You're Going to Love Hakuba
Many people flock to the city of Hakuba in the Japanese Alps to enjoy the many hot springs, winter ski resorts and hiking opportunities.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Hakuba
1. Hakuba Happo-One
This ski resort is one of the most famous in the Japanese Alps, with runs ranging from beginner to Olympic pro.
2. Juro No-Yu
These hot spring mineral baths are open 24 hours a day between December and March and are located near Kamishiro station.
3. Goryu
In the summer this top ski run becomes an alpine garden, with trails letting you hike to other parts of the mountain ranges.
4. Aoki-ko, Nakazuna-ko and Kizaki-ko
These clean freshwater lakes allow for water sports such as sport fishing, windsurfing, swimming and boating.
5. Chōkoku-ji Temple
This Buddhist temple houses treasures from the Heian Era and conducts daily meditation services and sermons for visitors.
When to Visit Hakuba
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The best season to visit is during the winter when the many popular ski resorts open, offering visitors an opportunity to indulge in many snow sports.
How to Get to Hakuba
Plane
Narita Airport near Tokyo is the closest airport, with one way tickets from London costing JPY60,000.
Train
Take the JR Oito Line or the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo, depending on your time schedule. The former takes 4 hours and is JPY8,000 one way, while the latter takes just over 2 hours and costs JPY9,700.
Car
From Tokyo, take the Highway 20 and Chuo Expressway to reach Hakuba in roughly 3.5 hours.
Bus
There are several daily buses from Tokyo that make the trip to Hakuba in 4.5 hours and costs JPY8,500 for a roundtrip.
Airlines serving Hakuba
Where to stay in popular areas of Hakuba
Most booked hotels in Hakuba
How to Get Around Hakuba
Public Transportation
Genki-Go shuttle buses run throughout Hakuba for JPY300 a ride.
Taxi
There are very few taxi cabs in Hakuba, as there are frequent shuttle buses and everything is within close walking distance. Taxi tariffs start at around JPY500.
Car
Rental vehicle prices start at about JPY7,500 a day and can be picked up from the Kamishiro station.
Where to Eat in Hakuba
Soba Shubo Zen offers Asian and Japanese food, including noodles, sashimi and goza. Meal prices cost roughly JPY1,200.