Confession: we’re very open approximately our love of Niseko, but we’ve been hiding something – Niseko isn’t our handiest ski time love. We’ve been passionate about another Japanese ski metropolis for some time now – Hakuba.
No, we haven’t been hiding Hakuba out of disgrace or fear that everyone might suddenly discover it (1998 turned into a large year for the vicinity). It’s greater like we desired to faux that the region turned into our dirty little mystery. Well, we’re eventually prepared to start talking. So, to get you greater acquainted with the region, here are some of the motives we adore disappearing into Hakuba and why you’ll love it too.
1. Slopes
In the heart of the Japanese Alps, Hakuba is considered one of Japan’s top winter motel areas. Consisting of nine principal accommodations stretched across a valley, the region gives the maximum varied terrain, vertical rise, and advanced slopes in all of Japan. The inns are all effortlessly accessible from the towns of Happo and Wadano.
Being within the Alps, it receives a number of us of an’s the first-class snowstorm. The snow’s annual base exceeds 10 meters, and the snow exceptional is as fluffy as Niseko.
With 135 lifts and over two hundred exceptional trails, it’s a playground for skiers and snowboarders who want more of an assignment, and it has miles of easier trails for novices.
2. Accessibility
Hakuba is straightforward to attain. If you’re going without delay from Narita, you can hop onto a bus or taxi to get you there. There are offerings to immediately take your baggage to Hakuba from Narita for you (without you having to lift a finger). Alternatively, you can catch the Shinkansen bullet educate from Tokyo Station. Hakuba is perfect if you’re holidaying in Tokyo or everywhere else alongside the bullet teach path.
3. Olympic dream
So, you keep in mind the 1998 remark? If you haven’t recalled the importance yet, you definately’re probably now not huge at the Olympics (no judgment – they’re a protracted two weeks).
Well, Hakuba (Happo-One Resort to be exact) hosted the slopeside activities that yr! If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a champion (beyond just being you), Hakuba is the location to head, fly down a mountainside at complete peace, and stay out a few adolescent desires.
4. Food
The food, the meals, the food! Nagano, the place wherein Hakuba is located, is the house of soba noodles. Between the clean mountain water and fertile ground, the location’s positioning within the Japanese highlands makes it perfect for developing the buckwheat that creates soba. Eat all of the sofas you can there.
It’s no longer just soba that the mountain water is good for both. The greens and meats which you’ll consume while staying in Hakuba come almost solely from the location, so the whole lot is sparkling and splendid tasty. Restaurants there serve the entirety from Western comfort food to local delicacies like yaki (a sort of Japanese dumpling), Nozawa-zuke (pickled mustard leaves), basashi (uncooked horse meat – no comment from us), and shichimi togarashi (a spice mixture).
5. Family-friendly facilities
The youngsters’ scene in Hakuba is amazing. We particularly love the kid-pleasant area at the vicinity’s Happo-One hotel.
Within Happo-One, there are two kinds of children’s parks in which youngsters can begin with skiing, cross sledding, tubing, and play around building snowmen and entering into snowball fights. There is also the preschool MA’AM Club nursery that cares for toddlers who are over the age of three months so that you can head out at the slopes with no fear of the youngsters creating mass havoc. Also, there’s a free Kids’ Space on the top of a gondola wherein youngsters can take a smash, nap, and play.
Additionally, separate “Sakka Debut” carry tickets so youngsters can practice carving in a chosen beginners vicinity while not having to pay for getting right of entry to the whole lodge.
