Hakuba Accomodation

Broadly speaking, properties located in the Happo village area are “more central” and there’s a bit more buzz, a bigger selection of restaurants and other village amenities etc on the doorstep. Both the Wadano and Happo village areas are fantastic however, with great access to the Happo One ski lifts and local restaurants. You might find our Happo One Accommodation Guide very useful, as it compares the Happo village and Wadano locations.

The advantage of the Echoland area is that it’s home to Hakuba’s largest concentration of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, all on one street. It’s a great location to base yourself, if you’d like to have an excellent selection of restaurants on the doorstep for the evening. Hakuba is very spread out with no true centre, but Echoland strikes a nice balance and provides a great base, as you can easily reach all the different Hakuba Valley ski resorts via shuttle or rental vehicle. Some properties in Echoland even offer daily shuttles to the ski resorts for guests, making getting to the ski lifts hassle free. With these options, you can enjoy the best of both worlds – easy access to the slopes and Hakuba’s best restaurants on the door step! You might find our guide to staying in Echoland useful.

The Hakuba Valley is made up of 10 resorts spread along the Valley. They all are a little different but have lots of terrain to explore and are a mix of beginner, through to advanced slopes. It’s definitely worth visiting more than one resort while you visit and to help access them, there are shuttle buses that run through the town to help connect you to the slopes. The most well-known accommodation base where most ski properties are located around is Happo One Ski resort. Even if you are located close to a ski resort, you are likely to use transport to visit one of the other ski resorts during your stay too.

Wadano – located towards the North side of Happo One and has lift access to Happo One via the Sakka chair lift, there are also shuttle stops along the main road to catch the shuttle bus to visit the other resorts. There is a good selection of dining venues in this area, and it’s a really peaceful, pretty place to stay as many accommodations are embedded amongst the forest trees, so nice when it snows! Here there is a mix of hotel rooms and self contained apartment options.

Happo Village – I guess this could be considered more the ‘centre’ of town, being located at the base of Happo One with both the gondola and Nakiyama ski lifts providing easy access to the slopes. The main bus station is also in Happo village (along with many shuttle stops) so it’s easy to catch the bus to the various other resorts too. There are onsens, restaurants and shops scattered around Happo Village. Most of the accommodation here is hotel rooms.

Echoland – This area is not walkable to ski lifts, but there are shuttle stops throughout the area to get you to the slopes! Echoland has a main street which is lined with bars, restaurants, cafes and some shops that are walking distance from most accommodations and has the most lively atmosphere in the evening of all the Hakuba areas. This area has mostly self-contained apartment/chalet style accommodations.

There is a wide variety of accommodation options in Hakuba to suit different budgets, group sizes, and travel styles. You will find full-service hotels with onsite amenities such as onsens or ski hire shops near the lifts or in major accommodation hubs such as Wadano or Happo Village, and these are great for travellers who want a combination of comfort and convenience. For a more authentic experience, there are also ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) featuring tatami-floored rooms and futon beddings.

For larger groups or for guests staying for 5 nights or more, we’d also recommend self-contained accommodations which are often well-equipped with a full kitchen, private laundry facilities, and ski storage. We offer a range of apartments and chalets in different locations, including ski-in ski-out, for those seeking more space, privacy, and luxury.

Yes, ski-in ski-out accommodation is definitely available in Hakuba! It’s arguably the most highly-sought after location, especially for skiers and snowboarders who want to maximise their time on the slopes, or families who prefer shorter commuting times to the ski schools. As such, these tend to be on the higher end of the price scale and also get booked out very quickly, especially over peak dates such as Christmas and New Year. There is also a great selection of accommodations that are not right next to the slopes but within a short stroll that are often closer to restaurants, bars, and other amenities.

