Lion Adventure is one of Hakuba’s best-known outdoor operators, offering adventure-packed seasonal activities for guests to enjoy all year round. From skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling in the winter, to hiking, kayaking, rafting, and hot air balloons in the summer—Hakuba has something to enjoy for every season, and Lion Adventure offers the best way to experience the beauty of this alpine region.
On this page you will find information about Lion Adventure and all of their offerings in Hakuba!
What is Hakuba Lion Adventure?
Hakuba Lion Adventure is a company offering experiences year-round in Hakuba. In the winter season they offer ski gear rentals, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing—as well as a lovely cafe to rest and warm up in. During the summer season, they offer a variety of activities, such as canoeing, kayaking, SUP (stand-up paddleboarding), hot air balloons, star gazing, and much more!
Hakuba Lion Cafe
The Hakuba Lion Cafe is located centrally in Hakuba, directly across the street from Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal, which is where many visitors will arrive from if you take the bus to Hakuba from Nagano Station. The cafe is the perfect place to rest, have a snack or a warm drink after a long day or traveling, or while you are waiting for the next bus.
For detailed directions on how to get to Hakuba, please see our "How to Get to Hakuba" page. If you are coming from Tokyo, check out our "How to Get to Hakuba from Tokyo" page!
Lion Gear Rental
Once you have arrived in Hakuba and finished enjoying the Lion Cafe, your next stop can be picking up rental ski gear at the Lion Gear Rental shop! With a wide variety of ski and snowboard gear, and competitive prices, this is a great option for ski gear rental. Lion Gear Rental has three locations in Hakuba, one in the Echoland area, one in the High-Land area (near Hakuba Station), and one in the Goryu 5 area.
For more information about the various ski resorts of Hakuba, check out our "Hakuba Valley Ski Resorts" page for detailed descriptions of each one—there are more than 10 of them to enjoy! For Hakuba ski gear rental and pricing, please feel free to contact us for a personalized quote.
Winter Activities
Hakuba Lion Adventure has a variety of winter activities to offer, in addition to their ski gear rental services!
SNOWMOBILE
Enjoy riding through the hills of the Japanese Alps with the thrilling experience of snowmobiling. The snowmobile experience offers single and tandem ride bikes. Your exhilarating ride will last for 60 minutes, including 10 minutes of instruction at the beginning. Children of 6 years and older are welcome to join a tandem ride with an adult, and guests 16 years and older can ride alone.
SNOWSHOE
Experience the magical atmosphere of the forest trail in winter! Snowshoeing is a great way to enjoy the snow at a slower pace than skiing, perfect for guests of all ages. The snowshoe tour lasts for 1 hour and runs on a private basis, giving your group the experience of a quiet and tranquil walk through nature.
SKI LESSONS
Looking for one-day ski lessons in Hakuba? Lion Adventure has you covered! Offering both full-day and half-day lessons, they use "fun skis" which are shorter and easier to use than regular skis, allowing skiers to learn faster and enjoy the day more fully. Rental equipment and lift passes are included in their day ski lesson package.
Summer Activities
Hakuba has been growing in popularity during the "green season" of summer—and for good reason! There is so much to enjoy in this mountainous region during the warm months, and it is a perfect way to escape the heat of big cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
RIVER EXPERIENCE
River activities can be enjoyed in the Saigawa river and Himekawa river in Hakuba. Lion Adventures offers river rafting, glamping, BBQ, and shower (waterfall) walking—everything you could want from a day spent by the river! The Saigawa river is gentle and wide, so rafting there is recommended for inexperienced and younger groups, while the faster-flowing Himekawa river is recommended for more extreme rafting. The rafting tours are half-day experiences, about 2.5 hours long in total, available in the AM or PM.
LAKE EXPERIENCE
Lake Aoki is a large lake in the Hakuba area, and perfect for summer activities! You can enjoy SUP (stand-up paddleboarding), kayaking, and canoeing in this pristine alpine lake. In addition to regular SUP and kayaks, there are also unique clear ones available for rent. You can even bring your dog along for the ride!
SKY EXPERIENCE
Have you ever dreamed of riding in a hot air balloon over stunning alpine mountains and beautiful views of lakes and forests? If so, then this is the experience for you! Hakuba's hot air balloons operate every morning during the summer season of late July to late August. Otherwise, you can join on Sundays from late April until early November.
NIGHT EXPERIENCE
Summer nights in Hakuba are magical—full of cool mountain air, fireflies, and stars that are only visible far away from the big cities. You can join the Night Lake Cruise to go stargazing on the lake, or join the Firefly Tour to see the fireflies over the water!
Spring & Autumn Activities
Japan is famous for "sakura" or cherry blossoms in the spring, and beautiful fall foliage in the autumn. If you find yourself in Japan during these seasons, Hakuba should be on your list of destinations because it has some unique experiences to offer!
SPRING EXPERIENCE
Join Lion Adventure's Spring Boat Cruise or Spring MTB (mountain bike) tours to get the most of the cherry blossom viewing season! The Spring Boat Cruise will take you canoeing across Lake Aoki, while the MTB experience will give you the thrill of mountain biking around the lake among the blooming trees. Please note that these tours can only run during the brief season of sakura blooming (about 2 weeks in late April).
AUTUMN EXPERIENCE
Similarly to the spring season, Lion Adventure offers an Autumn Boat Cruise and Autumn MTB tour so that you can fully immerse yourself in the changing natural scenery. Join these tours from the beginning of September to the beginning of November for the best views of fall colors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Hakuba Lion Adventure?
A: Hakuba Lion Adventure is an outdoor operator offering unique and action-packed experiences in the Hakuba region, from snowmobiling and ski rentals in the winter, to kayaking, SUP, and river rafting in the summer.
Q: Where is Hakuba?
A: Hakuba is a mountainous area in Nagano Prefecture, containing the northern end of the Japanese Northern Alps. Hakuba has some of the best skiing and winter sports in Japan, as well as a rich green season with hiking, kayaking/canoeing, and various other outdoor activities.
Q: How can I get to Hakuba?
A: The easiest way to get to Hakuba is to take the bullet train from Tokyo (or Osaka/Kyoto) to Nagano Station, and then take the ALPICO bus from there to Hakuba. For detailed directions on how to get to Hakuba, please see our "How to Get to Hakuba" page. If you are coming from Tokyo, check out our "How to Get to Hakuba from Tokyo" page!
Q: When should I visit Hakuba?
A: Hakuba is famous for its ski resorts, so if you are looking for skiing and winter sports, we recommend visiting from mid-December to late March. If you are interested in summer outdoor activities like river rafting and other water sports, we recommend visiting from June to September. However, Hakuba has something to offer in all the months in-between as well!
Q: How can I book one of the above experiences?
A: Please click the "inquiry" button at the bottom of this page to get a customized quote for joining one of these experiences in Hakuba. We hope to see you here in Nagano on your next trip to Japan!