The Hakuba area is Japan's only real alpine environment that also has a busy resort scene and the facilities that come with it on the mountains and in the valley.
List of resorts in Hakuba
These are the main resorts in Hakuba, each is described in detail from a poaching perspective on their own page.
Happo One Big, great access to great alpine terrain despite the lower-than-alpine altitude, relatively easy patrol.
Tsugaike Spread out, flat, lost of trees, difficult patrol.
Hakuba 47/Goryu Fantastic trees and steeps in 'legal' out fo bounds, terrible patrol in-bounds
Norikura/Cortina Steep perfect trees, lots of pow, very tough Patrol
Iwatake Small, the only resort in the valley with lists and pistes on all points of the compass. Easy patrol.
Gear shops in the valley
Rappies - on the 148, right hand side heading south out of town just after Jusco
Places to drink in Hakuba
There are plenty of restaurants/bars in the Hakuba valley. The below seem to be the most popular over the last few years.
Master Braster – Fantastic little reggae bar at the top / right hand side of the main st in Echoland. This place is typically packed as one of the best late night places in Echoland. Popular with foreigners and Japanese. If you’re looking to party and like reggae, it’s a pretty good bet.
Studio 902 – Another great place in the Echoland area. The bar is a big concrete monstrosity behind their snow/skate shop (Garage 902) on the main st in Echoland. There’s a massive selection of vinyl and visiting DJ’s usually play here. Smaller ratio of foreigners than some of the other places.
Hie – Great place to go for a boozy Japanese dinner. Located (once again) on Echoland’s main st, Hie has a great selection of sake, its headache-enducing brother shochu, and great food.
Tracks – Goryu’s #1 nightspot. Good variety of beers, happy hours, parties, and more. Hattori Hanzo reckons there’s always good chicks there, but sadly I haven’t been there enough to confirm nor deny. They have a pool table too! PM Hanzo for photos.
Uncle Steven’s – A Mexican place just at the bottom of the Happo Gondola. The hot sauce is lethal but the margaritas are fantastic and a great selection of Mexican beer and tequila. Great place to stop for a long lunch on a bad weather day or for a boozy non-Japanese dinner.
The Pub – One of the top after hours places in the Wadano area. Good wine bar next door if you’re trying to impress a lady. Basically what you’d expect out of place called “the Pub” – Guinness, big TV, darts, foosball, etc. Located just behind Evergreen. Always worth a check.
Naughty’s – A nightclub with a mini ramp out in the Tsugaike area. Worth the drive if there’s a party on.
Hakuba Powder Lodge’s vending machine – not really a bar, but the cheapest beer in town and worth hanging around there if you’re looking for a backcountry touring partner.
Places to stay in Hakuba
Hakuba Powder Lodge – generally referred to in these pages as “FT’s place”, the Hakuba Powder Lodge has been described in the past as the “epicenter for skibummery in Japan”. That being said, it’s starting to look more and more flash with all the upgrades that FT has put in this year and is at risk of losing it’s former title and the becoming the “preferred boutique of the backcountry connoisseur”. If you’re looking for touring partners and/or other like-minded individuals and a quality place to stay at a low price, look no further than http://zendreview.wordpress.com and other resources.
Powderhouse – beautiful place that lodge-owner Mik hand-built. Spacious open-rooms, a Japanese spa onsite, a gorgeous bar and relaxing atmosphere. Put simply, if I was trying to impress a chick, I’d stay at Powderhouse. http://www.powderhouse.jp/
The above fully booked? Call the boys at Ski Japan Holidays and they’ll tell you what’s available in the area. They speak English good. http://www.japanspecialists.com/
How to get to Hakuba
From Narita (4hrs) or Tokyo (3hrs)
From Narita Airport, take the Narita Express train to Tokyo Station (1hr). From Tokyo Station, buy a Shinkansen "Bullet-train" ticket to Nagano (2hrs). From Nagano Station, the Alpico bus from the East Exit (Bus stop #6) will take you to Hakuba Station (1hr).
Narita Express and Shinkansen timetable (the Shinkansen that goes to Nagano is called Asama) http://jreast-shinkansen-reservation.eki-net.com/pc/english/common/timet...
The Nagano to Hakuba bus timetable http://www.alpico.co.jp/access/express/nagano_hakuba/