Consider:

• Location: proximity to lifts or shuttle stops, dining venues and onsens.
  Facilities: do you require a kitchen or do you intend to mostly eat out to experience the local cuisine. Is an inhouse onsen a priority or are you happy to visit the public onsens around town to experience
• Size: How many bedrooms would you prefer? Are you happy with a hotel room, or would you like more space such as a chalet can offer for your family and friends to gather after a day on the slopes to relax and share stories about your day.
• Budget: We have a range of properties for all budgets, booking early can allow you to take advantage of early bird discounts, and visiting outside of peak times can also provide you with some great deals as well and often fewer crowds!

The best time to book your Hakuba accommodation is between March and June. Bookings for the following ski season usually open in March, however this is a gradual process and you may find more options available in April and May. That being said, peak dates such as Christmas and New Year get booked out early, and the same goes for popular properties such as ski-in ski-out accommodations. Securing your accommodation early will also ensure that you get the best price available, as there are often Early Bird deals available until the end of June.

For the shoulder seasons, such as mid-December and from mid-March onwards, you can often secure accommodation at a later date, however the options will be more limited and many of the resorts’ facilities will also not be operating at full capacity.

To be amongst the first ones to know when bookings are open, feel free to subscribe to our newsletters!

Absolutely! With a range of accommodations there is something to suit all types of travelers.

There are some more budget friendly properties in Hakuba. If you’re looking for a great value trip then booking early to take advantage of early bird discounts, or visiting outside of peak travel periods can provide you with a great rate!

Choosing accommodation style is completely personal preference! For groups of 4 or more, a chalet can allow you to have more space with communal areas to relax and share stories of your day outside of the slopes. Chalets have fully equipped kitchens so if you like having the facilities to cook your own meals, they might be the perfect choice for you!

For groups of 3 or less that don’t mind sharing rooms, a hotel-stay could be your best option. Providing comfortable places to stay, often with concierge assistance and many are well located close to restaurants, bars and cafes so you can enjoy the local venues! Often Hotel’s will have inhouse onsens, or onsens close by so you can relax and recover.

Select properties will provide guest shuttles to resorts and services such as supermarkets, many will provide pick up and drop off transfers from the Hakuba Bus or train station for your arrival and departure. It’s best to check with your agent what the offerings are as this varies between the accommodations, however, most properties are very close to a ski shuttle bus stop, and there are taxis and uber available to give you alternative methods for getting around town.

If your main goal is convenience and you are happy to remain at a single base during your stay, then ski in ski out is a wonderful perk! However, Hakuba Valley has 10 ski resorts throughout the valley for you to explore and we highly recommend skiing at more than one if you have the time. Each area is a little different with plenty of terrain to explore for all levels of skiers and boarders, so even if you choose to stay at a ski-in ski-out property, you’re likely going to want to travel to a different resort during your stay anyway.

The amenities provided can change depending on the accommodation you book, most properties include Towels and basic personal care items. If there is a specific item you’d like to enquire about, please check with your agent. For those larger accommodations including chalets they will have a fully equipped kitchen however the condiments available will vary depending on the property. A trip to the supermarket will sort you out for everything you need though!

Car parking is available at many properties in Hakuba, but please check with your agent if you intend to hire a car. While it’s not completely necessary to hire a car in Hakuba as there are options for moving around the town including ski shuttles, Ubers, taxis and some properties will have their own guest shuttles to select destinations, hiring a car can definitely enhance your stay! Hiring a car allows you to move around the valley to visit the various ski resorts, onsens, restaurants, shops and sightsee in your time off the slopes at your own convenience all without having to queue or wait for transport, which you might experience during peak periods with high demand.

Peak winter in Hakuba is January-February. Visiting during this time gives you the best chance of peak powder conditions with all services fully operational. However, this does also result in these months being peak visitation times too, so if you’re considering a January or February stay, it’s best to book your trip early to have a better choice on accommodation before it’s all snapped up. If you’re looking to visit with fewer crowds, March may suit you well! It is a wonderful time to visit Hakuba as the weather usually starts to warm up a bit, and sunny days may be more frequent so you can enjoy the spectacular valley views as you slide down the slopes. It’s not unusual to receive late snowfall in March either!