Hakuba

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

weather Forecast today: Mainly fair

Max temp: 5.3 °c
Min temp: -3.9 °c
Last snowed: Sat 07 Mar

Last Updated: Thu 12 Mar

weather Forecast today: Mainly fair

Max temp: 5.3 °c
Min temp: -3.9 °c
Last snowed: Sat 07 Mar

Last Updated: Thu 12 Mar

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

One of Japan's largest resorts, Hakuba is most renowned for its premium powder and exceptional vertical.

Hakuba is home to three fantastic 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 13-night Ski Club Freshtracks Japan Powder Adventure holiday, which takes in the best of the Hakuba Valley as well as the resorts of Nozawa and Myoko.

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

Top (1831m)

	Thu 12 Mar			Fri 13 Mar			Sat 14 Mar			Sun 15 Mar			Mon 16 Mar			Tue 17 Mar			Wed 18 Mar			Thu 19 Mar			Fri 20 Mar			Sat 21 Mar
	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	Generally clear	Broken clouds	Mainly cloudy	Overcast	Mainly cloudy	Mainly cloudy	Generally clear	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Rather cloudy	Broken clouds	Snow grains	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Occasional snow	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Light rain/snow	Generally clear	Light rain/snow	Ice pellets	Ice pellets	Light rain/snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Light rain/snow	Snow grains	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm	0 cm	0.3 cm	0.4 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.2 cm	0 cm	0.4 cm	0 cm	0.2 cm	0.8 cm	0.7 cm	0.1 cm	0.4 cm	1.1 cm
Max temp	-0.6°c	-1°c	-7.6°c	-2.2°c	-3°c	-6.2°c	3°c	2.9°c	-4.5°c	4.6°c	4.4°c	-2.9°c	4.7°c	4.4°c	-2.6°c	6°c	5.6°c	-1°c	7°c	6.7°c	0.1°c	5.6°c	4.6°c	-0.7°c	3.9°c	3.6°c	-2°c	4.7°c	4.4°c	-2.9°c
Min temp	-4.3°c	-7.6°c	-9°c	-4.8°c	-6.4°c	-6.4°c	-2.2°c	-4.5°c	-5.9°c	-0.2°c	-2.9°c	-4.4°c	0.6°c	-2.6°c	-4.1°c	1.5°c	-1°c	-3.9°c	2.2°c	0.1°c	-1.4°c	3.2°c	-0.7°c	-2.4°c	0.1°c	-2°c	-4.2°c	1°c	-2.9°c	-5.3°c
Feels like temp	-7.6°c	-5.4°c	-12°c	-9.3°c	-8.3°c	-11.6°c	-6.4°c	-0.3°c	-4.5°c	-0.2°c	1.7°c	-2.9°c	0.5°c	1.9°c	-2.6°c	1.3°c	3°c	-1°c	1.9°c	4.1°c	-2.5°c	0.6°c	2.3°c	-3.5°c	0.1°c	1°c	-5.3°c	0.9°c	1.3°c	-6.1°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Broken clouds	Mainly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	-0.6°c	-1°c	-7.6°c
Min temp	-4.3°c	-7.6°c	-9°c
Feels like temp	-7.6°c	-5.4°c	-12°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Overcast	Mainly cloudy	Mainly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	-2.2°c	-3°c	-6.2°c
Min temp	-4.8°c	-6.4°c	-6.4°c
Feels like temp	-9.3°c	-8.3°c	-11.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Generally clear	Mainly fair
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	3°c	2.9°c	-4.5°c
Min temp	-2.2°c	-4.5°c	-5.9°c
Feels like temp	-6.4°c	-0.3°c	-4.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Rather cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	4.6°c	4.4°c	-2.9°c
Min temp	-0.2°c	-2.9°c	-4.4°c
Feels like temp	-0.2°c	1.7°c	-2.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Broken clouds	Snow grains	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm
Max temp	4.7°c	4.4°c	-2.6°c
Min temp	0.6°c	-2.6°c	-4.1°c
Feels like temp	0.5°c	1.9°c	-2.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Partly cloudy	Occasional snow	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.3 cm	0.4 cm
Max temp	6°c	5.6°c	-1°c
Min temp	1.5°c	-1°c	-3.9°c
Feels like temp	1.3°c	3°c	-1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Partly cloudy	Light rain/snow	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.2 cm
Max temp	7°c	6.7°c	0.1°c
Min temp	2.2°c	0.1°c	-1.4°c
Feels like temp	1.9°c	4.1°c	-2.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light rain/snow	Ice pellets	Ice pellets
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.4 cm	0 cm
Max temp	5.6°c	4.6°c	-0.7°c
Min temp	3.2°c	-0.7°c	-2.4°c
Feels like temp	0.6°c	2.3°c	-3.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light rain/snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.2 cm	0.8 cm	0.7 cm
Max temp	3.9°c	3.6°c	-2°c
Min temp	0.1°c	-2°c	-4.2°c
Feels like temp	0.1°c	1°c	-5.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light rain/snow	Snow grains	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.4 cm	1.1 cm
Max temp	4.7°c	4.4°c	-2.9°c
Min temp	1°c	-2.9°c	-5.3°c
Feels like temp	0.9°c	1.3°c	-6.1°c

