Don’t miss out on everything Hakuba has to offer.

The Hakuba Valley is a picturesque winter wonderland. But without proper planning, you may miss out on the best Hakuba ski holiday ever.

Hakuba’s powder slopes, with a backdrop of awe-inspiring vistas, can be the ski trip you have always dreamed of. However, traveling to Japan offers unique challenges you do not experience in other destinations.

Whether you’re a thrill-seeker looking for amazing tree skiing or a family searching for the perfect winter retreat, Hakuba promises to capture your imagination and provide an unforgettable experience.

This article offers 7 insider tips to help make your Hakuba ski holiday the best it can be.

Hakuba White Fox Co offers luxury accommodations with personalized concierge services.

Contact us to book your next ski vacation.

Best Time to Ski in Hakuba

The ideal months for skiing in Hakuba are typically from mid-December to late March, with January and February offering the best snow conditions. During these months, the Hakuba Valley experiences abundant snowfall, providing excellent powder on the ski slopes. The weather patterns during this peak season ensure a consistent snow cover, making it perfect for beginners and advanced skiers. Whether exploring the excellent tree skiing at Hakuba Cortina or enjoying the panoramic views at Happo One Ski Resort, the winter months in Hakuba promise an unforgettable ski trip amidst the spectacular Japanese Alps.

Your Hakuba Ski Holiday

• The ideal skiing season in Hakuba Valley spans from mid-December to late March, with January and February offering the best snow conditions due to consistent snowfall.
• Hakuba is home to 10 distinct ski resorts, providing an incredible variety of ski slopes suitable for all levels, from beginner slopes to advanced tree skiing.
• Accommodations in Hakuba range from luxury apartments to oversized chalets. They often feature Western-style amenities, ensuring a comfortable stay.
• Transportation around Hakuba is convenient, with options like shuttle buses and car rentals, allowing easy access to the ski resorts and surrounding attractions.
• Beyond skiing, Hakuba offers a range of activities, such as visiting hot springs, experiencing the vibrant nightlife in Happo Village, and exploring the scenic beauty of the Japanese Alps.

7 Ways to Make Your Hakuba Ski Holiday The Best Ever

1. Upgrade your accommodation

There is no singular upgrade you can make that will improve your vacation more than the accommodation you’ll be staying. So often we look for the best value or the cheapest accommodation when you should realize how much time you’ll be spending at home relaxing. This is your ski holiday! Find a place with comfortable beds, plenty of space, a spot for the kids to safely play, a full size and equipped kitchen, a dry room, and underfloor heating. Select a place you’ll be happy to go and hang out in the evening and on your day off. You are on vacation. Accept that vacations cost some money and enjoy it as much as you can with your family and friends. A nicer accommodation could add as little as 5% more to your overall vacation cost, but will be where you spend half your time.

White Fox Tip: Hakuba White Fox Co Chalets are all brand new builds in convenient locations and are equipped with underfloor heating, private dry rooms, and heated parking lots. They are kid friendly including baby gates, toys & books, high chairs, and cots. Our homes like Alpinarc4, Alpinarc6, Villa Lily, Silver Maple Chalet all have private 4-6 person onsens inside the house. You’ll never want to leave.

White Fox Tip: White Fox Car Rentals offers onsite car rental direct to your chalet with Mini-Vans or Hi-Aces. All come with 4WD, ski racks, and snow tires. If you are coming via bullet train to Nagano, you can also rent 4WD cars with the least amount of walking from Budget Rentacar, JR Rentacar, or Nissan Rentacar. Budget generally has the best rates. Cars are limited so book early. They also won’t have ski racks. Cars from Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and other areas outside of Nagano won’t have ski racks and you must confirm 4WD and snow tires. Otherwise your car will be useless in Hakuba and dangerous to drive.

3. Book yourself a massage or private onsen

Once you have your beautiful accommodation sorted, it’s time to enjoy it. After a day or two, your body is going to start to feel it. No better way to relax than to book yourself a massage at the newly built Vive Hakuba Dayspa. They have 6 private treatment rooms, all with mountain views. All therapists have been pre-screened for quality. There’s also a private onsen that’s rentable by the hour. The bath can fit 3 people. You can enjoy Hakuba’s gorgeous snowcapped mountain views with a glass of wine. Just downstairs is the epic Vive Restaurant and Bar.

4. Pre-order Great Wines

Nagano is considered a wine region, with dozens of wineries around an 1 hour’s drive away. Several stores in the area also sell a variety of alcohol. That being said, we’d recommend saving time and ordering ahead so great wines. You’re on vacation so order some great sparkling, some white and some red. Delivery in Japan can usually be done next day. There are several amazing wine stores in Japan that have English websites. We recommend Enoteca for there huge selection while Amazon Japan is hard to beat for ease of use. Others include Iconic Wine or Hotei Wines. Or ahead an enjoy!

5. Hire A Babysitter

We all love our kids. We all deserve and need some great couple times or adult-only time. Yes, it’s possible in Hakuba both during the day while skiing and at night. There are several foreign friendly services delivering exactly what you want and need. Hakuba Babysitting offers 3-hour Perfect Date specials when you want to treat yourself to Vive or have an adults-only group dinner at any of the other delicious restaurants in town. They also offer bespoke packages. Mommy Smile Babysitting also offers similar services and run a great blog show all the things kids did last winter. They both offer early morning and late night services. For the older kids, order Hakuba Pizza or Morino’s Pizza and turn on some NetFlix. Perfect night for everyone. See our full Hakuba Babysitting and Daycare guide here.

