Ski the Hakuba Valley

300kms northwest of Tokyo, the Hakuba Valley is in the heart of the Japanese Northern Alps and a superb place to ski or snowboard powder! There's some great intermediate trails that challenge experienced skiing and snowboarding buffs alike thanks to mogul tracks and steep slopes. Hakuba 47 is just one of 10 resorts in the immediate area.

Ski the Hakuba Valley this winter and revel in one of Japan's most well known ski areas thanks to the 1998 Winter Olympics. Located in the Nagano area, this ski resort is in the Northern Japanese Alps with over 200 individual piste trails and many slopes that are nestled in beneath 3,000m peaks. Accessible by car or train it is easy to get there making it a great choice for many travellers.

Visiting Hakuba Valley

Offering 12 slope areas there's plenty of skiing opportunities when you ski the Hakuba Valley. Hakuba's pistes are exceptional for both skiers and boarders and it boasts some of the steepest mountains in Japan. Most slopes are intermediate or expert in nature, especially given the large runs, moguls, and steep slopes that make up the Japanese Alps. There are also a few beginner slopes to offer families with children options as well.

Two of the most popular courses are the night skiing Toomi Gelende course at 1500 meters long and the 400m mogul course where many official Japanese competitions take place. Despite its popularity the wide, long slopes are usually not overcrowded which is also partially due to the fact that the Hakuba ski resort season starts in late autumn and extends through a long portion of the spring given the climate.

Escal Plaza is a wonderful place to stop at night for festivities and an easy place to stay overnight if you overindulge at the bottom of the Toomi Gelende. Mix traditional Japanese culture with apres-ski and you have a great night out - Japanese resorts are popular with the Australians. There are also plenty of festivities in Hakuba that happen year round to join in with, such as fireworks, night club scene, bars and plenty of restaurants that offer all styles of food.

Souvenir shops, nursery centres at the hotels and plenty of little local gems can also provide a great deal of entertainment for those who are looking for some time away from the slopes.