After-skiing and nightlife in Hakuba, an international village with echoes of the Winter Olympics
The Olympic Village and adjacent Echoland nightlife areas are prime locations to head during your Hakuba winter sports vacation.
Don't Miss
- A slow soak in one of the Olympic Village's hot springs
- Dining at one of the area's traveler friendly restaurants
- Japanese ski town nightlife at its finest in Echoland
Go central
While accommodation and good food are available throughout Hakuba , the Olympic Village and Echoland areas are the most accessible to international travelers. Their central location makes them convenient for exploring the slopes, and they're both popular places to unwind apres-ski.
These areas are cosmopolitan without forfeiting their Japanese charm: luxury hotels share the street with quaint Japanese inns; craft brew pubs operate beside traditional izakaya; ramen joints are squeezed in next to restaurants offering world-class fare.
Most facilities have fluent English-speaking staff, and some are foreign-owned.
The Olympic Venue Area (Happo Area)
Located at the foot of the Happo-One resort, the Olympic Venue area is just a short walk from the slopes. Hakuba hosted several events during the 1998 Winter Olympics, and this is where the participants stayed.
Today, the Happo area, located in the center of the Hakuba Valley and with direct bus service to other ski resorts, is a convenient base for tourists. Ski and boarding lessons are available in English, as are daycare services.
Besides the standard accommodation options, the Happo area offers plenty of apartments and chalets. The area's restaurants, bars, and shops keep it buzzing until late.
Hakuba nights in Echoland
Echoland's main street is packed with bars, shops, clubs, and pubs, and snow lovers pour in from resort areas throughout Hakuba for the nightlife. The accommodation tends to be more economical than Happo's, making it popular with a younger crowd. Staying there requires taking a shuttle to the slopes, of which there are plenty.
Beyond the snow
With five onsen facilities in the Happo area, there's always a hot soak nearby
Visit the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium and take the elevator to the top of the 90- and 120-meter jumping platforms to get an Olympian's view
Inside the Hakuba Ski Jump Stadium, there are exhibits memorabilia from the Games
For a contemplative break, head to Hosono Suwa-jinja Shrine near Happo's gondola with its primeval forest and massive trees
The latest information may differ, so please check the official website.
* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.