Hakuba Valley

MY FIRST TURN off the ridge wasn’t very steep—a gentle, 25-degree pitch. Fat flakes were falling from above and the snow was stacking up at two inches per hour as I dropped in. I gained momentum as the gradient steepened, and the seemingly bottomless snow billowed up around my torso. I focused on surfing across the top; I didn’t want to dive too deep and risk pairing an extra-long face shot with an accidental encounter with one of the perfectly spaced trees I was skiing among. I made a dozen dreamy powder smears before pulling off behind a tree to wait for my partner.

It was our first day of the trip, and we both agreed on a conservative approach while we gained our bearings in the new terrain. As I radioed up to him...

Hakuba Valley's ten distinct resorts create a skiing experience that's hard to match anywhere else in Japan. For beginners, Norikura features wide, gentle runs that make learning your first turns super fun as there won't be other skiers flying by you. Goryu builds on this with its thoughtfully designed Toomi Zone that is groomed daily and features more mellow runs.

The valley really shines for the intermediate to advanced skiers. Happo-One, with its impressive 1,000-meter vertical drop, serves as the region's core, as it is the biggest of the 10 resorts. ABLE Hakuba Goryu mixes challenging runs with the kind of powder stashes that make Japanese skiing legendary.

Expert skiers will find their home at Cortina, the valley's powder capital, where steep tree runs and consistently deep snow that we promise will bring a smile to your face. Hakuba47 also features steep, technical runs and a serious terrain park setup. Those seeking even more challenge can explore Happo-One's backcountry terrain.

The closest major airport is Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo. Hakuba Valley is accessible from there via the bullet train and bus, or a private transfer. This can take between 2-4 hours depending on which mode and route you choose. Other major cities like Osaka and Nagoya also offer train routes to Hakuba. If you’re driving Hakuba is about a 4-hour drive from Tokyo.
Within the valley, there’s a free shuttle service connecting the resorts, making it convenient to get around without driving. A lot of the accommodations provide shuttles to the different resorts, which is helpful if you’re looking to make the most of all of Hakuba’s terrain.