Ski Hakuba, Honshu, Japan

Mtn Size

Total Number of Resorts	10
Total Number of Runs	hundreds

Our Personal Ratings
Ski In Ski Out Resort
Stay in Village at Mtn. Base
Stay in Town Close to Mtn.
Uncrowded Slopes
Suitable for Novices
Tree/Glade Skiing
Apres Ski
Suitable for Families

Poor \| Excellent

Ski Japan Resorts

Ski Hakuba

With a long season from mid-November to early May, Hakuba, which means 'white horse' in Japanese, is an epic valley with 10 different ski resorts and hundreds of kms of trails spread over a huge variety of terrain. Hakuba boasts the longest vertical in Japan and runs exceeding 6 km.

Skier in Hakuba With such an incredible variety of terrain for both skiers and snowboarders, there’s something for everyone here. You’ll find perfectly groomed cruisers & super long meandering trails for beginners, plenty of powder bowls for high alpine riding and powder laden forests for the more advanced. There are 4 terrain parks with jibbers and super pipes, rails and jumps galore, and for the powder buffs, waist-deep powder is pretty common here.

With plenty of non skiing activities, great food, a rich warm culture and renowned hospitality of the Japanese, Hakuba is a great place for your next ski holiday.

The town of Hakuba is nestled in the middle of a huge valley, towered over by huge rugged peaks, 10 ski resorts and spectacular alpine scenery.

Hakuba Map

At the southern end of the valley are the resorts of Sun Alpina, Sanosaka and Goryu Toomi, with Hakuba 47 and the Olympic ski resort of Happo-One situated in the heart of Hakuba. To the northern end of the valley are Iwatake, Tsugaike, Norikura and Cortina resorts.

Happo-One

Located in the middle of the valley directly behind the town of Hakuba, Happo-One is the largest ski resort in the area, with 6 distinct slopes, breathtaking scenery, some of the longest vertical pitches and best powder skiing conditions in Japan. This was the mountain that hosted most of the 1998 Winter Olympics events. This mountain offers something for every skier, from the complete novice to the expert, with gentle beginner slopes, bumps and long long cruising trails.

Hakuba 47 & Goryu-toomi

Adjacent to Happo-one are the interlinked resorts of Hakuba 47 and Goryu-toomi, and both can be skied on 1 lift pass. With consistent high quality dry powder snow conditions, and a wide variety of terrain, this is a favourite for both skiers and boarders.

Sun Alpina & Sanosaka

Further South, set on the edge of a pretty little lake and towered over by spectacular mountains are arguably the two most picturesque resorts, Sun Alpina and Sanosaka. You can ski 3 ski areas on 1 lift pass pass, covering a wide variety of terrain. This area is great for skiers and snowboarders alike, and there are plenty of trails to be explored by Telemarkers and Nordic skiers as well.

Hakuba Iwatake

Back in the centre of the valley, just to the north of Happo One, is Hakuba Iwatake. Featuring panoramic views of the Japan Alps, long wide-open runs, bumps, and some great steep pitches, this mountain will suit all level of skiers. It’s also great for snowboarders as there are 2 half pipes and a terrain park. Nordic and cross-country skiing is also popular here.

Tsugaike

Tsugaike caters to families, skiers and boarders with a huge amount of skiable terrain. It’s particularly suited to beginner and intermediate skiers, with long cruising wide open trails. The town of Tsugaike boasts a variety of shops, bars and restaurants.

Cortina and Norikura

These two small resorts are located at the northern end of the valley, and what they lack in size, they make up for with challenging terrain and advanced trails, making it a popular place for advanced skiers and boarders.

Cortina consistently receives the highest snowfalls in the Hakuba valley.