Despite a market contraction, UK demand is increasing for Japanese ski resort Hakuba.

Despite the contraction of the UK ski market over the past few years, interest in Japanese ski resorts seems to keep increasing with the Ski Club of Great Britain announcing new packages there this winter while specialist ski tour operator W&O Travel Ski Dream is offering the previously little covered resort of Hakuba for the 2010/11 season. Continue reading ‘Despite ski market contraction in UK, demand for Japan is strong’

Tourist Office

Goryu Toomi
Kamishiro, Hakuba-mura, Kita azumi-gun
Nagano-ken
Shinetsu
Japan
399-92

Telephone: (261) 752101
Website: www.hakuba47.co.jp

Description

Located close to Happo One and with a reputation for beautiful scenery as well as a well integrated modern lift system.

keywords

Hakuba 47, Goryu Toomi, Hakuba, Shinetsu, Japan

Tourist Office

Happo
Hakuba-mura, Kita azumi-gun
Nagano-ken
Nagano
Japan
399-93

Telephone: (261) 723066
Email: happo@happo.org
Website: www.hakuba-happo.or.jp

Description

One of Japan’s largest resorts with 99 hotels to choose from. Selected at the location for the Downhill in the 1998 Winter Olympics. Mostof the skiing is of intermediate standard accessed by a gondola to the middle station at 1400m, however Happo does have more tough terrain than most Japanese ski areas and more terrain full stop. Great snow record ensures a long season through to mid-May most seasons.

Review

At the beginning of the century, people living in the mountainous regions on the Japan Sea coast were using primitive long pine skis with bamboo poles to get around. Enjoyment and sport were far from those peoples’ minds as they tried to survive in areas where 4 to 5m of snow was not uncommon. The idea that this form of transportation could be fun was brought to Japan by the Austrians when Hannes Schneider introduced lighter skis and bindings in the 1930′s. Herr Schneider, complete with fancy 3-piece suit impressed the Japanese and the skiing boom took off. The affluent eighties saw some serious winter resort development with many new resorts appearing and existing resorts being expanded.

Pronounced Ha-Pony, Happo One is one of eight ski areas in the Hakuba Valley and it’s the place to head for if you’re looking for a bit of everything for the price of one lift ticket. It’s a large scale resort boasting some of the highest snowfalls and longest vertical pitches in Japan. Due to its altitude, Happo One has breathtaking scenery, and its dry climate enables skiers to experience fantastic powder skiing. If Happo had to be described in one word it would be “variety”, exploring its maze of lifts and runs is always an adventure. Terrain goes from gentle beginner-friendly glades of the Saka area on the northern side, to mogul fields and steeps at higher altitudes. The world-class halfpipe and fun park in the Nakeyama area of the mountain provides excitement and adventure for ‘boarders and spectators.

Happo One received international attention in 1998 as host to both the mens’ and womens’ downhill, giant slalom and ski jump events during the Nagano Olympics. It was at those Games that Austrian’s Hermann Maier won double gold in the Downhill and Giant Slalom.

keywords

Happo One, Hakuba, Nagano, Japan