Hakuba Travel Information,Attractions in Hakuba

A small ski resort village in the mountains of Central Japan, Hakuba is a year-round travel destination with venues of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, hot spring spas, and a variety of activities available from downhill skiing and snowboarding to trekking, mountain biking, fishing and rafting, as well as impressive mountain scenery and a variety of small museums and temples.

Mountain landscape of the Japanese Alps in Hakuba

Japanese mountain resort located in the snowy mountains of central Japan north from Nagano, the small Hakuba village is nestled in a valley between high mountain ranges known as the Japanese North Alps. Once part of the old trade route from the coast to inland Japan, Hakuba is today home to seven skiing centers, and the village has become a popular tourism destination.

Attractions & activities in Hakuba: winter sports, spas, trekking, biking & sightseeing

Hakuba offers beautiful mountain scenery, diverse sports opportunities, relaxing spas and historical attractions. The village is a world-class winter sports destination with seven skiing centers that hosted downhill skiing events in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Downhill skiing in Hakuba is excellent with powder snow and a variety of slopes, and snowboarding is equally good. Snowshoe and snowmobile tours as well as equipment rental are also available, and the several natural hot springs called onsen are home to many great traditional spas in Hakuba.

Hiking in Hakuba mountains

Outside winter months there is still a great range of activities available in Hakuba, from hiking and mountain biking to canyoning, rafting, fishing, windsurfing, and many adventure sports. Even summertime skiing is possible in the area. Trekking in Hakuba is great during the summer months, and the area has many trails good for mountain biking. The lakes and streams near Hakuba offer nice swimming, boating, windsurfing, kayaking, rafting, and wakeboarding. Fishing for river salmon and char is also popular.

Backcountry skiing in Hakuba, Japan

Historical attractions in Hakuba include the historical Chikuni-kaido salt road that once connected Central Japan to the coast, as well as ancient Buddhist temples, small museums, and a variety of scenic spots. There is also a botanical garden, a golf course, a water park and several outdoor parks in Hakuba to enjoy.

Hakuba travel tips and practical information

Hakuba has a mountain climate where the weather is cooler than in the coastal areas of Central Japan.

Winters in Hakuba are cool and snowy, while summers are warm and humid. The temperatures in Hakuba still remain cooler than in the big cities on the Pacific Coast of Japan, adding to the attractiveness of the area in the summer. As in most parts of Japan, late summer and early autumn are the rainiest times of year in Hakuba, while a lot of snowfall is received during the winter.

Snowy mountains in Hakuba, Japan

Traveling to Hakuba is easy from the coastal cities such as Tokyo and Osaka by train and bus. Travel to the area is often done via Nagano that has good railway connections to elsewhere on Honshu Island of Japan. There are regular buses to Hakuba from Nagano. Local trains also bring visitors to Hakuba.

Getting around in the Hakuba area is possible by foot, car or bicycle. Bike rental is available in many lodgings in Hakuba, and you can also rent a car in Nagano for regional transport.

Hakuba Travel Information,Attractions in Hakuba

Services & safety. There are many resort hotels in Hakuba, as well as a range of other accommodation choices from hostels and camping to ski lodges and boutique hotels.Restaurants in Hakuba offer both Japanese and international dishes, and there are also several nightlife options available. Hakuba is a safe destination with no crime problems where the main security concerns are things like avalanches or getting lost in the mountains. English is spoken here mainly by people who work in the tourism industry of Hakuba.Hakuba Travel Information,Attractions in Hakuba