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Resort (750m)

	Thu 12 Mar			Fri 13 Mar			Sat 14 Mar			Sun 15 Mar			Mon 16 Mar			Tue 17 Mar			Wed 18 Mar			Thu 19 Mar			Fri 20 Mar			Sat 21 Mar
	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	Mainly fair	Rather cloudy	Broken clouds	Mainly cloudy	Mainly cloudy	Mainly cloudy	Clear skies	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Broken clouds	Rather cloudy	Broken clouds	Light rain/snow	Generally clear	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Mainly fair	Broken clouds	Occasional rain	Generally clear	Light rain	Light rain	Light rain	Occasional rain	Occasional rain	Light rain/snow	Light drizzle	Mainly fair	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.5 cm
Max temp	5.3°c	5.1°c	-1.6°c	2.8°c	2.5°c	-0.9°c	8.6°c	8.6°c	0.7°c	10.1°c	10.1°c	2.7°c	10.1°c	10°c	3°c	11.2°c	11.2°c	4°c	11.7°c	11.7°c	5°c	10.3°c	10°c	4.8°c	9°c	9°c	3.1°c	10.1°c	9.8°c	2.3°c
Min temp	-1.6°c	-1.6°c	-3.9°c	-1.9°c	-0.9°c	-2°c	0.4°c	0.7°c	-1.5°c	2°c	2.7°c	-0.1°c	3.1°c	3°c	0.1°c	3.8°c	4°c	0.1°c	4.3°c	5°c	3°c	5.4°c	4.8°c	2.1°c	2.6°c	3.1°c	0.3°c	3.5°c	2.3°c	-0.9°c
Feels like temp	-5.5°c	1.2°c	-5.2°c	-6.1°c	-1.8°c	-4.8°c	-3.3°c	5.9°c	-1.9°c	-0.7°c	7.8°c	0.3°c	2.8°c	7.9°c	0.7°c	3.5°c	8.9°c	2°c	3.9°c	9.5°c	2.9°c	3.2°c	8°c	2.8°c	0.1°c	6.8°c	0.9°c	1.3°c	7.3°c	0°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	5.3°c	5.1°c	-1.6°c
Min temp	-1.6°c	-1.6°c	-3.9°c
Feels like temp	-5.5°c	1.2°c	-5.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	2.8°c	2.5°c	-0.9°c
Min temp	-1.9°c	-0.9°c	-2°c
Feels like temp	-6.1°c	-1.8°c	-4.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	8.6°c	8.6°c	0.7°c
Min temp	0.4°c	0.7°c	-1.5°c
Feels like temp	-3.3°c	5.9°c	-1.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	10.1°c	10.1°c	2.7°c
Min temp	2°c	2.7°c	-0.1°c
Feels like temp	-0.7°c	7.8°c	0.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	10.1°c	10°c	3°c
Min temp	3.1°c	3°c	0.1°c
Feels like temp	2.8°c	7.9°c	0.7°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	11.2°c	11.2°c	4°c
Min temp	3.8°c	4°c	0.1°c
Feels like temp	3.5°c	8.9°c	2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	11.7°c	11.7°c	5°c
Min temp	4.3°c	5°c	3°c
Feels like temp	3.9°c	9.5°c	2.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	10.3°c	10°c	4.8°c
Min temp	5.4°c	4.8°c	2.1°c
Feels like temp	3.2°c	8°c	2.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	9°c	9°c	3.1°c
Min temp	2.6°c	3.1°c	0.3°c
Feels like temp	0.1°c	6.8°c	0.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.5 cm
Max temp	10.1°c	9.8°c	2.3°c
Min temp	3.5°c	2.3°c	-0.9°c
Feels like temp	1.3°c	7.3°c	0°c

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Resort Conditions

Snowfall	Last Snowfall	07/03/2026
Snowfall	Next 3 days	0.5 cm
Depths	Upper piste depth	240 cm
Depths	Lower piste depth	25 cm
Snow conditions	Snow quality	Spring snow
Lifts	Lifts open	16 out of 21
	Resort opening date	Thu 04 Dec 2025
	Resort closing date	Wed 06 May 2026

Snow Overview

Japan

Updated 10/03

Cooler conditions return across both main Japanese Islands through this week and into the weekend, albeit things will remain mostly dry throughout.

Honshu will see cold night time temperatures will rise during the day and turn mild into the weekend. A few flurries of snowfall will come throughout this period but won’t be enough to register on a snow stake. Similarly, cool temperatures dominate on Hokkaido, but remain cold throughout the weekend. Snow will fall on Thursday bringing a useful 5cm to areas to keep things fresh ahead of what looks like more dry weather =.

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast