Hakuba

For an authentic Japanese skiing experience, look no further than the Hakuba Valley with its 10 ski areas.

weather Forecast today: Occasional rain

Max temp: 11.1 °c
Min temp: 5.4 °c
Last snowed: Sun 30 Mar

Last Updated: Wed 02 Apr

weather Forecast today: Occasional rain

Max temp: 11.1 °c
Min temp: 5.4 °c
Last snowed: Sun 30 Mar

Last Updated: Wed 02 Apr

Ski Club offerings

Freshtracks holiday

Check out the Ski Club’s holidays available in this resort

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50%Beginner

30%Intermediate

20%Advanced

Niseko might have better powder, but the Hakuba Valley gets more than its fair share

which is great news if you’re planning a trip to ski at its three main ski areas. Happo-One is the largest of these, covering 52km of pistes, including the 1998 Olympic ski racing pistes. Hakuba 47/Goryu is around half the size but a fun ski area and Iwatake has access to 50km of further slopes, but a much smaller vertical. Traditional guesthouses are the order of the day in terms of accommodation and as you might expect, the food is fantastic and there are numerous hot spring onsens to unwind in at the end of the ski day.

Join us on the 14-night Ski Club Freshtracks Japan Powder Adventure holiday, which takes in the best of the Hakuba Valley as well as the resort of Nozawa Onsen.

Beginner
Fast lifts
Intermediate
Resort Activities
Advanced
Aprés
Snow
Value

Pros and cons

Fantastic variety in the valley with 10 ski areas
Great snow record and access to some of Japan’s best powder
Authentic Japanese experience and great food

Language barrier can be an issue
Driving between ski areas is required and this can be tricky in snow
Off piste skiing is very heavily regulated, hire a guide for the best access

On the Slopes

All of the ski areas have options for beginners and intermediates, but the plentiful snowfall means that most will want to be confident skiing powder before heading half way around the world to go skiing. This also means you will make the most of the Japanese Alps’ epic terrain and big vertical.

For advanced and expert skiers and boarders, the tree skiing here is second to none. Hiring a mountain guide and carrying a pair of touring skins will make a big difference, but within the ski resorts there are some good inbound areas.

In particular the Hikage zone at Iwatake, the open bowls at the top of Hakuba 47/Goryu and the Kurobishi off piste area at Happo-One.

In the Resort

We’d recommend basing yourself in Hakuba itself rather than at one of the resorts as this will give you the freedom to travel around. The town of Hakuba has a great atmosphere with a wide range of bars and restaurants. There are good western options but the main attractions are the excellent Japanese food and izakayas (Japanese bars).

By far the best way to unwind after a day on the hill is in a traditional Japanese onsen – these are littered throughout the valley so don’t worry about finding one!

Getting to Hakuba

The transfer from Tokyo take a little less than three hours, via bullet train to the city of Nagano and then an express bus service up to the resort.

Tokyo airport: 2.5-3 hours

Season Dates

Opens: Late November (TBD)
Closes: Early May (TBD)

Resort holidays

Hakuba Piste Map

Hakuba FATMAP

Top (1831m)

	Wed 2 Apr			Thu 3 Apr			Fri 4 Apr			Sat 5 Apr			Sun 6 Apr			Mon 7 Apr			Tue 8 Apr			Wed 9 Apr			Thu 10 Apr			Fri 11 Apr
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional rain	Light rain	Light rain	Occasional rain	Rain/Snow shower	Mist	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Clear skies	Generally clear	Broken clouds	Partly cloudy	Rain shower	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Clear skies	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Clear skies	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Generally clear	Rather cloudy	Occasional rain	Rain shower	Rain shower	Rain shower	Rain shower
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	5.2°c	5.1°c	1.5°c	5.1°c	4.6°c	-2.1°c	2.6°c	2°c	-5.4°c	7.8°c	7.6°c	-0.1°c	6.6°c	6.6°c	0.2°c	6.9°c	6.5°c	-1.9°c	10.2°c	10.2°c	2.6°c	12.1°c	12.1°c	3.6°c	11.8°c	10.2°c	4.2°c	9.1°c	8.2°c	2.5°c
Min temp	2.4°c	1.5°c	1.1°c	2.4°c	-2.1°c	-2.6°c	-0.2°c	-5.4°c	-6.1°c	3.6°c	-0.1°c	-0.8°c	3.8°c	0.2°c	-1.5°c	4.4°c	-1.9°c	-2.8°c	6.1°c	2.6°c	0.5°c	8.1°c	3.6°c	2.8°c	9.6°c	4.2°c	3.9°c	7.9°c	2.5°c	1°c
Feels like temp	2.3°c	4.8°c	1.4°c	2.3°c	4.2°c	-2.1°c	-3.3°c	-1.7°c	-5.4°c	3.1°c	5.4°c	-2.8°c	1.4°c	4.4°c	0.2°c	2.1°c	3.8°c	-1.9°c	5.4°c	8°c	0°c	7.3°c	10.4°c	3.3°c	8.7°c	8.3°c	2.1°c	6.3°c	6.4°c	2.3°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional rain	Light rain	Light rain
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	5.2°c	5.1°c	1.5°c
Min temp	2.4°c	1.5°c	1.1°c
Feels like temp	2.3°c	4.8°c	1.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional rain	Rain/Snow shower	Mist
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	5.1°c	4.6°c	-2.1°c
Min temp	2.4°c	-2.1°c	-2.6°c
Feels like temp	2.3°c	4.2°c	-2.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	2.6°c	2°c	-5.4°c
Min temp	-0.2°c	-5.4°c	-6.1°c
Feels like temp	-3.3°c	-1.7°c	-5.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Broken clouds	Partly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	7.8°c	7.6°c	-0.1°c
Min temp	3.6°c	-0.1°c	-0.8°c
Feels like temp	3.1°c	5.4°c	-2.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Rain shower	Generally clear	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	6.6°c	6.6°c	0.2°c
Min temp	3.8°c	0.2°c	-1.5°c
Feels like temp	1.4°c	4.4°c	0.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Generally clear	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	6.9°c	6.5°c	-1.9°c
Min temp	4.4°c	-1.9°c	-2.8°c
Feels like temp	2.1°c	3.8°c	-1.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	10.2°c	10.2°c	2.6°c
Min temp	6.1°c	2.6°c	0.5°c
Feels like temp	5.4°c	8°c	0°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	12.1°c	12.1°c	3.6°c
Min temp	8.1°c	3.6°c	2.8°c
Feels like temp	7.3°c	10.4°c	3.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Rather cloudy	Occasional rain	Rain shower
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	11.8°c	10.2°c	4.2°c
Min temp	9.6°c	4.2°c	3.9°c
Feels like temp	8.7°c	8.3°c	2.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Rain shower	Rain shower	Rain shower
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	9.1°c	8.2°c	2.5°c
Min temp	7.9°c	2.5°c	1°c
Feels like temp	6.3°c	6.4°c	2.3°c

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Resort (750m)

	Wed 2 Apr			Thu 3 Apr			Fri 4 Apr			Sat 5 Apr			Sun 6 Apr			Mon 7 Apr			Tue 8 Apr			Wed 9 Apr			Thu 10 Apr			Fri 11 Apr
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional rain	Light rain	Light rain	Occasional rain	Some drizzle	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Clear skies	Generally clear	Rather cloudy	Partly cloudy	Rain shower	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Clear skies	Clear skies	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Clear skies	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Generally clear	Rather cloudy	Occasional rain	Rain shower	Rain shower	Rain shower	Rain shower
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	10.6°c	11.1°c	7.9°c	11°c	10.1°c	4°c	8°c	7.1°c	1°c	12.2°c	11.6°c	5.9°c	9.9°c	10.4°c	5.2°c	11.4°c	10.6°c	4.1°c	14.6°c	14.1°c	7.4°c	17.1°c	16.6°c	8.9°c	15.2°c	14°c	10.2°c	13.2°c	12.9°c	7.6°c
Min temp	5.4°c	7.2°c	6.1°c	5.9°c	4°c	1.6°c	3.6°c	1°c	-1.9°c	6.5°c	5.9°c	3.4°c	5.6°c	5.2°c	2.6°c	7.6°c	4.1°c	1.2°c	8.9°c	7.4°c	4°c	11.2°c	8.9°c	5.9°c	12.6°c	10.2°c	8.4°c	10.2°c	7.6°c	5.4°c
Feels like temp	5.2°c	9.7°c	6.9°c	5.7°c	7.9°c	1.8°c	1.2°c	4°c	0.9°c	5.8°c	9.2°c	3.8°c	3.3°c	7.4°c	4.9°c	5.9°c	8.1°c	3.8°c	8°c	11.9°c	6.9°c	10.3°c	14.9°c	8.5°c	11.5°c	12°c	9.2°c	9.6°c	11.1°c	7.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	10.6°c	11.1°c	7.9°c
Min temp	5.4°c	7.2°c	6.1°c
Feels like temp	5.2°c	9.7°c	6.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	11°c	10.1°c	4°c
Min temp	5.9°c	4°c	1.6°c
Feels like temp	5.7°c	7.9°c	1.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	8°c	7.1°c	1°c
Min temp	3.6°c	1°c	-1.9°c
Feels like temp	1.2°c	4°c	0.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	12.2°c	11.6°c	5.9°c
Min temp	6.5°c	5.9°c	3.4°c
Feels like temp	5.8°c	9.2°c	3.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	9.9°c	10.4°c	5.2°c
Min temp	5.6°c	5.2°c	2.6°c
Feels like temp	3.3°c	7.4°c	4.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	11.4°c	10.6°c	4.1°c
Min temp	7.6°c	4.1°c	1.2°c
Feels like temp	5.9°c	8.1°c	3.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	14.6°c	14.1°c	7.4°c
Min temp	8.9°c	7.4°c	4°c
Feels like temp	8°c	11.9°c	6.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	17.1°c	16.6°c	8.9°c
Min temp	11.2°c	8.9°c	5.9°c
Feels like temp	10.3°c	14.9°c	8.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	15.2°c	14°c	10.2°c
Min temp	12.6°c	10.2°c	8.4°c
Feels like temp	11.5°c	12°c	9.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	13.2°c	12.9°c	7.6°c
Min temp	10.2°c	7.6°c	5.4°c
Feels like temp	9.6°c	11.1°c	7.3°c

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Resort Conditions

Snowfall	Last Snowfall	30/03/2025
Snowfall	Next 3 days	0.2 cm
Depths	Upper piste depth	390 cm
Depths	Lower piste depth	90 cm
Snow conditions	Snow quality	Spring snow
Lifts	Lifts open	13 out of 21
	Resort opening date	Sat 30 Nov 2024
	Resort closing date	Tue 06 May 2025

Snow Overview

Japan

Updated 01/04

Generally cool-to-mild conditions dominate across both Honshu and Hokkaido over this week and into the weekend. On Honshu, a mix of mild rain and snow will fall through the middle of this week, before a brief pause for some sun and a return to rain later in the week. Further north, this precipitation falls more consistently as snow as conditions remain ever so slightly cooler.

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast