Hakuba

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

weather Forecast today: Clear skies

Max temp: 2.5 °c
Min temp: -4.6 °c
Last snowed: Fri 17 Jan

Last Updated: Sat 18 Jan

weather Forecast today: Clear skies

Max temp: 2.5 °c
Min temp: -4.6 °c
Last snowed: Fri 17 Jan

Last Updated: Sat 18 Jan

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 / Nozawa Onsen

Japan Powder Adventure

Sun 02 Feb 2025, 14 Nights

£3999

Holidays details Sold Out

Hakuba Piste Map

Hakuba FATMAP

Top (1831m)

	Sat 18 Jan			Sun 19 Jan			Mon 20 Jan			Tue 21 Jan			Wed 22 Jan			Thu 23 Jan			Fri 24 Jan			Sat 25 Jan			Sun 26 Jan			Mon 27 Jan
	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	Clear skies	Clear skies	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Broken clouds	Partly cloudy	Mainly fair	Mist	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Freezing fog	Generally clear	Clear skies	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Generally clear	Rain/Snow shower	Snow shower	Snow shower	Broken clouds	Rather cloudy	Partly cloudy	Broken clouds	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy	Light snow shwr	Snow shower	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.2 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.3 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.8 cm	0 cm	3.4 cm	3.4 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.6 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	1.8 cm	3.4 cm	0.5 cm
Max temp	-1.5°c	-1.5°c	-8°c	2.1°c	1.5°c	-4.6°c	2.4°c	1.8°c	-5°c	0.2°c	-0.2°c	-6.8°c	-0.4°c	-0.4°c	-7.5°c	2°c	1.8°c	-4.2°c	2°c	0.6°c	-4.8°c	-2°c	-2.8°c	-7.4°c	-0.1°c	-0.1°c	-5.9°c	-1.1°c	-2.4°c	-7.8°c
Min temp	-7.6°c	-9.1°c	-9.4°c	-1.5°c	-4.6°c	-4.9°c	0°c	-5°c	-6.5°c	-2.9°c	-6.8°c	-7.9°c	-3.9°c	-7.8°c	-7.9°c	-1.9°c	-4.5°c	-4.8°c	-0.9°c	-4.8°c	-6.2°c	-4.9°c	-7.5°c	-8.1°c	-3.4°c	-5.9°c	-6.6°c	-3.8°c	-7.8°c	-8.4°c
Feels like temp	-7.6°c	-1.5°c	-9.1°c	-4.3°c	-2.1°c	-4.6°c	0°c	1.6°c	-5°c	-2.9°c	-3°c	-6.8°c	-3.9°c	-3.2°c	-7.8°c	-1.9°c	-1.5°c	-8.3°c	-0.9°c	-2.8°c	-4.8°c	-9.4°c	-7.5°c	-11.2°c	-3.4°c	-0.1°c	-9.7°c	-7.6°c	-7.1°c	-13.3°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Clear skies	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-1.5°c	-1.5°c	-8°c
Min temp	-7.6°c	-9.1°c	-9.4°c
Feels like temp	-7.6°c	-1.5°c	-9.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Generally clear	Broken clouds
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm
Max temp	2.1°c	1.5°c	-4.6°c
Min temp	-1.5°c	-4.6°c	-4.9°c
Feels like temp	-4.3°c	-2.1°c	-4.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Partly cloudy	Mainly fair	Mist
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.2 cm	0 cm
Max temp	2.4°c	1.8°c	-5°c
Min temp	0°c	-5°c	-6.5°c
Feels like temp	0°c	1.6°c	-5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Freezing fog
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.3 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	0.2°c	-0.2°c	-6.8°c
Min temp	-2.9°c	-6.8°c	-7.9°c
Feels like temp	-2.9°c	-3°c	-6.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Clear skies	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-0.4°c	-0.4°c	-7.5°c
Min temp	-3.9°c	-7.8°c	-7.9°c
Feels like temp	-3.9°c	-3.2°c	-7.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.8 cm
Max temp	2°c	1.8°c	-4.2°c
Min temp	-1.9°c	-4.5°c	-4.8°c
Feels like temp	-1.9°c	-1.5°c	-8.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Rain/Snow shower	Snow shower	Snow shower
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	3.4 cm	3.4 cm
Max temp	2°c	0.6°c	-4.8°c
Min temp	-0.9°c	-4.8°c	-6.2°c
Feels like temp	-0.9°c	-2.8°c	-4.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Broken clouds	Rather cloudy	Partly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	-2°c	-2.8°c	-7.4°c
Min temp	-4.9°c	-7.5°c	-8.1°c
Feels like temp	-9.4°c	-7.5°c	-11.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Broken clouds	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0.6 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	-0.1°c	-0.1°c	-5.9°c
Min temp	-3.4°c	-5.9°c	-6.6°c
Feels like temp	-3.4°c	-0.1°c	-9.7°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow shwr	Snow shower	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	1.8 cm	3.4 cm	0.5 cm
Max temp	-1.1°c	-2.4°c	-7.8°c
Min temp	-3.8°c	-7.8°c	-8.4°c
Feels like temp	-7.6°c	-7.1°c	-13.3°c

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Resort (750m)

	Sat 18 Jan			Sun 19 Jan			Mon 20 Jan			Tue 21 Jan			Wed 22 Jan			Thu 23 Jan			Fri 24 Jan			Sat 25 Jan			Sun 26 Jan			Mon 27 Jan
	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	Clear skies	Clear skies	Mainly fair	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Broken clouds	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Clear skies	Mainly fair	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Occasional snow	Rain/Snow shower	Snow shower	Snow shower	Broken clouds	Broken clouds	Partly cloudy	Broken clouds	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy	Snow shower	Snow shower	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	1.1 cm	0 cm	3 cm	3.3 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	2.1 cm	3.2 cm	0.4 cm
Max temp	2.5°c	1.5°c	-1.8°c	6.8°c	5.6°c	1.2°c	7.2°c	6.1°c	1.1°c	5.6°c	4.5°c	0.1°c	5.6°c	4.6°c	-0.4°c	7.1°c	6.1°c	2.1°c	6.6°c	4.9°c	1.2°c	3.1°c	2.1°c	-1.9°c	4.8°c	3.9°c	0°c	3.2°c	1.6°c	-1°c
Min temp	-4.6°c	-1.8°c	-2.4°c	1.1°c	1.2°c	0.5°c	2.8°c	1.1°c	-0.4°c	1°c	0.1°c	-1.4°c	0.4°c	-0.9°c	-1.2°c	2°c	2.1°c	1°c	3.1°c	1.2°c	-0.2°c	-0.4°c	-1.9°c	-3.4°c	-0.6°c	0°c	-1.4°c	0.2°c	-1°c	-2.4°c
Feels like temp	-4.6°c	1.3°c	-1.8°c	1°c	2.8°c	1.1°c	2.5°c	3.8°c	1°c	0.9°c	2°c	0.1°c	0.4°c	2.1°c	-0.9°c	1.8°c	3.1°c	1.9°c	2.8°c	1.9°c	1.1°c	-3.4°c	-1.8°c	-1.9°c	-0.6°c	1.1°c	0°c	-2.6°c	-2.7°c	-4.5°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	2.5°c	1.5°c	-1.8°c
Min temp	-4.6°c	-1.8°c	-2.4°c
Feels like temp	-4.6°c	1.3°c	-1.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	6.8°c	5.6°c	1.2°c
Min temp	1.1°c	1.2°c	0.5°c
Feels like temp	1°c	2.8°c	1.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm
Max temp	7.2°c	6.1°c	1.1°c
Min temp	2.8°c	1.1°c	-0.4°c
Feels like temp	2.5°c	3.8°c	1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm
Max temp	5.6°c	4.5°c	0.1°c
Min temp	1°c	0.1°c	-1.4°c
Feels like temp	0.9°c	2°c	0.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	5.6°c	4.6°c	-0.4°c
Min temp	0.4°c	-0.9°c	-1.2°c
Feels like temp	0.4°c	2.1°c	-0.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	1.1 cm
Max temp	7.1°c	6.1°c	2.1°c
Min temp	2°c	2.1°c	1°c
Feels like temp	1.8°c	3.1°c	1.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	3 cm	3.3 cm
Max temp	6.6°c	4.9°c	1.2°c
Min temp	3.1°c	1.2°c	-0.2°c
Feels like temp	2.8°c	1.9°c	1.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	3.1°c	2.1°c	-1.9°c
Min temp	-0.4°c	-1.9°c	-3.4°c
Feels like temp	-3.4°c	-1.8°c	-1.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	4.8°c	3.9°c	0°c
Min temp	-0.6°c	0°c	-1.4°c
Feels like temp	-0.6°c	1.1°c	0°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	2.1 cm	3.2 cm	0.4 cm
Max temp	3.2°c	1.6°c	-1°c
Min temp	0.2°c	-1°c	-2.4°c
Feels like temp	-2.6°c	-2.7°c	-4.5°c

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Resort Conditions

Snowfall	Last Snowfall	17/01/2025
Snowfall	Next 3 days	0.8 cm
Depths	Upper piste depth	400 cm
Depths	Lower piste depth	155 cm
Snow conditions	Snow quality	Powder snow
Lifts	Lifts open	21 out of 21
	Resort opening date	Sat 30 Nov 2024
	Resort closing date	Tue 06 May 2025

Snow Overview

Japan

Updated 14/01

A near identical forecast to this time last week: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday can just be summed up with “snow” across Japan – proper snorkel depth snow on Honshu, especially, with two feet (two feet) down at Hakuba over this period, and Hokkaido doing it’s best to keep up, too. Temperatures will remain cold, with -20°C windchill possible at Niseko.

Things do take a rare dry turn as the week concludes, with temperatures turning slightly milder (although remaining cool) and some (gasp) sun, too.

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast