Hakuba Ski Lodge
Skiing and Riding in Hakuba Valley, Nagano Prefecture
There are several ski resorts in the Hakuba Valley. Hakuba Luna Hotel is at the Happo-One ski resort, which is centrally located in the Hakuba Valley. Other ski resorts in the valley include Hakuba Cortina Kokusai, Hakuba Norikura, Tsugaike Kogen, and Iwatake to the north and Hakuba 47, Goryu and Sun Alpina (Sun Alpina Hakuba Sanosaka, Sun Alpina Aokiko, Sun Alpina Kashimayari) to the south, plus Hakuba Highland and Hakuba Minekata to the east.
Hakuba Japan (Official Hakuba Tourism HD Video) from Chris Hocking on Vimeo.
Hakuba Happo-One
Happo-One (pronounced Happo-onay) is a large-scale ski resort, chosen to host the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. It boasts some of the highest snowfalls and longest vertical pitches in all of Japan. From the complete novice to the expert skier, Happo-One provides some of the very best skiing in all of Japan. It offers everything from gentle beginner slopes to bumps and long cruising trails. From the very top to bottom can be sheer thigh-burning hell. Off the groomed runs, the deep dry powder is simply amazing. Happo-One also boasts spectacular scenery. As the largest and most popular resort in the Hakuba Valley, Happo-One is also home to many of the region’s best restaurants and nightlife.
1 gondola and 30 ski lifts
Beginner 30%
Intermediate 50%
Advanced 20%
Happo One Website: http://www.hakuba-happo.or.jp/winter-resort/
You Tube Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PR8KS0YCH0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZesnJV9r0I&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_JMKaCDlSU&NR=1
Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47
Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 are two modern resorts, which lay side by side immediately to the south of Happo-One. The terrain on these two separate, but interlinked resorts is impressive, rating highly among skiers and boarders alike. Because of their north-westerly facing direction, these two resorts receive abundant quantities of high quality dry powder snow and offer spectacular back-country opportunities. Skiers and boarders of all abilities find the combined resorts of Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 to be well designed, offering a wide variety of terrain with consistently good snow conditions.
Hakuba 47
1 gondola and 5 ski lifts
Beginner 30%
Intermediate 40%
Advanced 30%
Hakuba 47 website: www.hakuba47.co.jp
Hakuba Goryu
1 gondola and 12 ski lifts
Beginner 35%
Intermediate 40%
Advanced 25%
Hakuba Goryu website: www.hakubagoryu.com/e/
Sunalpina Sanosaka
Sunalpina Hakuba Sanosaka is part of the southern-most resort in the Hakuba Valley, linking with Sun Alpina Hakuba Kashimayari and Sun Alpina Keikyu Aokiko. This area has some of the most picturesque scenery, with the resort shadowing a spectacular lake at the base of the mountain. The Sunaplina area incorporates three ski areas on a single pass, offering skiers and boarders a wide variety of terrain. Telemarkers and Nordic skiers are well catered for, with plenty of trails for exploration.
Sun Alpina Hakuba Sanosaka
7 ski lifts
Beginner 40%
Intermediate 40%
Advanced 20%
Sun Alpina Hakuba Sanosaka website: www.sanosaka.com/english/index.html
Sun Alpina Hakuba Kashimayari
8 ski lifts
Beginner 40%
Intermediate 45%
Advanced 15%
Sun Alpina Hakuba Kashimayari website: www.kashimayari.net
Sun Alpina Keikyu Aokiko
5 ski lifts
Beginner 30%
Intermediate 40%
Advanced 30%
Hakuba Iwatake
Iwatake is situated a little to the north of Happo-One, with superb panoramic views of the Japanese Alps. Iwatake has long runs, bumps, and plenty of wide open runs for less experienced skiers, families and intermediate skiers. The mountain also has some good steep pitches for more advanced skiers. Iwatake is popular amongst snow boarders as it has two half-pipes and a terrain park. Nordic and cross country skiing is also popular, as there are some great trails to be found around the base of the resort.
Hakuba Iwatake
16 ski lifts
Beginner 30%
Intermediate 50%
Advanced 20%
Hakuba Iwatake website: www.hakuba.jp/iwatake
Tsugaike Kogen
With its huge amount of accessible terrain and its wide variety of facilities, both on and off the mountain, Tsugaike Kogen caters for families, skiers and boarders. Tsugaike Kogen is situated in the beautiful Tsugaike National Park. It offers excellent on and off-piste skiing. The mountain is particularly suited to the beginner to intermediate, with long cruising trails providing an opportunity for non-stop, uninterrupted skiing. The town of Tsugaike itself is a myriad of shops, bars and restaurants.
Tsugaike Kogen
1 gondola and 24 lifts
Beginner 40%
Intermediate 40%
Advanced 20%
Tsugaike Kogen website: www.tsugaike.gr.jp
Cortina and Norikura
Located at the northern end of the Hakuba Valley, Cortina and Norikura are two smaller resorts. Cortina consistently boasts the highest snowfall in the Hakuba Valley. The mountains are well serviced by some very good lifts and the grooming is of a high standard. What these resorts lack in size, they more than make up for in challenging terrain. Some of the chutes off the main ridge at Cortina will challenge even the most advanced skiers. With very frequent big dumps, there is exceptional powder skiing and very challenging tree runs. A day or two at Cortina adds an extra dimension to a stay based in Happo-One.
Norikura is connected with Cortina and offers a family-friendly, or beginner-freindly resort with the majority of runs geared for easy and open turning styles. Norikura is cute and simple, offering a sense of old-world Nagano charm.
Norikura’s lifts provide great backcountry access for some of the best powder runs and views in the valley.
Hakuba Cortina
9 ski lifts
Beginner 40%
Intermediate 30%
Advanced 30%
Hakuba Cortina Kokusai website: www.hakubacortina.jp/img/pamphlet.pdf
Hakuba Norikura
10 ski lifts
Beginner 30%
Intermediate 50%
Advanced 20%
Hakuba Norikura website (Japanese only): http://www.hakubanorikura.jp/index.html
Hakuba Minekata
Hakuba Minekata is a very small resort approximately 10 minutes to the east of Hakuba village. Most of its runs are intermediate standard.
Hakuba Minekata
3 lifts
Beginner 10%
Intermediate 70 %
Advanced 20%
Hakuba Minekata website: www.hakuba-minekata.com