Hakuba (白馬), located in the Northern Alps of Nagano Prefecture, is one of Japan's most popular ski areas, offering good snow and several large ski resorts to choose from.
During the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, Hakuba gained world wide recognition as it hosted several Olympic competitions, including alpine (downhill, super g, and combination) and nordic (ski jump and cross country) events. Today some of the Olympic facilities remain in use, such as the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium. There is also the Hakuba Olympic Village Memorial Hall, a small but interesting museum, located within walking distance of the ski jump.
Hakuba can be reached relatively easily not only from Tokyo, but also from the Nagoya and Kansai regions. While it is possible to do a day trip from Tokyo, Hakuba is best enjoyed in an overnight or multi-night visit. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there are hot springs (onsen) available around town.
Ten of the major resorts (including all of those listed on this page) have teamed up to offer the "Hakuba Valley Ticket" to be used at any of the participating resorts. A one-day ticket costs 8500 yen. Longer validities and other combination tickets are also available, while some locals hotels offer further discounts to staying guests.
Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 group
A ticket bought at either Hakuba Goryu or Hakuba 47 can be used at both resorts.
Hakuba Norikura and Hakuba Cortina Group
Located just outside of the Hakuba village limits. Tickets cover both resorts.
Other Resorts
Getting there and around
From Tokyo
By shinkansen and bus via Nagano
Take the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano (100 minutes, 8000 yen) and then an express bus from Nagano to Hakuba (60-90 minutes, 2200-2400 yen), where the bus stops at Hakuba Station and directly at the base of several ski resorts. The Japan Rail Pass covers the shinkansen trip but not the bus journey.
By train via Matsumoto
Take the JR Azusa limited express train from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station to Matsumoto and transfer to a local train on the JR Oito Line to Hakuba. Some Azusa limited express trains run all the way to Hakuba. The one way journey takes about 4 to 4.5 hours and costs around 8000 yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
By highway bus from Tokyo
Several bus companies operate buses between Tokyo (Busta Shinjuku or Tokyo Station) and Hakuba, where the buses stop in the village center and at the bases of selected ski resorts (in summer they stop at the Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal). The one way journey takes around 5 hours and costs about 4500-8000 yen depending on the company and day of travel. Online reservations can be made on the Willer website.
From Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka
Take the JR Shinano limited express train from Nagoya to Matsumoto and transfer to a train along the Oito Line to Hakuba. From Nagoya, the one way journey takes about 3.5 hours and costs around 7000 yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
How to get from Kyoto to Nagoya
How to get from Osaka to Nagoya
Questions? Ask in our forum.
Links and Resources
English
Japanese
Hakuba Valley
Official website of the ski resort collective.Hakuba Village
Official website.Happoone
Official website.Hakuba Goryu
Official website.Hakuba 47
Official website.Hakuba Norikura
Official website.Hakuba Cortina
Official website.Hakuba Iwatake
Official website.Tsugaike Kogen
Official website.Alpico Bus
Official website of the local bus operator.Hotels around Hakuba
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Hakuba Skala InnJust 10 minutes from JR Hakuba Train Station on the free shuttle, Hakuba Skala Inn features a cosy lounge with a library, a bar and a wood-burning stove. Rooms have an LCD TV and a private bathroom. Hakuba Skala Inn has both Western rooms and Japanese rooms, which have traditional futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor. All rooms are heated, with a toiletries and a bathtub. Free Wifi is available in the dining room, lounge, bar, and some of the rooms. Happo-One Ski Resort is 2 km away, and Hakuba Goryu & 47 Ski Resort is about 5 km away. Parking is free at Hakuba Skala Inn. In the lounge, guests can relax on the sofa. Massage chairs and a piano are available. Breakfast is served at the dining room. Beer and snacks are served at the bar.View on Booking.com
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Pension Ringo-no KiPension Ringo-no Ki is a completely non-smoking property located in Hakuba. Free WiFi access is available in this lodge. There is a hairdryer, free toiletries and slippers on site. Other facilities offered at the property include a shared lounge, ski storage and ski pass vendor. The property offers free parking and an open-air bath. Check out Hakuba Koruchina Ski Area located 16 km away. Hiking can be enjoyed in the surroundings during summer season. Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal is 1.2 km away from the property. JR Hakuba Station is 1.4 km away from the Pension.View on Booking.com
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K's House Hakuba Alps - Travelers HostelA 9-minute walk from JR Kamishiro Station, K's House Hakuba Alps features a common lounge area and rooms with free Wi-Fi. It is located in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture. Dormitories and Japanese style rooms are available at K's House Hakuba. Some dormitories offer shared bathroom facilities. Guests can buy drinks from a vending machine at K’s House or play games at the lounge. Free private parking is available. Hakuba is one of Japan’s popular hiking areas and is accessible from Tokyo by taking the Shinano Omachi by JR Ltd Express "Azusa" from JR Shinjuku Station.View on Booking.com
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Log Cottage EpochA 10-minute walk from Happo One Ski Resort, guests at Log Cottage Epoch can rent out an entire cottage. Each spacious cottage comes with free Wi-Fi and includes a kitchen and a living room. JR Hakuba Train Station is a 10-minute drive away. All cottages feature air conditioning/heating facilities, garden views and a living room with a sofa. Some cottages have Western beds with hardwood floors, while most feature bedrooms with tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. Each comes with an en suite bathroom and a kitchen with a fridge and microwave. Large towels are available for rental. Bicycle rentals are available for an extra cost, and guests can purchase ski passes on-site as well. A mini train track is offered for children to play at, and a tennis court is available on-site. Ski storage and photocopying services are offered at the front desk. A paid private bath is available for guests to relax in upon prior reservation. Japanese and Western dishes are served at the restaurant. Guests who wish to eat at the restaurant must make a reservation at least 1 week in advance. Barbecue facilities are available as well. Epoch Log Cottage is a 20-minute walk from Hakuba Olympic Village Memorial Hall and a 15-minute walk from Hakuba Jump Arena. JR Nagano Train Station is a 90-minute drive away.View on Booking.com
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Hakuba Ski-KanSituated a 2-minute walk from the Happo Bus Terminal, the completely non-smoking Ski-Kan features a hot-spring bath and hotel-wide free WiFi. The compact Japanese rooms have futon bedding and an LCD TV. Each room at Hakuba Ski-Kan combines a tatami (woven-straw) floor with a “kotatsu” leg-warmer. Air conditioning and heating facilities are included. Some rooms have a private bathroom. The hotel is a 5-minute drive from JR Hakuba Train Station and 800 metres from Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort. The shuttle stop for free transfers to/from Happo One Ski Resort is only a 1-minute walk. On-site parking is free. The Ski-Kan provides a complimentary costume photo service for each guest, offering them to dress as a samurai or a Japanese princess. Guests can also make a Japanese calligraphy of their own name free of charge. The hotel provides ski storage and sells ski passes. A coin launderette is on site.View on Booking.com
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Hakuba Kaze no KoBoasting a garden and views of quiet street, Hakuba Kaze no Ko is a recently renovated guest house situated in Hakuba, 42 km from Nagano Station. The air-conditioned accommodation is 11 km from Tsugaike Kogen Ski Area, and guests can benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi. The accommodation features free shuttle service and bicycle parking for guests. At the guest house, each unit has a shared bathroom. During the colder months, guests can enjoy winter sports in the surrounding area. Guests can also relax in the shared lounge area. Zenkoji Temple is 43 km from the guest house, while Happo-One Ski Resort is 2.7 km from the property. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 65 km from Hakuba Kaze no Ko.View on Booking.com
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Pension TomatoA 10-minute drive from Hakuba Happo-One Winter Ski Resort, Pension Tomato offers spacious Western-style rooms with a loft area. Free WiFi is available at the entire property and guests can reserve a private open-air bath overlooking the forest. A free shuttle is available from JR Hakuba Train Station, which is a 5-minute drive away and must be reserved at time of booking. Forest views are available from the 2nd floor of the accommodation. Pension Tomato is located within the popular Hakuba Echoland, and several bars and restaurants are within a 5-minute walk from the property. The air-conditioned rooms feature carpeted floors, a sofa and a TV. Bathrooms and toilets are shared. Ski equipment and bicycle rentals are available on-site, while ski storage is offered as well. Western dishes are served for breakfast and dinner at the dining room. Tomato Pension is a 25-minute drive from Hakuba 47 Winter Sports Park and a 1-hour drive from JR Nagano Train Station.View on Booking.com
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Hakuba Amber Resort by Jade GroupLocated in Hakuba, 12 km from Tsugaike Kogen Ski Area, Hakuba Amber Resort by Jade Group offers accommodation with a hot tub. There is a private entrance at the chalet for the convenience of those who stay. The chalet provides mountain views, a barbecue, a 24-hour front desk, and free WiFi is available throughout the property. At the chalet complex, all units have air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a kitchen, a dining area and a private bathroom with slippers, a bidet and a hair dryer. A dishwasher, an oven and microwave are also featured, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle. At the chalet complex, the units have bed linen and towels. Continental and American breakfast options with pancakes, fruits and cheese are available daily at the chalet. Ski storage space is available on-site and skiing can be enjoyed within close proximity of Hakuba Amber Resort by Jade Group. Nagano Station is 43 km from the accommodation, while Zenkoji Temple is 44 km away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto, 66 km from Hakuba Amber Resort by Jade Group, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.View on Booking.com
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Villa KomakusaNeighbouring Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field, Villa Komakusa offers a breath-taking view of the Northern Alps and a cosy cottage with wooden interiors and a ktichen. JR Hakuba Train Station is a 10-minute drive from the property. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. Cottage comes with an en suite bathroom, a flat-screen TV and an electric kettle. Guests at Komakusa Villa can prepare their own meals using the kitchen, which comes with a fridge, a microwave and a stove. Kitchenware and cutlery can also be found in the kitchen. Hakuba Happoone Ski Resort is a 10-minute drive away, while Iwatake no Yu Hot Springs is a 6-minute walk from the property. The nearest super market, Apple Land is located within a 9-minute drive from the property. Breakfast and dinner can be arranged at a surcharge with a reservation in advance.View on Booking.com
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Wadano Gateway Suites & ApartmentsLocated near Happo-One Ski Resort and Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal, Wadano Gateway Suites & Apartments is in Hakuba and provides free private parking and a restaurant. Boasting free shuttle service, this property also provides guests with DVD player. Featuring family rooms, this property also provides guests with a picnic area. The units are equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, an oven, a coffee machine, a shower, slippers and a desk. All units have a kettle, a private bathroom and free WiFi, while some rooms here will provide you with a balcony and some have mountain views. At the aparthotel, units include bed linen and towels. A bar can be found on-site. You can play billiards and darts at this 4-star aparthotel, and the area is popular for skiing and cycling. An indoor play area is also available for guests at the aparthotel. Tsugaike Kogen Ski Area is 7.6 km from Wadano Gateway Suites & Apartments, while Nagano Station is 44 km away. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 67 km from the accommodation.View on Booking.com
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