JR Pass Plan a trip

冬

Currently in season

WinterDec–Feb

Now in Hakuba · passes on sale from November

Hakuba Valley day passes go on sale online around November 2026. Cortina and Norikura open on 12 December, Iwatake on 18 December.

春夏秋冬

Itoigawa → Hakuba · JR Ōito Line 1h 25m – 2h 10m · ¥880

Tokyo— Nagano1:20 Itoigawa2:10 Minami-Otari+1h 02m Hakuba+1h 25m Shinano-Ōmachi+39m Matsumoto→

2026–27 · last winter for the Happo gondola "Adam"

Hakuba · Ski guide

Skiing Hakuba Valley白馬バレー

Q: How much is the Hakuba Valley lift pass for 2026–27?

One day ¥11,100 (child ¥6,400), two days ¥21,800, five days ¥53,400, ten days ¥106,100. It covers all 10 resorts and the Line V shuttle, not night skiing. It goes on sale online around November 2026.

Ten resorts strung along 30 km of valley under the Northern Alps, one lift pass and a shuttle bus between them. Here is which mountain suits whom, what it costs in 2026–27 and when each one opens.

1-day pass ¥11,100 Top 1,831 m Longest run 8 km

2026–27 season 8 min read

In brief

The Hakuba Valley pass covers all 10 resorts across Ōmachi, Hakuba village and Otari: ¥11,100 a day in 2026–27, on sale online around November. The high resorts usually open in early December and ski into early May; powder is best from January to mid-February.

The ten resorts

South to north

Resort	Area	Top / base	Vertical	Longest	Beginner / int / adv
Jiigatake 爺ガ岳	Ōmachi	1,200 / 940 m	260 m	1.5 km	70 / 30 / 0%
Kashimayari 鹿島槍	Ōmachi	1,320 / 830 m	490 m	4.1 km	33 / 50 / 17%
Sanosaka さのさか	Hakuba	1,200 / 740 m	460 m	2.6 km	40 / 40 / 20%
Goryu 五竜	Hakuba	1,676 / 750 m	926 m	5 km	35 / 40 / 25%
Hakuba47	Hakuba	1,614 / 820 m	794 m	6.4 km	30 / 40 / 30%
Happo-One 八方尾根	Hakuba	1,831 / 760 m	1,071 m	8 km	30 / 50 / 20%
Iwatake 岩岳	Hakuba	1,289 / 750 m	539 m	3.3 km	30 / 50 / 20%
Tsugaike つがいけ	Otari	1,704 / 800 m	904 m	5 km	50 / 30 / 20%
Norikura Onsen 乗鞍温泉	Otari	1,598 / 800 m	798 m	2.5 km	30 / 40 / 30%
Cortina コルチナ	Otari	1,402 / 872 m	530 m	3.5 km	40 / 30 / 30%

Figures from Hakuba Valley's official resort pages.

Which resort

Match the mountain to the group

If you are	Go to	Why
First-timers	Tsugaike, Jiigatake, Goryu (Tōmi, Iimori)	Wide, gentle slopes
Families with small children	Kashimayari, Tsugaike, Iwatake	Kids' parks, tubing, easy lifts
Intermediates	Happo-One, Goryu, Iwatake	Long cruisers, lots of variety
Advanced	Happo-One, Hakuba47, Norikura	Olympic terrain, steeps
Powder and trees	Cortina, Norikura, Tsugaike	Deepest snow, backcountry gates
Non-skiers in the group	Iwatake	Gondola, Mountain Harbor terrace
Night skiing	Goryu	Largest night area
Spring skiing	Happo-One, Goryu, Hakuba47, Tsugaike	Open into early May

Lift passes 2026–27

Hakuba Valley all-mountain pass

Official prices. Adult 13+, child 6–12, under 6 free. Valid at all 10 resorts, several on the same day, and on the Line V shuttle; not for night skiing.

Days	Adult	Child	Use within
1	¥11,100	¥6,400	1 day
2	¥21,800	¥12,500	4 days
3	¥32,200	¥18,100	6 days
5	¥53,400	¥29,700	10 days
7	¥74,500	¥41,700	12 days
10	¥106,100	¥58,800	16 days

Buy on the Hakuba Valley Official Webshop (Visa or Mastercard) and collect at a window or SKIOSK machine about 30 minutes later. No refunds. Single-resort: Happo-One ¥9,800 a day. Epic Pass 2026–27 holders get a free 5-day Hakuba Valley ticket. Early-bird all-mountain season pass ¥158,900.

