The Hakuba Valley is one of Japan's most well-known ski destinations, made up of 10 individual ski resorts and 960 hectares of terrain. Additionally, the village surrounding these resorts has a wealth of options for accommodation, restaurants, and plenty of English-language support—making it accessible for travelers from across the globe.
However, while the ski slopes may be the main attraction during your trip to Hakuba, there may be days when you and your group don't or can't ski—either due to bad weather or simply wanting a day of rest. On these days, there are many options for activities both within the Hakuba town and in the surrounding areas.
On this page you will find the following information:
Where is Hakuba?
Located in Nagano Prefecture, Hakuba lies 40km from Nagano Station and 275km from Tokyo. The Hakuba valley is nestled among rows of stunning mountains that reach up to 2,900 meters tall, making it perfect for skiing, and attracting visitors from all over the world each winter. Hakuba Valley claims to be the largest ski resort in Japan—however, while the ten resorts in the area make up the largest extent of terrain in the country, only a couple of the resorts are connected, meaning that you need to use a bus or drive between them. You can find descriptions and information about of all the Hakuba ski resorts here.
Not only famous for its winters, Hakuba is increasingly establishing itself as an all-year-round destination and one of Japan’s best ‘green season’ sports regions. For more information on what Hakuba has to offer, check out our "25 Things to Do Around Hakuba & Where to Stay" page.
What to Do in Hakuba When You're Not Skiing?
The Hakuba Valley is full of restaurants, cafes, and night life for guests to enjoy after skiing and on their days off. Better yet, Hakuba is very close to Nagano City—within close reach to some of the most amazing historic sites, temples & shrines, "onsen" hot springs, and of course the Snow Monkey Park that Nagano is so well-known for.
Here you will find the following day-trip destinations that we recommend for your day off from skiing:
Restaurants, Shopping, & Nightlife
Along with the great skiing and snowboarding on offer in Hakuba Valley, one of the main reasons for its popularity with international visitors is that it offers the best range of accommodation, restaurants and nightlife of the ski resort areas in Central Japan. Areas including Hakuba Village, Wadano and Echoland all have a large number of cafes, restaurants and bars catering to all tastes and budgets, with more and more fine-dining options popping-up all the time. If nightlife and range of dining options is important to you, we recommend staying in the central area of Hakuba Village.
Also located in central Hakuba, Snow Peak Land Station is a combined flagship store, accommodation, restaurant and café, and open-area event space. Designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma, it has quickly established itself as one of Hakuba’s most popular all-year-round destinations. Snow Peak also offers ‘Field Suite Hakuba’, which is a glamping-style accommodation in the ski fields of Hakuba Happo One. Additionally, Hakuba Mountain Harbor has a popular cafe with an outdoor balcony, featuring a stunning view of the mountains—the perfect place to enjoy a meal on your day off.
"Onsen" Hot Springs
One of the most enjoyable aspects of any visit to Japan is relaxing in a ‘onsen’ (natural hot spring). For visitors heading to Hakuba in winter, soaking in an onsen at the end of a long day on the mountain is one of the highlights of skiing and snowboarding here. Several hotels in Hakuba have their own in-house hot springs while there are also multiple public onsen dotted through the valley, including Hakuba Happo Onsen, directly across from the Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal. Open daily from 06:00 to 21:00, heading in for an onsen at the end of the day is the ultimate reward. When booking your accommodation, make sure to look for those with their own hot springs or at least, a public onsen nearby.
Snow Monkey Park
The Jigokudani Monkey Park, known colloquially as the "snow monkey park", is located north of Nagano City and about a 2-hour drive (85km) from Hakuba. The snow monkeys are something of a treasure, not just to the people of Nagano but to all of Japan. With their distinctive silvery gray fur, bright red faces and playful nature, these gorgeous creatures really must be seen to be believed. They are perhaps best known however, not for their appearance, but for their love of 'onsen' (natural hot springs). The monkeys of Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park love nothing better than a long soak in these natural baths to escape the harsh cold of Nagano’s long winter. In this regard, they are unique. To truly understand the beauty of these animals, once must experience them in person.
Best Selling
1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano
- Spots:
- NaganoSnow MonkeyHakuba
- Pick-up:
- Nagano CityHakuba
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityHakuba
Offering pick up directly from Hakuba, this fun and educational tour brings you to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park to get up close and personal with the famous hot spring loving snow monkeys. You will begin the day with a guided tour of the historic Zenko-ji temple, one of Japan's oldest and most important Buddhist sites. Then you will enjoy a sake tasting experience, and be treated to a tasty Japanese lunch, before finally heading to the snow monkey park. Our private vehicle will bring you back to Hakuba at the end of the day.
