Hakuba Valley, famous for hosting events during 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, features 10 unique ski resorts offering over 130 km of skiable terrain, roughly 100 lifts, and legendary "Japow" dry powder snow. While the individual mountains are not all interconnected by slopes, they are completely unified under a single Hakuba Valley Lift Pass.

The Hakuba Valley has some of the best, side- and backcountry skiing in Japan. Several of the resorts have excellent side-country access where you can get the best taste possible of Hakuba Off Piste. Access the goods with the lift services of the resorts and then ride the excellent "side-country" terrain. As Japan's steepest ski area, advanced skiers will love Hakuba's impressive hike-to-ski terrain and extensive backcountry.

Not yet an Off Piste skier? Hakuba Valley offers great options for beginners and intermediate skiing, boasting over 200 runs across multiple ski resorts nestled in the stunning Northern Alps. It is an exceptional destination for dedicated piste skiing, offering perfectly manicured corduroy, long cruising trails, and historic Olympic courses.

Hakuba Cortina – located at the northernmost point of the valley. Cortina is famous for its massive snowfall and amazing tree skiing. It directly connects to Norikura.

Hakuba Norikura Onsen – a smaller, quieter resort that shares a border and a lift pass with Cortina. It's less crowded and an excellent spot to find fresh tracks after a storm.

Tsugaike Kogen – is a premier destination for backcountry and side-country skiing, renowned for its extensive alpine touring zones and lift-accessed tree riding. Also known for having one of the widest, most gentle beginner slopes in Japan, Tsugaike is great for beginner piste skiers too.

Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field – sitting in the middle of the valley, Iwatake offers 360-degree panoramic views of the Northern Alps. It is heavily geared toward intermediate cruisers and is known for its spectacular summit terrace.

Hakuba Happo-One – renowned for its steep bowls, aggressive chutes, and massive 1,000-metre vertical descents. This serious high-alpine environment mirrors the dramatic terrain of European or North American ranges rather than Japan's typical mellow tree runs. For piste skiers, Happo-One offers long cruising red trails, challenging mogul runs, and sheltered beginner zones

Hakuba 47 & ABLE Hakuba Goryu – these two resorts are connected at the top and operate together. Hakuba 47 has the best terrain park in the valley, while Goryu offers gentle beginner slopes. Combined, they form one of the largest ski areas in the valley and feature extensive night-skiing.

keyboard_arrow_left Previous keyboard_arrow_right Next

The Hakuba Valley spans three main municipalities in Japan's Nagano Prefecture: Hakuba Village, Otari Village, and Omachi City. These mountain towns provide access to 10 distinct resorts, offering everything from bustling, restaurant-packed hubs to quiet, ski-in/ski-out alpine villages.

You will be staying in Tsugaike Kogen in the Otari Village. This area offers a genuine authentic vibe, made up of smaller, family-run Japanese guesthouses (minshuku) and lodges. Tsugaike Kogen also has a great Onsen culture: the village boasts several public and hotel hot springs to relax in after skiing.

keyboard_arrow_left Previous keyboard_arrow_right Next

You will be staying in the Alps View, a ski in/ski out hotel in the Tsugaike Kogen resort. The Alps View is a newly renovated hotel with a relaxed, social & friendly atmosphere.

The Alps View boasts 20 non-smoking rooms; western style pillow-top beds, or a more traditional Japanese tatami and futon layout. Each room is equipped with access to Wi-Fi and complimentary tea & a kettle. All rooms have en-suite shower/toilet units.

The cozy and friendly Alps Craft Café is located on the main floor of the hotel. Here they serve fresh coffees, cocktails, craft beers, bar snacks and delicious home-cooked meals. Find a quiet corner to play a board game, or if you feel up to it – challenge your friends for a game of pool or the live-darts board, or why not have a blast on the in-house karaoke machine?

Rooms

– Twin rooms (western style)

– Four people room (western style, 2 twin & 1 bunk bed)

– Four people room (western style, 2 bunk beds)

– Deluxe large room with a queen bed + a sofa bed (western style set up accommodates 3 people with the possibility for additional 3 people on tatami & futon)

Facilities

– Café serving fresh coffees, cocktails, craft beers and bar snacks

– Laundry

– Luggage Storage

– Safety Deposit Box

– Board games, Pool table, live-dart, in-house karaoke machine

– Free Wi-Fi in the hotel

keyboard_arrow_left Previous keyboard_arrow_right Next

Hakuba Valley is located just over three hours from downtown Tokyo.

Tokyo is served by two main international airports: Haneda Airport and Narita International Airport.

Haneda Airport (HND) – Located in Ota, Tokyo, just 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of central Tokyo, it takes about 30 to 45 minutes to reach downtown Tokyo.

The cheapest option to get to Tokyo Station from Haneda Airport is by Tokyo Monorail. The monorail departs directly from the airport terminals. The Tokyo Monorail connects Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho Station in central Tokyo, from there transfer to the JR Yamanote Line, that will take you directly to Tokyo Station. Cost: Around ¥500 to Hamamatsucho, plus local subway/JR fare.

The most convenient option to get to downtown Tokyo is by Airport Limousine Bus. Buses pick up directly outside the arrival terminals and drop off at major central transit hubs (like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ginza) as well as directly at the doors of flagship hotels.Cost: Around ¥1,000 to ¥1,400 depending on your final stop.

Narita International Airport (NRT) – Located further away in Chiba Prefecture, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of central Tokyo, it takes about 60 to 90 minutes to reach central Tokyo via express trains or buses.

JR Narita Express (N'EX) is an upscale airport train that runs directly from Narita into Tokyo’s major central hubs without requiring transfers. Every train stops at Tokyo Station. Cost: Around ¥3000 or ¥5200 for a return (valid 14 days)

Low-Cost Bus (Airport Bus TYO-NRT), this is the most economical daytime option. It departs every 10 minutes during peak times and drops off at Tokyo Station. You can buy tickets right at the airport bus counter. Cost: Around ¥1,500 one-way.

Airport Limousine Bus, these premium coach buses drop off directly at the lobbies of major hotels throughout Tokyo.Cost: Around ¥3000

This trip is provided as half board – breakfast & dinners are included. Depending on the itinerary for the week, lunch will be at a local restaurant at the resort, or if suited, a pack lunch will be provided – all at your own cost. Another alternative is to purchase your lunch at the local corner shop – corner shops in Japan are amazing!


 Breakfasts are served buffet style with eggs, bacon or ham, hash-browns, fruits and veg, cereal, bread, juice, coffee/tea.

Some of the dinners are served buffet style at the Alps View hotel. There will also be a traditional dinner outing at the Matunokitei, a traditional guest house in Tsugaike Kogen, just across the road.

You can also look forward to a sushi-making evening – a great opportunity to fine-tune those sushi master-chef skills of yours! There will also be a local Taiko drumming evening. And, if you still have some bounce left in your legs after a day on the mountains, then in the pipeline is a night out in Hakuba to experience the local “town” atmosphere!

Why not spend a few extra days in Kyoto, exploring its thousands of classical shrines and bamboo forests, or taking part in a traditional tea ceremony?

Or finish your trip in Tokyo, where hyper-modern neon streetscapes meet historic landmarks like Senso-ji Temple.

Alternatively, stay a little longer in Hakuba and make the most of the powder while you’re there!

These optional extensions are not included in the itinerary and must be arranged and paid for independently.