Hakuba's Big Snow Valley This trekking is possibly the best in Japan and Hakuba is proud of it's "Big Snow Valley" (3.5 km long, 600 elevation from beginning to end). You can see many Paris Japonica and Glancidium Palmatum up there. To get to the upper part of the snow valley you will need to have proper hiking equipment.

To get there:
At Hakuba Station take a bus to Sarukura (27 minsutes), from there walk to Hakuba Jiri (one hour) followed then a quick trek (20 minutes) to the bottom of the Big Snow Valley.

Hakuba Station

bus (27 mins.)

Sarukura

walk (one hour)

Hakuba Jiri

walk (20 mins.)

the Big Snow Valley

Happo-one Nature Study Trail 'The most popular trail to Happo-ike pond above the Clouds' On the way to Karamatsu-dake, the trail between the first cairn and Happo-ike pond (at an elevation 2,060m) this is the most popular trail for visitors to Hakuba. The mystical scenery banishes any feeling of fatigue from the effort to hike up there. For July and August around Kurobishidaira you see Hellebore and other flowers and around the pond you can see Five Petalled Aven and Japanese Scabiosa.

To get there:
At Hakuba Station take a bus to Happo Bus Terminal (5 minutes) and from there walk to the Gondola Lift "Adam" (Gondola Lift 8 minutes), and Alpine Quad lift (6 minutes) followed by the Gratto Quad lift (6 minutes) to Happo-ike Sansou. Walk for 90 minutes up to the Happo-ike pond.

Hakuba Station	bus (5mins.)	Bus stop of happo	walk (10mins.)	Gondola Lift Adam	Gondola Lift (8mins.)	Alpine Quad Lift
Lift (6mins.)	Gratto Quad Lift	Lift (6mins.)	Happoike Sanso	walk (90mins.)	Happoike

Alps Daira Nature Trail (Goryu Toomi) A 360 degree panoramic view Ride the Gondola and enjoy this easy walk. You can see the Head of Jizo (at an altitude of 1,676m) surrounded by alpine flowers such as Eriophorum vaginatum and Filipendula Multijuga. It only takes one to one and half-hours to finish this trail.

To get there:
From Kamishiro Station take a taxi (5 minutes) to the Goryu gondola then enjoy the ride up to the trail (7 minutes)

Kamishiro Station

taxi (5 mins.)

Goryu gondola

gondola (7 mins.)

Alps Daira Nature Trail

Iwatake Promenade
See the grand view of Hakuba Three big moutains

Take the gondola up to the summit of Iwatake Mountain (altitude of 1,289 meters). Beginner hikers can enjoy the nature by strolling along the nearby trail which takes just 1.5 hours to complete).

To get there:
From Shinano Moriue Station walk to the Iwatake Gondola (20 minutes).  Enjoy the ride up the summit (8 minutes) and then walk to the view point (45 minutes) and back to the gondola (45 minutes)

Shinano Moriue Station

walk(20 mins.)

the Iwatake Gondola

(8 mins.)

Gondola Station

walk(45 mins.)

the view point

walk(45 mins.)

Summit

The Ruins of Shiojima Castle Trail

In the middle of the woods on this trail you can find concealed ruins from the era in Civil War. You can also see the Himekawa river flowing near the promenade.

To get there:
From Shinano Moriue Station walk to the south enterance (5 minutes) from there walk to the ruins of the castle (5 minutes) then on to the North exit (8 minutes) and then back to the station (8 minutes).

Shinano Moriue Station

walk (5 mins.)

The south entrance

walk (5 mins.)

The ruins of the castle

walk (8 mins.)

The North exit

walk (8 mins.)

Shinano Moriue Station

Hakuba 47 Kamoshika(Japanese Serow) Trail

'A satisfying walk in the woods'
Take the gondola at Hakuba 47 to the last stop (line 8) where you will find a walking path through a beech forest (about 20 mins), while two other paths - the Woody and Rocky paths - take about 80 minutes and 60 minutes respectively. In the middle of the trail you can find a depression in the ground which was a charcoal making site for 1950's heater.

To get there:
From Hakuba Station take a car (10 minutes) to the gondola (line 8) then walk to the start of the walking trail (8 minutes)

Hakuba Station

car (10 mins.)

The gondola (line 8)

walk (8 mins.)

The start of the walking trail

Hakuba Range, a part of Chubu sangaku National park, has been fascinating those people visited Hakuba, drastically changing it's appearance from one season to the next. The natural onsens, the art museums, the outdoor sports all come together to make a vacation that is rich in a variety of activities.

Gondola Lifts