Recommended
[START FROM HAKUBA] Private Snow Monkey Tour
- Spots:
- NaganoSnow MonkeyHakuba
- Pick-up:
- Hakuba
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityHakubaNozawa OnsenShiga KogenMadaraoMyoko
For a more personalized experience, you and your group can book our private tour of the Snow Monkey Park and Zenko-ji Temple. With a guide and vehicle set apart for the whole day to tend to only your group, you can go at your own pace and have the guide's undivided attention. You may also store any luggage you have in the vehicle throughout the day, taking the hassle out of getting around.
HAKUBA → SNOW MONKEY PARK (3HR)→ HAKUBA
- Duration:
- 7-8 Hours
- Spots:
- Snow Monkey, Hakuba
Or, if you don't need a guide and want to explore at your own pace on your day off, we also offer private transportation that can take you directly to and from Hakuba and the Snow Monkey Park! Private transportation is a great option, considering that public transportation would take you around 3-4 hours, making the trip longer and more complicated than necessary.
For more information about how to get to the Snow Monkey Park from Hakuba, please see our "How To Get To The Jigokudani Monkey Park" page here.
Temples, Shrines, & Castles
1 / ZENKO-JI TEMPLE
Nagano City, which you will most likely pass through on your way to Hakuba, is the namesake of the larger Nagano prefecture, and the city itself is built around the historic Zenko-ji Temple. While the current temple building is about 300 years old, the temple itself has existed in some form for nearly 1,400 years, making it one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan. The story of this temple revolves around the first Buddhist statue to have ever been brought to Japan, which now resides in a secret part of the temple as a "hidden Buddha statue" that is not allowed to be seen. However, you can walk into a dark room underneath the temple where the statue is said to be stored. This experience is called "kaidan-meguri" and is definitely worth a try on your day off from skiing.
We offer private transportation to and from Hakuba to Zenko-ji temple, giving you plenty of time and freedom to enjoy the temple grounds, kaidan-meguri, and the various shops and restaurants nearby.
2 / TOGAKUSHI SHRINE
Togakushi Shrine, often referred to as the "five shrines", is a compound of shrines north of Nagano City, the most famous part of it being the "okusha" or upper shrine, which sits deep in the forest at the end of a path of 400-year-old ancient cedar trees. This magical place is rooted in the deep history of Japanese mythology, with an origin story that revolves around the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu. Togakushi shrine has quite a different atmosphere than Zenko-ji temple, and is absolutely worth seeing on your day off skiing.
For a guided tour of the Togakushi area, this is the perfect option. You'll start with family-friendly snow play—or optional skiing at Togakushi Ski Resort (skiing not included in the tour price)—before heading into the tranquil, sacred forests to explore the area's historic mountain shrines. With convenient pickup available directly from all areas of Hakuba, this tour offers a unique chance to immerse yourself in the natural beauty, culture, and spiritual heritage of the Nagano region.
Or, if you don't need a guide and wish to explore on your own, we also offer private transportation to Togakushi that will pick you up and drop you off directly from Hakuba.
For more information about how to get to the Togakushi area from Hakuba, please see our "How To Get To Togakushi" page here.
3 / MATSUMOTO CASTLE
Matsumoto Castle is located south of Hakuba, about a 1.5 hour drive (57km) away, and is a must-see when you are visiting Nagano. It is one of only 12 remaining original castles in all of Japan, and one of only 5 that are considered national treasures. Built in the 1590s, just before the start of the Edo period, this castle was built for war, but luckily was never attacked nor burned down, leaving it in great condition. Venturing inside the castle walls will give you a firsthand experience of what it was like to live in the time of the Shogunate. If you're into Japanese history, or just interested in unique historical places, this iconic castle should definitely be on your list of day-trips from the ski resorts.
HAKUBA → MATSUMOTO CASTLE(3HR) → HAKUBA
- Duration:
- 6-7 Hours
- Spots:
- Matsumoto, Hakuba
We offer private transportation that can take you to and from Matsumoto Castle, with pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation in Hakuba.
For more information about how to get to Matsumoto Castle, please see our "How To Get To Matsumoto" page here.
