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Hakuba

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Beyond the pistes – summer alpine pursuits

When the snow has melted, Hakuba’s alpine terrain transforms into a network of high‑altitude trails that appeal to walkers who prefer altitude over crowds. The village’s proximity to both Mount Shirouma and Mount Goryu means that multi‑day treks can be staged from the same modest bus depot, with mountain huts offering simple meals and bunk‑style accommodation. Early‑morning mist often cloaks the Hida ridges, creating crisp, photogenic panoramas that differ markedly from the winter white‑out. Cyclists also take advantage of the gentle gradients on the older ski‑run roads, which double as low‑traffic routes for road‑bike training. Local hostels tend to provide bike‑rental racks and basic repair kits, a gesture that recognises the growing summer‑season rider community.

Navigating Hakuba’s transport web

Hakuba’s village layout is spread across several ski areas, each linked by a patchwork of shuttle buses, minibusses and occasional shared taxis. While the main station on the Ōito Line drops passengers off at Hakuba Station, reaching the Happo‑one base often requires a 20‑minute minibus ride with a schedule that tightens around lift opening times. A practical tip is to purchase a day‑pass for the village’s integrated bus service; it covers most routes between the popular ski zones and the central bus terminal, saving the need for multiple tickets. For the independent traveller, a prepaid IC card (Suica or Pasmo) works on most services, but cash remains king on the smaller, privately‑run shuttles that ply the mountain passes.

Culinary nuance beyond ramen

Visitors assume Japanese mountain villages serve only hearty noodle broth, yet Hakoba’s eateries showcase a quieter culinary lineage tied to the surrounding forest. Small family‑run taverns source local game—venison and wild boar—into slow‑braised dishes that reflect Nagano’s historic hunting culture. Seasonal foraged ingredients such as fiddlehead ferns and mountain berries appear in side salads and pickle plates, offering a fresh counterpoint to the rich ski‑after fare. Many of these establishments sit in converted ryokan basements, where the low‑lighting and wooden interiors encourage lingering over small plates. Asking the proprietor for the day’s ‘kishin’ (hunter’s specialty) often yields a dish that changes with the alpine calendar, providing a genuine taste of the region’s seasonal rhythm.

Introduction

This article is about the village in Nagano Prefecture. For the professional sumo wrestler, see Hakuba Takeshi. For the Magic Kaito character, see Magic Kaito § Saguru Hakuba. Village in Chūbu, JapanHakuba 白馬村VillageHakuba in winter FlagSealLocation of Hakuba in Nagano PrefectureHakuba Coordinates: 36°41′53″N 137°51′42.9″E / 36.69806°N 137.861917°E / 36.69806; 137.861917CountryJapanRegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu)PrefectureNaganoDistrictKitaazumiArea • Total189.36 km2 (73.11 sq mi)Population (April 2019) • Total9,007 • Density47.57/km2 (123.2/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)Phone number0261-72-5000Address7025 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano-ken 399-9393ClimateDfaWebsitewww.vill.hakuba.nagano.jpSymbolsFlowerErythronium japonicumTreePrunus sargentii and Magnolia kobus Hakuba Village view from Happo-one Hakuba Village Hall Hakuba (白馬村, Hakuba-mura) is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of April 1, 2019, the village had an estimated population of 9,007 in 4267 households, and a population density of 48 persons per km2. The total area of the village is 189.36 square kilometres (73.11 sq mi). Hakuba is located in the eastern foothills of the Hida Mountains in the northern part of the Japanese Alps and is a popular ski resort. It is also the starting point for trekking Mount Shirouma and Mount Goryu, two of the One Hundred Mountains of Japan. The Hakuba Valley receives an average annual snow fall of 655 cm (258 inches). The 2024–25 winter season in Hakuba holds the record for the highest snowfall in a single winter, with a total accumulation of 782 cm. Hakuba is the central hub for 10 ski resorts with more than 200 runs. The village was the main event venue for 1998 Winter Olympics (Alpine, Ski Jump, Crosscountry).

Geography

[edit] Hakuba is located in a mountain basin in far northwestern Nagano Prefecture, bordered by Toyama Prefecture to the west. The 2900 meter Ushiro-Tateyama Mountains border the village to the west. Much of the village is within the borders of the Chūbu-Sangaku National Park. Surrounding municipalities[edit] Nagano Prefecture Nagano Ogawa Ōmachi Otari Niigata Prefecture Itoigawa Toyama Prefecture Asahi Kurobe Climate[edit] The village has humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), with cold, extremely snowy winters, and warm, rainy summers. With temperatures cooled by the elevation, monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −2.8 °C (27.0 °F) in January to 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) in July. Hakuba receives 6 meters of snowfall annually, with most snowfall occurring in the months of January and February. Climate data for Hakuba (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 13.2(55.8) 16.9(62.4) 22.9(73.2) 28.6(83.5) 32.3(90.1) 33.1(91.6) 34.6(94.3) 36.2(97.2) 33.8(92.8) 27.7(81.9) 24.2(75.6) 18.3(64.9) 36.2(97.2) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.4(34.5) 2.6(36.7) 7.0(44.6) 14.6(58.3) 20.8(69.4) 23.6(74.5) 27.0(80.6) 28.4(83.1) 23.6(74.5) 17.7(63.9) 11.5(52.7) 4.5(40.1) 15.2(59.4) Daily mean °C (°F) −2.8(27.0) −2.4(27.7) 1.2(34.2) 7.6(45.7) 13.8(56.8) 17.7(63.9) 21.5(70.7) 22.6(72.7) 18.2(64.8) 11.9(53.4) 5.5(41.9) −0.1(31.8) 9.6(49.2) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −7.2(19.0) −7.3(18.9) −3.6(25.5) 1.7(35.1) 7.8(46.0) 13.1(55.6) 17.7(63.9) 18.5(65.3) 14.3(57.7) 7.4(45.3) 0.9(33.6) −4.0(24.8) 4.9(40.9) Record low °C (°F) −18.7(−1.7) −18.6(−1.5) −15.9(3.4) −12.4(9.7) −1.3(29.7) 2.8(37.0) 10.12(50.22) 9.1(48.4) 2.7(36.9) −3.5(25.7) −11.2(11.8) −16.4(2.5) −18.7(−1.7) Average precipitation mm (inches) 141.5(5.57) 125.9(4.96) 136.2(5.36) 126.4(4.98) 135.0(5.31) 211.4(8.32) 280.8(11.06) 177.7(7.00) 181.9(7.16) 136.5(5.37) 100.4(3.95) 135.6(5.34) 1,889.2(74.38) Average snowfall cm (inches) 216(85) 174(69) 110(43) 7(2.8) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 14(5.5) 130(51) 655(258) Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 17.2 14.5 14.3 11.7 11.9 12.8 16.3 12.3 11.9 10.3 11.5 16.5 161.2 Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 19.3 17.2 12.9 0.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.2 10.3 61.8 Mean monthly sunshine hours 71.3 96.1 136.9 169.6 193.8 146.1 138.8 169.1 118.8 128.6 112.1 75.0 1,556.2 Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

History

[edit] The area of present-day Hakuba was part of ancient Shinano Province and was part of the territory controlled by Matsumoto Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of the Edo period. Hakuba was once part of the route called the Salt Road used to bring salt and other marine products from the coast at Itoigawa in Echigo Province (now Niigata Prefecture). However, much of the area was still virgin forest well into the Meiji period, and a census in 1881 counted only 31 households. The modern village of Hakuba was established on September 30, 1956 by the merger of the villages of Hokujo and Kamishiro. Hakuba and surrounding municipalities were impacted by a reported 6.7 magnitude earthquake on 22 November 2014. The quake hit at 10:08 pm at a depth of 5 km causing a number of residential properties to collapse and injuring at least 41 people. Despite some localized road damage and a suspension of rail services on sections of the Ōito Line, there was however no major impact on hotels or ski tourism related infrastructure.

Education

[edit] Hakuba has two public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village has one public high school operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education. Hakuba International School will be the newest school within the region. The international school is a boarding school which allows students from Japan to experience the tranquility and adventure Hakuba has to offer. The school follows the International Baccalaureate system which helps students focus on global issues such as living sustainably.

Local attractions

[edit] Surrounded by the Sea of Japan (northward), Nagano City (eastward) and the Tateyama Kurobe Dam area (southward), Hakuba is also a popular summer vacation area which offers a variety of outdoor activities at an altitude of 700–800 metres, e.g. hiking, rafting/shower climbing, paragliding, mountain bike, bird sighting etc. Other day activities to enjoy include visiting the snow monkeys, kimono experiences, Taiko drumming, traditional cooking classes, Matsumoto castle tours and more. Ski resorts[edit] The mountains surrounding Hakuba Village in the background (Nishidake and Honindake in the foreground) The Hakuba Valley (which also includes the neighboring cities of Omachi and Otari) is home to 10 resorts, including 135 lifts (inc. 5 gondolas) accessing over 200 runs that offer an expanse of terrain and at least 14 terrain parks. There are 960 hectares of skiable terrain which equates to 137  km of piste. The Hakuba ski resorts are not interconnected via the slopes (except for Hakuba 47 and Goryu, and Cortina and Norikura), but they can be accessed off a common lift ticket and there are free shuttle buses to get around to the different ski areas. The ski resorts from north to south are: Cortina, Norikura, Tsugaike Kogen, Iwatake, Happo-One, Hakuba 47 (ja), Goryu, Sanosaka, Kashimayari and Jigatake. Hakuba offers varied forms of skiing across the resorts but it is generally very well suited to beginners and intermediates with many long perfectly groomed runs and fantastic fall-line. There's also some back country skiing on offer. Hakuba has lessons and guiding available through both traditional Japanese ski schools and International ski schools including Hakuba Ski Concierge, Evergreen International Ski School, Happo-one Ski and Snowboard School, Hakuba Snow Sports School and Hakuba 47 Ski Academy International. During the winter, many athletes go to the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium to challenge themselves with the 90-meter and 120-meter jumps they offer. It is a perfect place for advanced skiers to test their skills. The stadium also provides activities for all levels.