Season dates

When each resort opens

Announced 2026–27 dates, with last season's for the rest. Most resorts confirm in October or November.

Resort	2026–27	2025–26 for reference
Cortina	12 Dec – 29 Mar	13 Dec – 30 Mar
Norikura Onsen	12 Dec – 4 Apr	13 Dec – 5 Apr
Iwatake	18 Dec – 28 Mar	19 Dec – 29 Mar
Happo-One	Not announced	5 Dec – 6 May
Hakuba47	Not announced	5 Dec – 6 May
Goryu	Not announced	4 Dec – 3 May
Tsugaike	Not announced	1 Dec – 6 May
Jiigatake, Kashimayari, Sanosaka	Not announced	mid Dec – mid/late Mar

From the Hokuriku side

Cortina and Norikura: the quick hop from Itoigawa

A ski day from Itoigawa糸魚川から日帰り

Ōito Line to Minami-Otari · 20 min by road to the slopes

Take the 08:54 from Itoigawa to Minami-Otari (09:56). Cortina and Norikura are about 20 minutes away; guests of Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba can ride its free shuttle (10:00 from the station, book by 20:00 the day before). Back on the 15:10 shuttle for the 16:22 train, Itoigawa 17:21.

The train is ¥680 each way and covered by the JR Pass and Arch Pass. By car, Itoigawa IC to Cortina is about 40 minutes. In heavy snow check JR West before leaving; the JR bus (1 December–31 March) also stops at Minami-Otari.

Train

¥680

Station to slopes

20 min

Opens

12 Dec

Practical tips

Before you go

What regulars would tell you.

01
Buy passes online in November. Collect at a SKIOSK machine and skip the ticket-window queue.
02
Book lessons and rental early. Christmas to mid-February and Chinese New Year fill up.
03
Reserve dinner. Happo and Echoland restaurants book out in peak weeks.
04
Take the last shuttle seriously. Late-afternoon buses, especially the last one, are packed.
05
Carry yen. Many small restaurants are cash only.

FAQ

Ski questions, answered

How much is the Hakuba Valley lift pass for 2026–27?

One day ¥11,100 (child ¥6,400), two days ¥21,800, five days ¥53,400, ten days ¥106,100. It covers all 10 resorts and the Line V shuttle, not night skiing. It goes on sale online around November 2026.

Which Hakuba resort is best for beginners?

Tsugaike (half its terrain is rated beginner, with very wide slopes), Jiigatake (70% beginner) and Goryu's lower Tōmi and Iimori areas.

Where can I night ski in Hakuba?

Goryu has Hakuba's largest night-skiing area, on the Tōmi slope and part of Iimori. Cortina opens at night on set days. Night skiing needs a separate ticket.

Can I ski Hakuba as a day trip from Itoigawa?

Yes, to Cortina or Norikura: the 08:54 from Itoigawa reaches Minami-Otari at 09:56, and the resorts are about 20 minutes away by road. Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba runs a shuttle from Minami-Otari for its guests; check with the hotel before relying on it as a day skier.

Is backcountry skiing allowed in Hakuba?

Only through designated gates at Goryu, Happo-One, Tsugaike, Norikura and Cortina, after filing a climbing registration. Carry transceiver, probe and shovel, and go with a certified guide. Rescue costs are charged to the person rescued.

Where to stay

Ski-in and near the lifts

From the Minami-Otari shuttle to the lift at the door.

Our standout

Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba

ホテルグリーンプラザ白馬 · Cortina · ski-in

Ski-in hotel at the foot of Cortina with its own 11-bath onsen and a free shuttle from Minami-Otari, the Ōito Line change 1 hour from Itoigawa.

from ¥9,260 ppOur notes →

Check rates ↗

Budget ski-in

Hakuba Sun Valley Hotel

白馬サンバレーホテル · Goryu Iimori

The lift is in front of the door, 12 minutes' walk from Iimori station on the Ōito Line. Buffet meals; onsen discount tickets for Jūrō no Yu next door.

from ¥7,273 ppOur notes →

Check rates ↗

New · 9.4 on Agoda