Destinations

Hakuba

“Having lived in the north of Japan for 3 years I thought that I was familiar with fantastic snow conditions and amazing winter resorts. However my visit to Hakuba was something else! Here the runs were longer, the snow was deeper and the powder was more perfect than anything I had seen before.”

Harry Sargant - Tailored Department Manager

Although the Winter Olympics of 1998 were referred to as being held in ‘Nagano’, this refers to a large, mountainous prefecture, so the individual resorts within this area that hosted events are perhaps not as famous as they deserve to be. Hakuba is one of those that is becoming better known among winter sports enthusiasts in the West, after hosting the 1998 alpine downhill and super-G events, as well as the ski jumping. There are 10 ski resorts in the Hakuba area, with the ‘big three’ being Goryu, Hakuba 47 and Happo-one. These three alone have more than enough runs to keep you happy for any length of stay, and when combined with the other outlying resorts offer over 200 runs and 800acres of mountain to explore. The snow in Hakuba comes big and high quality with cold Siberian air creating reliable and regular dumps of fresh powder from mid December through until late March.

One of the wonderful things about winter sports in Japan is the lack of crowds and amount of space available to you on the mountain, and with so many runs and so many resorts this is definitely the case in Hakuba. Although popular with the Japanese, who come at weekends and public holidays, ski or board from Monday to Friday and you will virtually have the place to yourself with queuing for lifts virtually unheard of. Another of the joys of Japan in winter is the apres-ski hot-spring (onsen) bath. What better way to rest aching limbs than to sit back in a steaming outdoor onsen with snowflakes falling all around you (for fresh powder tomorrow!), and perhaps a cold beer at your side?! Hakuba has plenty of onsen to choose from, so do take the chance to indulge in this most Japanese of activities. If you need a break from the slopes you could even make a half-day trip to nearby Yudanaka, home to the famous snow monkeys – Japanese macaques who ward off the winter chill by relaxing in onsen baths of their own!

Hakuba also has plenty to keep you busy in the evenings, with a fantastic mixture of western-style bars and restaurants and traditional Japanese style pubs and eateries. The resort’s growth has been carefully managed and Hakuba still maintains a small town Japanese atmosphere, despite its growing international fame.

Hakuba can also be visited outside winter with some fantastic outdoor sporting options available from spring to autumn, including mountain biking, rafting, hiking and horse riding.

Products featuring Hakuba...

Self Guided Adventure

7 Night Winter Price Cruncher

Japan has some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world and this 7 night itinerary will take you into the fantastic resort of Hakuba which has a great range of pistes as well as a nice village atmosphere. Either side of your mountain stay have fun in the bright lights of Shinjuku.

7 Nights: £720

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Self Guided Adventure

Hakuba Winter Sports

Come and experience some of the best powder snow in the world! Hakuba offers a choice of 7 resorts, providing more terrain than you could explore in a lifetime. Come nightfall, hot spring baths and amazing dining and nightlife options await – this will be a winter holiday like no other!

8 Nights: £980

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