hakuba 白馬村
Happo Ike
Flickr Tsuda
Mountains of the four seasons
Located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, Hakuba, a village surrounded by mountains, welcomes you winter and summer for a multitude of activities.
Hakuba Valley is located in the northeast of Nagano Prefecture, in the heart of the Japanese Alps . The peaks, snow-capped for much of the year, dominate your environment, the magnificent and majestic mountain range of Hakuba invites you to rise. It is a vacation and leisure destination for Japanese people all year round . For winter sports until May, with guaranteed quality snow cover. In spring and summer, hikes are in the spotlight, to climb the slopes among the alpine flowers and find the invigorating freshness of the peaks. Finally, in autumn, it is the beautiful colors of the kôyô which transform the whole forest that will delight you.
In each season, you can find your account there, a small personal happiness in the contemplation, or share good sporting moments with family, between friends.
See also: Skiing in Hakuba
A jump in Games time
In 1998, during the Winter Olympics in Nagano , the whole world had found itself in the Japanese mountains and in Hakuba in particular because it was here that the ski jumping competitions were held. Two large jumping hills are still there, 90 and 120 meters, accessible to those who have mastered this discipline, not just anyone!
But several ski resorts, for everyday riders, offer to welcome you to quench your thirst for powder snow, always of quality, don't forget, with all the services that come with a good winter sports resort .
Hakuba Ski Jumps
Wikimedia Commons
Here is a list of some ideas of activities to do in Hakuba:
- hiking: in priority to Mount Hakuba , in the valley of eternal snows, because even in summer you will have them and can walk on glaciers. Towards Mount Karamatsu , the landscapes are very beautiful, for a summit with an incredible panorama. Towards the Happo pond , a long wooden path allows you to admire the local fauna and flora and especially the reflection of the snow-capped mountains in the calm waters.
Needless to say that for all these hikes, you will need to provide good walking equipment, clothing in case of sudden rain as the mountains know how to dispense. And above all, when you go hiking, it is mandatory to leave a route sheet ( Tozan Keikakusho ) in a mailbox provided for this purpose, clearly visible at the start of the path, or in a mountain refuge if you are going to altitude. . - other summer activities are varied and very attractive, such as flying over the entire mountain range in a hot air balloon, or a paragliding flight for the more intrepid. At water level, it will be canoeing or rafting to descend the torrents. And we go back up, but more gently with climbing on the rock walls. And we finally go down by mountain bike on the paths.
Summer Hakuba Hike
Wikimedia Commons
Nothing to be bored in Hakuba. You will be full of sports activities and sensations .
To enjoy the best of the mountains, in the summer, camping is authorized and even more than recommended, the celestial vault above you and stars in your eyes to keep brilliant memories.
In the very village of Hakuba, five hot springs gush out, the famous onsen reach out to you to warm your body and soothe your mind. Total relaxation after a day of effort, there is nothing better to enjoy a stay in Japan. About ten establishments are accessible, for prices around 600 to 800 yen the entrance (4€60 to 6€10).
Party salt
The Chikuni-kaidô salt route passed through here, in Hakuba, located between Itoigawa on the Nihon Kai coast from where it is harvested to reach Matsumoto. A 120 kilometer path celebrated today during the Shio no michi matsuri festival, in which we strongly advise you to participate. The inhabitants of Hakuba adorn themselves with sumptuous clothes like the travelers of past eras, to redo part of this historic road at the foot of the Alps, between old temples and venerable stone statues , it is a very beautiful family spectacle which is assured each year during Golden Week, May 3, 4 and 5.
Read: Golden Week
Happo ike, the famous reflection of the mountains in the lake
Flickr Tsuda
Address, timetable & access
Address
Timetable
From Tokyo by shinkansen to Nagano, then by bus in 50min. to Hakuba. From Shinjuku by Express train by Chûô line 'Super Azusa' to Matsumoto, then by Ôito line to Hakuba station, 3h40min.
