Travel to Happo One with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Located in northwest Nagano prefecture in the Hakuba Valley, not far northwest of Tokyo, Happo One ski resort (pronounced Happo ‘On’ ‘Ay’) has played host to the Winter Olympics along with nearby Hakuba 47 and Goryu Toomi ski resorts. Happo One boasts some great powder and mogul runs and is mainly aimed at intermediate skiers, although there is some incredible off-piste for experts.

The resort base of Happo One ski resort is located at 2,493 feet above sea level and has the feel of a real mountain village at night, with its après-ski and buzzing atmosphere. However, it is not great for families with babies, as there are no childcare facilities. Ski facilities include ski equipment rentals and a ski school.

Half of the terrain at Happo One ski resort is for intermediate skiers and snowboarders and there are 13 slopes, the longest of which is a respectable five miles. An impressive 33 ski lifts provide slope access for over 45,000 people per hour over the 3,515-foot vertical, while snowboarders also have the option of the terrain park.

Lodgings at Happo One ski resort are situated at the nearby town of Hakuba, where you will find traditional Japanese-style accommodation with accompanying hot springs as well as Western-style establishments. There are 40 restaurants and bars at Hakuba, offering plenty of options for eating and drinking.

Nearby, you can try cross-country skiing at Iwatake or sample the many hot springs in the vicinity. For alternative skiing and snowboarding, you may like to try nearby Hakuba 47. Known as Japan’s Chamonix, the resort offers deep powder and cracking facilities, while nearby Goryu Toomi ski resort is interconnected with Hakuba 47.

The ski season at Happo One ski resort extends from December to May or June and has its best powder in January and February. Cheaper ski lift tickets are often offered outside these months and on weekdays. The most convenient way to get here is to take the bullet train from Tokyo to Hakuba, via Nagano.

Skiing in Happo One

Happo One ski resort is situated in the beautiful Hakuba Valley, only minutes from the famous town, and sports some great facilities including excellent downhill runs and jumps. Host to the 1988 Winter Olympics, Happo One is loaded with chutes, bowls and treacherous cliffs, and is primarily aimed at skiers, with snowboarder terrain here being limited.

There are 13 runs at Happo One ski resort, spread over more than 400 acres of gorgeous landscape that is divided into 30 per cent suitable for beginners, 50 per cent for intermediates and 20 per cent for advance and expert sliders. The longest slope is five miles and some tough off-piste is available via a hike from the top ski lifts, of which there are more than 30.

Alternative winter-related activities at Happo One ski resort include hiking, snowmobiling and nearby cross-country skiing, while there is plenty of opportunity to bask in the hot springs in and around the town. Après-ski is provided by dozens of bars and restaurants in the town and on-slope cafés, and you will have no problem finding English menus.

There is plenty of accommodation in the nearby town of Hakuba including many pensions, Japanese-style lodges and large hotel complexes with commendable wellness facilities. The town and resort have a wonderful atmosphere and facilities at the resort include the usual ski rentals and a ski school.

Happo One’s ski season runs for about six months from December and the resort has its best snow in February, when prices are likely to be higher compared with the shoulder and low-season months. High-speed bullet trains make for easy travelling to Nagano, from where regular services run to Hakuba.

Transportation to Happo One

Happo One ski resort is about 150 miles northwest of Tokyo in the northwestern part of Nagano prefecture and the town of Hakuba is directly accessible by both road and rail. By far the easiest way to get to Happo One is to fly to Tokyo and then take the bullet train to Nagano, from where another service goes to Hakuba.

The journey by road from Tokyo takes about 4 hours and goes via the main Kofu expressway to Matsumoto. From Matsumoto, route 148 continues north through the town of Omachi and onto Hakuba. If you are coming from Osaka, the Chuo expressway and route 148 provide access via Matsumoto. Happo One ski resort is a short drive from Hakuba.

There are a couple of alternatives by train from Tokyo to Hakuba (near Happo One), with high-speed bullet trains running to Nagano throughout the day from Tokyo, with a journey time of 1 hour, 30 minutes. From Nagano, there is a connecting service to Hakuba. You can also go via Matsumoto along the Chuo and Oito lines to Hakuba in just over 3 hours. Bullet trains also run to Matsumoto from Osaka, from where regular services run to Hakuba.

Tokyo’s Narita International Airport is the most convenient of Japan’s airports to fly into if you are intending on visiting Happo One ski resort. From the airport, there are excellent transfer options via road and rail. Narita receives many flights from numerous world cities, while Osaka’s Kansai International Airport also has good international connections if you can’t fly into Narita.

You can also get to Hakuba and Happo One ski resort by bus from Tokyo or Osaka, which is the cheapest travel option. Buses leave regularly from Shinjuku Train Station in Tokyo and take about 4 to 5 hours to reach Hakuba. Happo One ski resort is another 15 minutes from here by bus or taxi.

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