6. Book your Kids into Ski School

You want first tracks? You want to go fast and fly down the mountain? Book your kids into the ski school. This has a dual benefit. On this trip you get to have your own fun and soon, your kids will be able to ride with you. Most schools offer half day or full day services and are available at any of the major mountains including Goryu, 47, Happo-One, Iwatake, Tsugaike, or Norikura. What are our preferred schools? Hakuba Snow Sports and Hakuba Ski Concierge. Both offer impeccable and incredible service. We use them ourselves, for our kids, and regularly for our guests. We also regularly use Frontier Hakuba and always get great feedback.

 

White Fox Tip: Hakuba Ski Concierge exclusively offers private ski & snowboard lessons + resort guiding. They are based out of Hakuba47 with all the instructors handpicked and the services fully tailored. Frontier Ski School is based out on Norikura Resort, an uncrowded mountain great for beginners. Both schools offer private or small group lessons with pick up/drop off at your accommodation. Otherwise, if you want to explore the larger schools, there is Hakuba Snow Sports School, based out of Iimori Resort, a great beginner resorts at the base of Goryu. Evergreen Ski School runs out of Happo-One if you want to explore that mountain with group or private lessons.

7. Try to Capture First Tracks

There is nothing more exhilarating than being one of the first to ride on totally untracked, powder snow. You probably can already imagine letting out that Wooooooo sound as you glide right through. There are plenty of places to try to get first tracks. If snow is in the forecast, don’t leave it to chance where to go. The night before, if it is coming down hard, I usually plan on an early start with all my gear ready. There are no friends on powder days is a common saying.

Bonus: Hire a Private Chef

Private chefs are becoming increasingly more popular in Hakuba. As homes in Hakuba are becoming more nicer, bigger, and more luxurious, demand is growing for this service. Sushi and various type of Japanese and Western selections are becoming more available. Our guests love this service. It absolutely must be pre-booked, at least a month in advance.

White Fox Tip: Choose your resorts wisely. What do I normally do? I check all the Facebook pages of Cortina, Happo-One, and Hakuba47 resorts. They all post early updates on the snowfall at the base and near the peak. Watch these carefully as Hakuba47 may get 15cm of snow while Cortina gets 50cm. It’s very common. And watch for wind. One of the main reasons to hire a car and be based centrally is so you have the freedom to move around. Happo-One often sees the top lifts shut due to wind, and you’ll be listening later to how another group had the greatest powder day ever. Happo-One can be absolutely brilliant and amazing too. And if you plan to go to Cortina, you have to commit to going early as people will line up. Hakuba47 offers some great, steep, tree skiing. They require you to take a 30 min course, offered in the mornings only. They give you a season tree skiing pass, which you can exchange for exclusive access. Take this course on a non-powder day.

White Fox Tip 2: Buy the Hakuba Valley Pass. Yes the individual passes may in aggregate be slightly cheaper, but the Hakuba Valley Pass can be used everywhere without waiting in any lines. You can purchase them via the Hakuba Valley ticket website or Tengu Travel.

Hakuba’s Ski Resorts

Hakuba is home to 10 different ski resorts. From family-friendly Iimor to the powder haven of Cortina, Hakuba has over 200+ runs and 11+ meters of snow. Hakuba is a renowned ski destination nestled in the heart of the Japanese Alps, offering an incredible variety of ski experiences across its ten distinct ski resorts. Each resort in the Hakuba Valley boasts unique features, catering to various skiing preferences, from beginner slopes to advanced tree skiing.

1. Happo One Ski Resort: Known for its expansive terrain and spectacular alpine scenery, Happo One offers a thrilling experience for skiers of all levels. It is the largest resort in the Hakuba Valley and features the main Happo One gondola, providing easy access to its diverse slopes.
2. Hakuba 47 Winter Sports Park: Famous for its terrain park, Hakuba 47 is ideal for freestyle enthusiasts. It connects with Goryu Ski Resort, providing a seamless skiing experience across both areas.
3. Goryu Ski Resort: Known for its panoramic views and varied runs, Goryu Ski Resort is perfect for families and offers excellent service and amenities.
4. Iwatake Ski Resort: This resort offers a mix of gentle slopes and challenging runs, with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
5. Tsugaike Ski Resort: With its vast beginner-friendly area and side-country options, Tsugaike is a favorite among families and powder seekers.
6. Cortina Ski Resort: Known for its amazing tree skiing and deep powder, Cortina is a haven for advanced skiers. The resort’s unique terrain and abundant snowfall make it a must-visit for thrill-seekers.
7. Norikura Onsen Snow Resort: Norikura offers a relaxing and refreshing experience. The resort’s slopes cater to a wide range of skill levels, making it a versatile choice for skiers.
8. Sanosaka Ski Resort: Offering lake views and a more intimate skiing experience, Sanosaka is perfect for those looking to escape the crowds.
9. Kashimayari Ski Resort: Known for its family-friendly atmosphere and excellent facilities, Kashimayari provides a welcoming environment for skiers of all ages. The resort’s varied terrain ensures fun for everyone.
10. Jiigatake Ski Resort: This small, family-oriented resort offers gentle slopes and a relaxed atmosphere, making it ideal for beginners and families with small children.

Conclusion

A Hakuba ski holiday offers an unparalleled experience in the heart of the Japanese Alps, combining stunning alpine scenery, diverse ski resorts, and a wealth of activities both on and off the slopes. Planning your trip carefully – choosing the right time to visit and selecting the ideal accommodation- will ensure a memorable and enjoyable ski adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned skier or a family seeking winter fun, Hakuba promises to deliver an unforgettable holiday filled with excitement, relaxation, and breathtaking views. Embrace the magic of Hakuba and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.