Hakuba Valley Trail Map
Hakuba Valley spans 10 resorts, each with a distinctive character. Happo-One is the largest and most advanced, hosting long groomers and steeper fall lines, perfect for seasoned skiers. Tsugaike Kogen offers wide, open slopes ideal for beginners and families, while Iwatake provides panoramic views and a balanced mix of pistes for intermediate riders. Smaller resorts such as Sanosaka and Norikura cater to quieter, more relaxed skiing.
Beginner-friendly terrain is abundant in Tsugaike Kogen and Iwatake, where nursery slopes, low-gradient groomers and gentle transitions help build confidence. Ski schools in these areas offer group and private lessons in multiple languages, and kid zones are often located near rest areas and eateries. Snow play parks with tubing and sledding also add variety for younger visitors.
Intermediate skiers enjoy the most diversity across the valley, particularly in resorts like Happo-One and Goryu. Trails such as "Riesen Slalom Course" in Happo-One and the "Champion Dynamic Course" in Goryu offer sweeping descents with undulating pitch and scenic surroundings. Lift systems are modern and well spaced, with high-speed quads and gondolas reducing wait times.
Happo-One, Cortina, and Hakuba 47 also offer some of the best advanced terrain, where steeper chutes and challenging powder stashes await. At Happon-One, runs like "Olympic Course 2" and "Skyline" offer sustained speed and complex turns, with natural features and mixed conditions often adding intensity. On fresh snow days, tree skiing zones in Cortina attract adventurous skiers looking for untouched powder fields. Hakuba Valley has some of the steepest in-bounds terrain in Japan.
Expert skiers seeking freeride opportunities can make use of Hakuba’s backcountry gate access. The backcountry gate in Happo-One and the lift-accessible ridges in Norikura open up to bowls and glades (lightly wooded terrain) with steep descents and varied lines. Avalanche gear is required, and some gates are weather-dependent, but the options for off-piste exploration are extensive.
Terrain parks are spread across five resorts — Hakuba 47, Goryu, Iwatake, Tsugaike Kogen, and Norikura — each offering unique setups for freestyle riders. Features include kickers, rails, pipes and jib zones, with Hakuba 47 being the most extensive and frequently reshaped. Night skiing is available in select areas, offering floodlit pistes and a fresh dimension to the valley’s terrain diversity. Night skiing only happens on certain peak days, and some resorts that formerly offered night skiing no longer do so. Make sure to check the official resort websites to confirm operation and for schedules.