Festivals
1 / HAOPPO-ONE FIRE FESTIVAL
The Happo-one Fire Festival occurs every February in Hakuba at the Happo-one ski resort. Perfect for warming yourself up in the cold winter night, this fire festival features torchlight skiing, fireworks, and the release of hundreds of glowing lanterns into the night sky. This is the perfect way to spend the evening of your day off—by enjoying a bit of Japanese culture and celebration of the seasons in the form of a festival.
2 / TOMYO LANTERN FESTIVAL
The Tomyo Lantern Festival takes place in Nagano city, at Zenko-ji Temple, and commemorates the 1998 Winter Olympics that took place here and brought well-deserved attention to the Nagano area. In celebration of the Olympics and the temple, the festival takes places over one week each February with a series nightly events including the lighting-up of the temple in spectacular colors, as well as decoration of the street leading up to the temple with hand-made "kiri-e" (cut-paper) lanterns.
1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Zenkoji Tomyo Lantern Festival
- Spots:
- NaganoSnow MonkeyHakuba
- Pick-up:
- Nagano CityHakuba
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityHakuba
If you would like to see this festival as part of a guided tour, we would love for you to join us! This tour combines the Tomyo Lantern Festival with a visit to the Snow Monkey Park, Japanese-style lunch, and guided tour of Zenko-ji temple, making it the perfect option for your day off of skiing. This tour also offers convenient direct pick-up from Hakuba!
Or, if you would prefer to see the festival on your own without a guide, we offer private transportation that will take you to the Zenko-ji temple area and back, on your day and time of choice.
How to Get to Hakuba
Hakuba is most easily accessible from Nagano Station, which is connected to the major cities of Japan like Tokyo and Osaka through the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) line. For more information about the Hokuriku Shinkansen, please see our 'Hokuriku Shinkansen' main page. Once you have arrived in Nagano Station, take the ALPICO Hakuba Express Bus from Bus Stop No.26 on the east side of the station towards Hakuba. It takes approximately 75 minutes to reach the Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal, and tickets cost ¥3500 one-way. For more information about the ALPICO bus and how to purchase tickets, please refer to our ‘ALPICO Hakuba Express Bus Timetable’ page.
If you are heading to Hakuba from Tokyo, please see our How to Get to Hakuba from Tokyo page for detailed directions. Or, if you are coming from another part of Japan, see our ‘How to Get to Hakuba – Nagano Ski Resort Info’ page.
We also offer private charter services that can pick your group up directly from areas like Tokyo, Narita Airport, or Haneda Airport, and take you directly to Hakuba. This is a great option if you are traveling with a large group, small children, or large amounts of luggage—private transportation takes away the hassle of changing trains, getting on crammed buses, and maneuvering through confusing train stations.
★Please note that our instantly-bookable charter services (like the one above) will be the same price in either direction, so please feel free to book the service either coming or going from Tokyo/Narita Airport to Hakuba. For information about getting to Hakuba from the Tokyo Airports (Narita Airport or Haneda Airport), please see our dedicated page here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do in Hakuba when I'm not skiing?
A: You can explore the cafes, restaurants, and "onsen" in the Hakuba area—or go further afield to visit other parts of Nagano, such as the Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, Togakushi Shrine, Matsumoto Castle, or even join a local festival!
Q: When is the best time to visit Hakuba?
A: The main ski season in Hakuba is from December to March, though some choose to come as early as November or stay later until April and May to avoid crowds. Hakuba is not only famous for winter sports, but also highly regarded as some of the best hiking in the country, so visiting in summer is recommended as well!
Q: How long should I stay in Hakuba?
A: Because of the variety of ski resorts and activities, we recommend staying at least 5 days to get the most of your stay in Hakuba.
Q: How to find accommodation in Hakuba?
A: There is a wide variety of accommodation in Hakuba, with major hotels such as Hakuba Tokyu Hotel and Hakuba Phoenix Hotel as great options. You can find a list of our partner hotels in Hakuba here. Please contact us for a personalized quote!
Q: How do I get to Hakuba?
A: You can take public transportation or private transportation to get to Hakuba. For public transportation, you can take the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagano Station, and then the ALPICO Express Bus from Nagano Station to Hakuba. For detailed directions, please see our "How to get to Hakuba" page here. For private transportation, we offer private charter services that can take your group directly to Hakuba.
We hope to see you here in Nagano this winter season! Please feel free to contact us here if you have any questions.