Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort | Basic information and highlights for enjoying powder snow

About Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort is located at the foot of the Northern Alps in Nagano Prefecture and is part of the Hakuba Valley, surrounded by majestic mountains.

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort has some of the highest snowfall in the Hakuba area and offers 16 diverse courses where you can enjoy high-quality powder snow, making it fun for winter sports beginners to experts.

Regarding various fees

Here we will check the main lift tickets, rental equipment, and locker and changing room fees available at Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort.

Lift ticket

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort's lift tickets for the 2024-2025 season are available in two types: a "common lift ticket" that can be used at Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort and Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort, as introduced here, and a "lift ticket with accommodation package" that includes a stay at the Green Plaza Hakuba Hotel.

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

For lift tickets included in accommodation packages, please check the accommodation rates on the Green Plaza Hakuba Hotel website .

They also seem to be selling "Web e-tickets" that can be purchased online. In addition to Japanese, they are available in English and Chinese (Traditional Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese).

If you only want to purchase a lift ticket, buying it in advance will ensure smooth movement once you get to the resort.

Rental Equipment

At Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort, you can rent ski and snowboard equipment starting at 5,000 yen per day.

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

The available hours are from 8:00 to 17:00.

Carrying all your sports equipment while traveling can be a hassle, so if you're planning on skiing or snowboarding in Hakuba, we recommend comparing the hassle of bringing your own equipment with the budget for rental gear to choose the best option.

Lockers and changing rooms

If you wish to use the lockers at Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort, please use the changing rooms and lockers on the first floor of the adjacent hotel, Green Plaza Hakuba.

There are two changing rooms for men and women. Information on the size, price, number of lockers, etc. is as follows:

*Please check the official website for the latest information.

The lockers and changing rooms are also available to those visiting Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort on day trips. Business hours are from 7:00 to 18:00, so please be aware of the hours.

Features of Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort has nine attractive features for foreign visitors.

We will introduce this in more detail below.

Enjoy the finest powder snow

The main reason why Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort attracts many visitors from overseas is the superb powder snow that can be enjoyed.

Powder snow makes skiing and snowboarding more comfortable because even if you fall, your body won't get wet.

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort is covered with 100% natural snow, characterized by its soft, powdery quality.

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort is located at the northernmost tip of the Hakuba area, and cold air that crosses the Northern Alps flows in from the Sea of Japan, bringing snow.

Another notable feature is that Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort receives 10 to 20 centimeters more snow than other ski resorts in the Hakuba area.

Located in the blessed environment of the Northern Alps, Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort offers the best quality snow that is hard to find anywhere else.

There are 16 courses available for beginners and advanced skiers to enjoy.

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort offers a total of 16 courses, from wide courses for beginners to advanced courses offering spectacular views from an altitude of 1,400 meters.

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort has a "pot-shaped" structure where almost all of the runs converge. If you use the hotel with its distinctive red triangular roof as a landmark, even first-time visitors may have a hard time getting lost on the slopes.

Enjoy tree running in the best snow possible

At Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort, the area where you can do tree running is open to the public as a "personal responsibility area." It is especially popular with foreign skiers and snowboarders. It is so popular that there are often lines in front of the lifts.

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort is known worldwide for its powder snow, but this "At Your Own Risk" area offers fluffy, deep powder. If you're confident in your skills and would like to try tree running, you can take on the challenge after taking safety precautions.

Enjoy a variety of ticket types

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort offers a variety of ticket types. If you use a joint lift ticket for both Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort and Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort, you can ski on an amazing 30 courses.

Additionally, the 10 ski resorts in the "Hakuba Valley" area, which includes Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort, have introduced a common automated ticket gate system using the "Hakuba Valley Pass."

If you purchase the Hakuba Valley Pass, you can visit all nine ski resorts in Hakuba Valley as one ski resort during the validity period, and you can ride the lifts without having to wait in line at the ticket counter.

Additionally, the international ski season pass "Epic Pass" is also available.

*The "Hakuba Valley Pass" cannot be used with the "Epic Pass" mobile app.

Staying at an official hotel makes access even easier

Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba, the official hotel of Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort, is just a 10-second walk from the slopes.

Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba also offers great value plans that include lift tickets, making it even more convenient for you to enjoy skiing and snowboarding.

Ski and snowboard lessons for foreigners and childcare facilities available

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort offers ski and snowboard lessons for foreigners. Lessons are conducted in Chinese and English, and JSKI seems to cater to Chinese speakers, while Evergreen caters to English speakers. (January 2025)

There's no language barrier when learning to ski or snowboard, so even beginners and those with no experience can feel at ease. Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort also has an English-speaking daycare center that can take care of children between 18 months and 6 years old.

Enjoy a hot spring after skiing

After enjoying skiing at Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort, head to the large public bath "Hakuba Cortina Bijin-no-Yu" on the third floor of "Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba." It's the perfect place to warm up your body after a day on the slopes and relax.

The hot spring is a sodium bicarbonate spring that is known for its skin-beautifying properties and is rich in bicarbonate ions. The hot spring water comes from a private source that springs from 1,221 meters underground at the foot of the Northern Alps, and has a slight sulfurous scent.

Day trips are also available, so be sure to try out this Japanese apres skiing experience.

Enjoy delicious, locally produced food

At the restaurant, you can enjoy dishes made with ingredients from Nagano Prefecture as well as local dishes that change with the seasons.

The restaurant "Alps" inside the "Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba" serves Japanese, Western and Chinese cuisine and is open to skiers and snowboarders during lunchtime.

At the tea lounge "Ririkaru," you can enjoy a wide range of menu items from cafe and sweets to lunch.

Nagano Prefecture stretches from north to south. Each region has its own unique climate and natural features, which have led to the development of unique ingredients and food cultures. Nagano's local cuisine, which has developed its own unique ingredients and food cultures in each region, is registered as a Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

Enjoying a locally produced meal while gazing at the snowy scenery will warm both your body and soul.

Enjoy the slopes for more than just skiing and snowboarding

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort also offers other activities besides skiing and snowboarding.

In the area separate from the ski resort, there is a "Snow Play Park," as well as "Kamakura" houses made of hardened snow and a snowy forest, all of which can be enjoyed even by those who are not good at winter sports.

Furthermore, the beautiful illuminations in front of the Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba create a breathtakingly fantastical atmosphere.

There are also other winter activities available, such as sledding, snow rafting, and snowmobiling, so you can enjoy the slopes for more than just skiing and snowboarding.

Create memories with souvenirs exclusive to the ski resort

At Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort, you can also purchase souvenirs exclusive to the ski resort and items perfect for creating memories.

The shops at the ski resort sell not only souvenirs from Nagano Prefecture, but also clothing and goods exclusive to the Cortina Ski Resort. There is also a wide selection of ski and snowboard accessories, which can be purchased locally.

Snacks are also available for purchase at the shop, making it a great option for those who want to focus on skiing or snowboarding without having to waste time eating at a restaurant.

How to get to Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort

There are two main ways to get to Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort: by bus or by JR and bus. To help you travel smoothly, let's take a look at how to get to Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort here.

How to get there by JR + bus

For those considering using the Japan Rail Pass, a combination of JR and bus travel is convenient. Below we will introduce how to access the area from major cities.

If you plan on using a paid route bus that departs from JR Nagano Station, which is a transfer station for the Shinkansen, you will need to check the winter operating schedule with the bus company. If you are unsure, we recommend consulting a travel agency and making a travel schedule.

How to get there by bus

We also recommend taking a direct bus to Hakuba Valley, where the Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort is located.

In Japan, there are express buses called "Snowliners" that run between city centers and airports and ski resort areas.

The direct bus "Snowliner" runs during the day and at night, and the fare is generally around 7,500 yen per adult.

You can also apply for the "Snow Liner" bus, which goes directly to the ski resort, through our media outlet, "MACHA."

For those who have given up on visiting a ski resort in Japan until now, why not take this opportunity to try out the "Snow Liner" service?

Snowliner reservations here

Enjoy natural snow at Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort!

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort in Nagano Prefecture is a recommended winter resort for those wanting to enjoy natural snow.

Not only is it small and private, but if you stay at the hotel you will feel as if you are enjoying your own private ski resort.

Additionally, if you use the red roof of the hotel as a landmark, it's hard to get lost on the slopes, so it's recommended for first-time skiers in Japan.

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort is difficult to get to by train, but if you take the "Snow Liner" bus that goes directly to the ski resort, you can get there without having to transfer.

Come experience the charm of snow created by nature at Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort.