Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort | Introducing basic information and tips for enjoying

Basic information about Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort

Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is part of the "Hakuba Valley" located in the Hakuba Norikura Plateau in Otari Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano Prefecture. It is commonly known as "Hakunori."

Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort has a total of 15 courses aimed at intermediate skiers, as well as beginners and advanced skiers, making it a great choice for a wide range of people, from families to those who love extreme sports.

Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is located inland in the Hakuba Valley and is renowned for its excellent snow quality.

On the other hand, it is a smaller ski resort that tends to be less crowded, and is popular among some ski and snowboard enthusiasts as a hidden gem.

Regarding various fees

We will introduce the fees for lift tickets and rental equipment when enjoying skiing and snowboarding at Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort. Check it out in advance to ensure your skiing and snowboarding plans in Japan go smoothly.

Lift ticket

Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort mainly sells joint lift tickets with Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort.

*Please check the official website for the latest information and other ticket types.

If you want to enjoy Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort for a long period of time, you can also choose to purchase a "season pass."

It seems that you can also receive mutual discounts with other ski resorts and benefits and discounts through a partnership with Vail Resorts.

Hakuba Valley, which includes Hakuba Norikura Ski Resort, is also affiliated with the global snow resort alliance "Epic Pass." It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy winter sports around the world.

Some lift tickets can be purchased online, but they cannot be shipped overseas, so you will need to collect your ticket at the counter on the day of your visit. You will need to show identification when collecting your ticket.

Considering the hassle of purchasing online, we recommend purchasing once you arrive at the destination.

Rental Equipment

You can rent the necessary equipment at the booth next to the locker room in the adjacent "Hakuba Alps Hotel." The main rental fees as of January 2025 are as follows.

*Please check the official website for the latest information and other rental items and prices.

Goggles, gloves, and other items are also sold, so even if you don't bring them with you, you can purchase them locally.

Winter sports equipment can usually be brought as carry-on baggage, but many international flights to Japan require you to register it in advance and pay an additional fee, while local rental fees can be expensive.

When planning a ski or snowboard trip, we recommend comparing the costs of rental and sports luggage and factoring this into your travel budget in advance.

Features of Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort

The features of Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort are as follows:

We will introduce you to the details.

A wide variety of courses

Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is known for its wide variety of courses.

The vast slopes offer a wide range of options, from easy runs for beginners and families, to runs with a maximum gradient of 38 degrees and mogul courses for advanced skiers. There are also off-piste slopes (snow surfaces untouched by humans), so you can enjoy professional skiing and snowboarding.

With courses suited to a variety of skills and styles, you can enjoy winter sports in Japan like never before.

[Caution] The area around the 11th Pair Lift is at your own risk.

The "near the 11th pair lift" in Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is a "self-responsibility area" located outside the ski resort management area.

"Self-responsibility areas" are areas where skiing outside the slopes is at your own risk, unlike lifts for regular slopes. In self-responsibility areas, skiers and snowboarders are expected to follow the rules and ski safely.

Therefore, you are required to submit a disclaimer and wear an armband. (Climbing registration and mountain insurance are optional.)

The Disclaimer Agreement can be downloaded from the official website in advance and is available in English and Chinese. If you wish to enter the mountain, please check the rules in advance and ensure a safe skiing experience.

Enjoy the Hakuba Valley mountain with a season pass that covers all mountains

By purchasing the "Hakuba Valley All Mountain Season Pass", the ski resorts within Hakuba Valley, including Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort, will be treated as one ski resort.

Of the 10 ski resorts in the Hakuba Valley area, the following 9 resorts have introduced a shared automated ticket gate system.

Please note that if you are using Norikura Onsen Ski Resort as your base, you will need to collect your tickets at the nearby Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort.

Just the right size for beginners

Unlike large-scale ski resorts, Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is not too large or too small, but has just the right size. The distance of each course at Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is relatively short, so you won't get tired easily. Therefore, it is especially recommended for the following people.

Some people may feel that Hakuba Norikura Ski Resort is small. Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort and Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort share the same lift ticket.

The two slopes combined have a total of 30 courses, so if you feel like you need more than enough, you can just go back and forth between the two.

Tips for enjoying Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort

Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is neither too large nor too small, but in order to enjoy it, it is essential to gather information beforehand.

Here are four things you should know beforehand to ensure you have an enjoyable stay at Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort.

If you want to enjoy powder snow, aim for January to March

If you want to enjoy powder snow at Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort, the best time to visit is between January and March. January and February tend to have the most snowfall, so you can enjoy the best powder snow.

There is also a lot of snow in March, and there are also chances to enjoy powder snow once or twice in April. As the winter sports season approaches the latter half of the year, the time to enjoy powder snow becomes more limited, such as in the mornings.

When planning a trip to Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort, you may want to consider these times.

The choice of accommodation is surprisingly abundant

There are many accommodation options around Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort. If you are particularly concerned about access from the slopes to the hotel, we recommend staying at the Hakuba Alps Hotel.

If you'd rather stay somewhere a little more affordable than one that's convenient for getting to the slopes, try arranging lodging near the ski resort. You can check the lodging details in advance on the official Otari Village tourism website , but be careful as some lodgings may not have a website.

If you want to enjoy a hot spring, we recommend the Hakuba Alps Hotel and Wakaguri Onsen Norikuraso. As we will discuss later, a popular way to relax in a hot spring after enjoying winter sports is in Japan.

Find the accommodation that's best for you and enjoy your stay at Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort.

From light meals to hearty meals! Use restaurants that offer coupons

In addition to enjoying skiing and snowboarding, it's also a good idea to check out the menus at the restaurants on the slopes beforehand.

Within Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort there is the main restaurant "Snowdrop" and three small restaurants on the Satomi Chuo slope side (Petit Hotel Baku, Pension Andes, and Heidi).

In particular, the main restaurant, Snowdrop, offers a wide variety of menu items, including curry and rice bowls.

In addition, the restaurants on the slopes are also eligible for early bird lift ticket packages and online coupons, so you can get great deals by taking advantage of these coupons.

Relieve your ski fatigue! Two day-trip hot springs to relax after skiing

We will introduce two day spa facilities that you can use after skiing.

The quality of the springs is the same, so consider where you want to visit based on your budget and how tired you are on the day.

How to get to Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort

There are two main ways to get to Hakuba Norikura Ski Resort: by combining JR trains with a bus, or by taking the bus. Let's take a closer look at the differences between the two.

How to get there by JR + bus

One way to access Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is to combine JR and bus.

In particular, some people who are traveling in Japan for an extended period of time or who plan to travel around the country for purposes other than skiing may want to make use of the Japan Rail Pass.

The Japan Rail Pass allows you to use JR trains designated for each ticket, so you can combine train and bus travel to Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort.

However, you must check the bus schedules within Nagano Prefecture and whether the Japan Rail Pass is compatible with the prefecture. Since the number of buses running is limited, especially in winter, it is best to consider carefully.

How to get there by bus

Another recommended way to get to Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is to take the direct bus to the ski resort called the "Snow Liner."

"Snowliner" operates daytime and nighttime services, connecting city centers and airports with hard-to-reach places like ski resorts. There are also many direct buses departing from city areas and airports to Hakuba Valley, where the Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is located, making it particularly convenient.

Fares are generally around 7,500 yen per adult, making it ideal for tourists whose sole purpose is to visit ski resorts.

In particular, the "Snow Liner" is recommended for heading to Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort, as it allows you to travel comfortably without having to transfer.

You can also make reservations for the "Snow Liner" through our media, "MACHA." If you are considering a trip to Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort, we recommend that you consider the direct bus, which does not require transfers and allows you to relax and enjoy the scenery along the way.

Snowliner reservations here

Enjoy hot springs, skiing and snowboarding at Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort!

Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is one of the slopes where you can experience powder snow. It tends to be less crowded than other ski resorts in the Hakuba area, so you can enjoy a little more privacy.

There are also two hot springs where you can soak immediately after skiing, making this an attractive place to enjoy a truly Japanese style skiing experience.

Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort has a variety of courses in a perfect area, so it is recommended for beginners, families, and intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders. Why not spend a memorable time at Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort this winter?