. Kashimayari is a family focussed ski resort with a large Pokemon themed snow park area. The gentle slopes and covered snow escalators are ideal for beginners. With a max slope of 23&deg;, White Resort Sanosaka is suited to beginners and intermediate skiers and boarders.
<h3>Hakuba Valley Pass</h3>
The Hakuba Valley pass gives you access to all resorts in the valley. You also get free rides on the shuttle bus.

<h3>Getting to Hakuba</h3>
Hakuba is well connected by trains with a trip from Tokyo taking just under 4 hours. During the Ski Season there is a shuttle bus from Narita and Haneda airports to the resort area.
<h3>Getting around Hakuba</h3>
The Hakuba Valley shuttle can be used to visit every resort in the valley. However the trip can take some time and you are not guaranteed a space. &nbsp;Renting a car would give you the most flexibility and plus ski other Nagano areas like Maderao, Lotte and Nozawa Onsen are a short trip away.

Snow Peak freaks and outdoor gear nerds need to get ASAP. The Hakuba flagship store is an ode to the Snow Peak way of camping.

Snow Peak Land Station Hakuba

The global dance / snow festival takes place in March in Happo One.

Hakuba Snow Machine Festival

Fireworks, bonfires, sky Lanterns and ski / snowboard demonstrations set to a background of taiko drums. Every Feb on the Nakiyama slope.

Happo Fire Festival

Hakuba Apres

Located near the Happo One station, Kihachi is a Hakuba institution. This small family run izakaya has an extensive menu. Reservations are a must.

Shinshu Izakaya Kihachi

Saoa God in Hakuba village is one of the best places to have shinshu soba made with pure mountain water and organic buckwheat flour.


Sobajin

When you have felt like you have had a big day, Niku Masa is the place to fuel up on some protein. This log cabin WHERE serves the best grilled steaks & hamburgers in Hakuba.

Niku Masa

Food vans on the Sakka slope and Happo area serve everything from Japanese street food and tacos to kebabs. Grab a beer and a bite.

Happo Food Trucks

Marutama in Echoland serves possibly the best ramen in Hakuba. Try their spicy miso ramen for some heat.

Ramen Marutama

Brewery and restaurant on the slopes of Tsugaike serving Hakuba Craft beers and bar food.

Hakuba Beer Garage

<h3>Where to eat in Hakuba</h3>
You are not limited in Hakuba as there are plenty of restaurants and stalls serving up local and International flavours. You can dine in classy restaurants on the slope or grab a quick bite from food trucks. Good restaurants will fill up during ski season, so make sure to book ahead.

<h3>Where to stay in Hakuba</h3>
There are 3 main areas in Hakuba Village - Happo area, the Wadano area and Echoland. The Happo area is walking distance to the lifts with the most accommodation options and nightlife with accompanying revelers. Wadano is also walkable to the slopes but quieter with premium hotels and lodges in a forest setting. Where you would stay to avoid the revelers. Echoland is an option if you plan on driving. Generally less expensive while still having the amenities.
Ski in ski out options in Hakuba include the iconic red roofed Green Plaza Hakuba onsen hotel at the base of the Cortina resort. In Norikura there is the Hakuba Alps hotel. At Happo One, Iwatake and Tsugaike there are slope side accommodation options from lodges to apartments.

Renting your gear is easy in Hakuba. All resorts have rental centers, but if you want to visit several ski fields, its best to rent off-mountain. There are lots of rental stations around the village and at the base of resorts. Most of them have multilingual staff. The 2 big names&nbsp;Spicy &amp; Rhythm have multiple locations around Hakuba. Rhythm even offers free pickups / drop offs and a paid courier return service.
If you are looking for Japanese powder boards check out roundAbout near Hakuba station. They are an independent local snowboard shop and a demo center for MOSS snowstick one of the original powsurfing companies. VEX Select Museum is another local store focussed on the culture of powder riding. They carry Japanese branded gear, snowskates and nice looking apparel you can only find in Japan. Fullmarks Hakuba carries a select line of outerwear and accessories. They also stock the skis and boards from Vector Glide - a premium domestic brand. Material Sports is a ski specialist and carries the entire line of ID One skis - a brand which has been rocking the racing world.

The Best Ski Hotels in Hakuba

ski resorts

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