Happo One - Ski Area Guide

One of Japan's largest resorts with 99 hotels to choose from. Selected at the location for the Downhill in the 1998 Winter Olympics and also hosted the Nordic Combined, Ski Jump and Cross-Country skiing events at the Olympic Games. It is also part of the giant Hakuba ski region. Most of the skiing is of intermediate standard accessed by a gondola to the middle station at 1400m, however Happo does have more tough terrain than most Japanese ski areas and more terrain full stop. Great snow record ensures a long season through to mid-May most seasons.

Who is Happo One good for?

Happo One Ski Area

Happo One Ski Area Height

Happo One

The Japanese Ski Resort of Happo One has direct access to a total of 34 ski lifts.

Skiing in Happo One

Happo is a large scale resort with a total of 33 lifts, and more than 1000m of vertical skiing. From the complete novice to the expert skier, Happo-One provides some of the best skiing in all of Japan. It offers everything from gentle beginner slopes, to bumps and long cruising trails. Its known as the place to go extreme in Japan, ride all the way to the to the top by chairlift and a short hike takes you into the steep off-piste. These off-piste areas are not patrolled though and there is avalanche danger so caution is advised. Due to the excellent snow record the ski season usually lasts through to mid-May.

All of the ski resorts in the Hakuba Valley and Niseko use an electronic lift pass system. The pass is a reprogrammable computer chip encased in a small plastic covering. Placed into customer's ski clothing or gloves, it allows guests to pass through the electronic gates at each lift. When a lift pass is purchased a 1000 yen deposit is required. The 1000 yen is refunded when the pass is put into an automatic exchange machine located near the ticket selling booths.

Most hotels have a limited stock of mid-range ski and snowboard rental equipment. For the latest range of performance equipment and a full range of sizes the specialist ski rental shops offer a far superior service. The largest ski and snowboard boot sizes available in Japan for rental are 32cm or US 13.

English language ski and snowboard instruction can be organised but must be pre-booked as with private lessons. Groups lessons are only taught in Japanese.

Snowboarding in Happo One

Happo One opened its slopes to snowboarders for the 1999/2000 season with a machine groomed halfpipe and a terrain park. The Japan Snowboard Open was held here in 2000. The Pipe is groomed daily and has a lift running right from the bottom to the top. The park, on the adjacent slope, typically sports a large table top jump as its main attraction accompanied by some smaller jumps and a railslide. For some good free-riding take the gondola to the top and head into the valley (to your right as you look up the hill from the gondola lodge). The pipe and terrain park are usually both open in the evening and normally not too busy.

Happo One Aprés Ski

Described by some as the perfect party town, Happo One is crammed with bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and karaoke bars. One of the main Japanese apres-ski activities is a visit to the onsen - a place where medicinal hot water comes gushing out of the ground 24 hours a day. Happo has an abundance of these hot spas, and at a hot spring inn any time is bath time - the perfect way to relax after a strenuous day on the slopes.