Hakuba, Nagano · Things to do
Things to Do in Hakuba: 9 Places in Winter and Green Season
9 things to do · checked October 22, 2026
9 things to do in Hakuba, from Happo outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 22, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Hakuba Happo-one Ski Resort白馬八方尾根スキー場
Ski resort · Happo
Sixteen courses, a longest run of 8,000 m and a top of 1,831 m above a 760 m base, the longest run and highest top among the ten Hakuba Valley resorts. The resort says its Adam gondola retires after the 2027 winter season; 2026–27 opening dates were not yet published on 22 October 2026.
Winter only. 2026–27 dates not yet published on 22 October 2026.
- Access
- Alpico express bus from Nagano Station East Exit to the Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal, or the Shinjuku–Hakuba highway bus from Busta Shinjuku to Hakuba Happo. By rail: JR Oito Line to Hakuba Station, then a route bus.
2Happo-ike Pond and the Alpen Line八方池・アルペンライン
Alpine pond and sightseeing lifts · Happo
A gondola and two chairlifts, together called the Alpen Line, climb from the Happo base (770 m) to the First Cairn and Happo-ike Sanso at 1,830 m in about 40 minutes. Happo-ike pond lies above, at 2,060 m.
Green season only, until 3 November 2026.
- Access
- From the Happo-one gondola base station; the Alpico express bus from Nagano Station stops at the Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal.
- Hours
- 2026 green season: 30–31 May and 6 June–3 November. Hours vary by day; the last ride up is 30 minutes before the Grat Quad closes.
- Price
- Full Alpen Line round trip: adults (12+) ¥3,500; elementary school ¥2,300
3Happo-no-Yu八方の湯
Public hot spring bath · Happo
A day-use hot spring at the entrance to the Happo onsen town, one of several public baths the village tourism commission lists across Hakuba.
- Access
- At the entrance to the Happo onsen town (5701-2 Kitajo).
- Hours
- 10:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30)
- Price
- Adults ¥1,000; children ¥650
4Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium白馬ジャンプ競技場
Olympic ski jump with visitor lift · Kitajo
The ski jump venue of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, the only facility in Japan with large and normal hills side by side. A paid lift takes visitors to the start area, and the start tower holds an Olympic Gallery.
- Access
- Kitajo, Hakuba Village. The prefecture's page gives no route; phone 0261-72-7611.
- Hours
- Visitor lift: 8:30–16:30 (1 April–30 November); 9:00–15:30 (1 December–31 March)
- Closed on
- Lift does not run in early April and early December
- Price
- Lift: high school age and over ¥370; elementary and junior high ¥220
5Oide Park大出公園
Riverside park and viewpoint · Kitajo
About 5.9 hectares on both banks of the Himekawa River, made in 2006 to keep the old village scenery: a wooden suspension bridge, thatched-roof houses and a viewpoint toward the Shirouma Sanzan peaks. Kappa-tei Café inside opens May–October.
- Access
- 5713 Kitajo, Hakuba Village. The Japan Tourism Agency text gives the address only, no route or parking details.
6Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort白馬岩岳マウンテンリゾート
Mountain resort: summit terrace in green season, skiing in winter · Iwatake
In green season the gondola climbs to HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR, a terrace facing the Hakuba Sanzan peaks, with a branch of THE CITY BAKERY. In winter it is a ski area with 13 courses, a 3,300 m longest run and a 1,289 m top; pets may ride the gondola.
- Access
- The Alpico Nagano–Hakuba express bus stops at Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort.
- Hours
- 2026 green season: 23 April–15 November; only the gondola runs 9–15 November. Gondola 8:30–16:20, last ride down 16:50.
- Price
- Resort entry (gondola and 5-line South lift round trip): adults ¥2,900; children ¥1,600
7Tsugaike Nature Park and Tsugaike Mountain Resort栂池自然園・つがいけマウンテンリゾート
Alpine marsh park in green season, skiing in winter · Tsugaike Kogen (Otari Village)
The Eve gondola (4,120 m, about 20 minutes) and a 5-minute ropeway lead to Tsugaike Nature Park at about 1,900 m, with about 5.5 km of walkways. The ski season opens on 1 December 2026; the ski area has 11 courses and a 5,000 m longest run.
Nature Park closed for 2026 on 25 October; skiing from 1 December 2026.
- Access
- The Alpico Nagano–Hakuba express bus stops at Tsugaike Kogen. The gondola leaves from Tsugaike Kogen Station.
- Hours
- 2026 green season: 6 June–25 October (ended). On standard days the first gondola was 8:00, the last ride up 16:10 and the last ropeway down 16:40.
- Price
- Gondola and ropeway round trip with Nature Park admission: adults ¥4,000; children ¥2,200
8Able Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba47エイブル白馬五竜・Hakuba47
Ski areas; alpine botanical garden in green season · Goryu (Kamishiro)
Goryu has 15 courses, a 5,000 m longest run and night skiing; Hakuba47 next to it has 8 courses and a 6,400 m longest run, and the two sell a shared 2026–27 season pass. In green season the Telecabin gondola (about 8 minutes) rises to the Alpine Botanical Garden at 1,515 m, with over 300 plant species.
- Access
- The Alpico express bus from Nagano Station stops at Goryu Escal Plaza and Hakuba Goryu (drop-off only in that direction).
- Hours
- Green season ended 18 October 2026. Winter: the resort's winter page says daytime operation ends at 17:00 and night skiing starts at 18:00.
9Lake Aoki青木湖
Lake · Omachi (south end of Hakuba Valley)
The largest of the three Nishina lakes, with some of the clearest water in Nagano Prefecture. Early-morning SUP is popular in summer, a firefly cruise runs at night, and a road circles the lake for cycling.
- Access
- Omachi City. The Omachi tourism association page gives no route or walking time.
Good to know
Hakuba Valley has two seasons of things to do. In winter the ski areas run: Happo-one has the longest run (8,000 m) and highest top (1,831 m) of the ten Hakuba Valley resorts. In green season the same lifts carry walkers to Happo-ike pond (2,060 m), the HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR terrace at Iwatake, Tsugaike Nature Park (about 1,900 m) and the Goryu Alpine Botanical Garden (1,515 m).
Dates for late 2026: Goryu's green season ended on 18 October and Tsugaike's on 25 October. The Alpen Line to Happo-ike runs until 3 November and Iwatake until 15 November (gondola only from 9 November). Tsugaike opens for skiing on 1 December 2026; the other resorts had not published 2026–27 dates on 22 October.
From Nagano Station, the Alpico express bus stops at Goryu, Hakuba Station, the Happo bus terminal, Iwatake and Tsugaike Kogen; no reservation is needed on the spring-to-autumn timetable (to 30 November). The Olympic ski jump lift and the Happo-no-Yu hot spring are open in both seasons.
In depth
The lift-served sights and the year-round stops, side by side
2026 green-season dates and adult fares from each operator. Children's fares are on the cards above.
| Place | 2026 green season | Adult round trip / entry | Express bus stop (from Nagano) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happo-ike via the Alpen Line | 30–31 May, 6 June–3 November | ¥3,500 (full Alpen Line) | Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal |
| Iwatake: HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR | 23 April–15 November (gondola only 9–15 Nov) | ¥2,900 resort entry | Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort |
| Tsugaike Nature Park | 6 June–25 October (ended) | ¥4,000 with park admission | Tsugaike Kogen |
| Goryu Alpine Botanical Garden | Ended 18 October | Not checked here | Goryu Escal Plaza (drop-off only) |
| Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium lift | Year-round, except early April and early December | ¥370 | Not stated by the prefecture |
| Happo-no-Yu hot spring | Year-round, 10:00–21:00 | ¥1,000 | Not stated; at the entrance to the Happo onsen town |
By kind of trip
Skiing and snowboarding
Happo-one has 16 courses and an 8,000 m longest run, Goryu 15 courses with night skiing, Iwatake 13 courses and Tsugaike 11. Tsugaike opens on 1 December 2026.
Hakuba Happo-one Ski Resort · Able Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba47 · Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort · Tsugaike Nature Park and Tsugaike Mountain Resort
Mountain views without a long climb
The Alpen Line reaches 1,830 m in about 40 minutes; the Tsugaike gondola and ropeway take about 25 minutes to the Nature Park; Iwatake's gondola climbs to a terrace facing the Hakuba Sanzan.
Happo-ike Pond and the Alpen Line · Tsugaike Nature Park and Tsugaike Mountain Resort · Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort
With children
The ski jump lift is ¥220 for elementary and junior high. Iwatake's resort entry is ¥1,600 for children, and pets may ride its gondola.
Rain, cold or after skiing
Happo-no-Yu is open until 21:00 (last entry 20:30). The ski jump start tower holds an Olympic Gallery.
Lakes and the valley floor
Lake Aoki is the largest of the three Nishina lakes, with SUP in summer and a road around it for cycling. Oide Park has a wooden suspension bridge over the Himekawa River.
Questions
When do the Hakuba ski resorts open for 2026–27?
Tsugaike Mountain Resort has announced 1 December 2026. Happo-one, Iwatake and Goryu had not published 2026–27 opening dates on their own sites on 22 October 2026. Hakuba Valley season passes for 2026–27 went on sale on 14 July 2026.
What is still open in Hakuba in late October and November 2026?
The Alpen Line to Happo-ike runs until 3 November and Iwatake until 15 November, gondola only from 9 November. The ski jump visitor lift runs 8:30–16:30 until 30 November. Tsugaike Nature Park closed on 25 October and Goryu's green season on 18 October.
How do I get to Hakuba from Tokyo?
Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano and the Alpico express bus to Hakuba, about 2 hours 30 minutes riding time, per the village tourism commission. Or a JR limited express from Shinjuku to Matsumoto and the JR Oito Line to Hakuba Station, about 4 hours. A highway bus also runs from Busta Shinjuku to Hakuba Happo.
How do I get up to Happo-ike pond?
Take the Alpen Line (a gondola and two chairlifts) from the Happo base to the First Cairn at 1,830 m, about 40 minutes. The pond is at 2,060 m, higher up on foot; the operator's page does not give a walking time. The round trip is ¥3,500 for adults, and the line runs until 3 November in 2026.