Hakuba

Host of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and a powder-snow paradise with more than ten ski resorts at the foot of the Northern Alps; in summer, see the Hakuba Sanzan reflected in Happo Pond and snowy peaks from the Iwatake terrace.

Hakuba Village lies in Kitaazumi District in northwestern Nagano Prefecture, in a long, narrow valley on the eastern flank of the Northern Alps. To the west, the "Hakuba Sanzan" (Mt. Shirouma, Mt. Shakushi and Mt. Hakuba Yari), along with Mt. Karamatsu, Mt. Goryu and other 3,000 m-class peaks, rise like a folding screen. Alpine skiing and ski jumping events of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics were held here, and today Hakuba Valley, made up of more than ten ski resorts across Omachi, Hakuba and Otari, is an international powder-snow destination on a par with Niseko in Hokkaido.

Areas to explore: ① Happo – Happo-one Ski Resort, the Happo Onsen area and the Ski Jumping Stadium, the hub with the most accommodation and dining; ② Iwatake and Oide – the Iwatake Mountain Harbor viewing terrace and the suspension bridge in Oide Park; ③ the south – Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba 47 and the Nishina Three Lakes; ④ Otari Village in the north – Tsugaike Kogen, Tsugaike Nature Park and Hakuba Cortina; ⑤ day trips – snow monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park and Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano City.

Best seasons: ski season runs from Dec to early Apr, with the best powder in Jan–Feb, and spring skiing in Mar–May; Jul–Aug is the time for the Happo Pond hike, Tsugaike Nature Park and alpine flowers, and for climbing the Hakuba Daisekkei snow gorge; autumn leaves color the mountains from late Sep into Oct, and in late Oct you can see the "three-tiered autumn colors" (first snow on the peaks, red leaves on the slopes and green forest below). Getting there: take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano (about 1.5 hr), then the Alpico express bus to Hakuba Happo (about 1 hr); alternatively, take a highway bus direct from Shinjuku (about 4.5 hr), or the JR Oito Line via Matsumoto. In winter, shuttle buses link the ski resorts. Allow 4–7 days for skiing and 2–3 days in summer. Note: book accommodation several months ahead for the ski season; bring warm gear for mountain hikes and check for bear sighting alerts.

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