Onsen

While Hakuba has a good selection of onsen, this destination is clearly not one of the best onsen area in Nagano-ken. Still, after a day on the slope, soaking in an onsen is really great, so here is a list of the hot springs facilities available around.


Hakuba Happo Onsen

The clear alkaline mineral waters of this onsen will help sore muscles and tiredness. This is the perfect onsen to jump into after a long day of skiing or hiking. It will make your skin smooth. Its water is also supplied to ryokan and other vistor accommodations around the Happo area.

Obinata No-Yu

● Admission: Adult 500 yen, Children 250 yen
● Operating Hours: 10 am - 6 pm
● Closed: From the begining of November to end of Feburary
● Contact: +81-261-72-3745

Between Happo and Sarukura you will find a large rock that marks open-air-spa setting for Obinata No-Yu. While relaxing in the Onsen you can hear mountain torrents and see the beautiful natural scenery of the Northern Alps. Closed in winter.

Daiichi Sato No-Yu

● Admission: Adults 500 yen, Childern 250 yen
● Operating Hours: Noon- 9 pm
● Closed: Every Wednesday, except from the end of December to end of March
● Contact: +81-261-72-5705

This onsen is made of Teppei rock (indigenous to Nagano Prefecture) and is conveniently located near the Happo Ryokan area and the Alpico Bus Center.

Daini Sato No-Yu

● Admission: Adults 500 yen, Childern 250 yen
● Operating Hours: Noon to 9 pm
● Closed: Every Tuesday, except from the end of December to end of March
● Contact: +81-261-72-6541

The building and the onsen itself are in a unique hexagon shape. The fresh wooden(Japanese Cypress) smell and smooth wooden surfaces of the onsen give it warmth you will enjoy. Near Happo Daisan Parking Lot.

Mimizuku No-Yu

● Admission: Adults 500 yen, Childern 250 yen
● Operating Hours: 10 am to 9:30 pm
● Closed: Every Thursday, except from the end of December to end of March
● Contact: +81-261-72-6542

Just off the main road toward the Mimizuku Forest you will find this onsen with its large window and the spectacular view of Hakuba's big three mountains.


Hakuba Shionomichi Onsen

The effects of the salty-brown water at this onsen are plentiful. For the last 25,000,000 years Fosa Magna has been building up in the air and water at this onsen giving it its unique color. Sodium, chlorine and carbonated salt water give this onsen a uniquely high salt content that is good for your entire body from the core all the way out to your skin.

Garden No-Yu

● Admission: Adults 600 yen, Children 300 yen
● Operating hours: 10 am-10 pm
● Closed: Never
● Contact: +81-261-72-6700

From the main onsen here you have a great view of the Japanese Alps. There is also another onsen, a open-air-bath sauna and a training room.

Kurashita No-Yu

● Admission: Adults 600 yen, Children 300 yen
● Operating Hours: 10 am - 10 pm
● Closed: Never
● Contact: +81-261-72-7989

This onsen is located near Matsukawa River Park and has spectacular views of the mountains.

Iwatake No-Yu

● Admission: Adults 500 yen, Children 300 yen
● Operating Hours: 10 am - 9:30pm
● Closed: Every Thursday except for Winter season
● Contact: +81-261-72-8304

Located near the Iwatake Ski Resort where you can mountain bike, summer ski or camp in the summer, this is a popular place. Inside you will find a sauna along with a coin laundry.

Echoland No-Yu

● Admission: Adult 600 yen, Children 400 yen
● Operating hours: noon- midnight
● Closed: Every Thursday except from the end of December to end of March
● Contact: +81-261-72-6686

Pensions and gift shops line the street leading up to the entrance of Echoland onsen. There is an open-air-bath and a sauna open daily until midnight. Very popular at the end of the day, when many skiers meet there.


Hakuba Katakuri Onsen

This onsen has clear waters with mild mineral content. The onsen's water contains various kinds of natural minerals, including sodium choloride, which will make your skin smooth.

Juro No-Yu

● Admission: Adult 2h=600 yen/5h=1500 yen Children 2h=500 yen
● Operating hours: 10am-10pm (April-November) 24 hours open (December- March)
● Closed: The second Tuesday of each month
● Contact: +81-261-71-8160

This onsen opened in 1998. The first floor has free lounges, while the second floor has private rooms (not included in admission). Please take your time to enjoy this onsen.


Hakuba Himekawa Onsen

This is located on the east side of the Oito train line, affectionately known as Tenjin onsen. You can enjoy the satisfying views of the Alps while you bath in the sodium chloride rich
water.

Tenjin No-Yu

● Admission: Over 3 years old 500 yen
● Operating hours: 11 am- 5 pm
● Closed: Never
● Contact: +81-261-72-3450

This is the best onsen in Hakuba from which to see the Alps.


Other Onsens and baths

In the middle of Hakuba's great wilderness after a day of exploring its offerings, relax and rest in one of these places.......

Take No-Yu Spa

● Admission: Adults 410 yen, Elementary school children 300, 3-6 years old 150 yen, under 3 years old free
● Operating hours: 11 am to 9 pm
● Closed: From April to June and September and October every Wednesday
● Contact: +81-261-72-4832

It is near Green Sports Park so it has the appearance of being surrounded by a pine forest. It is not a typical onsen as it has supersonic wave baths, bubble baths, and various other kinds of baths.


source : http://www.vill.hakuba.nagano.jp/e/onsen/index.html

And finally, a good map with most hotels on it

Location : Hakuba (白馬)
Prefecture : Nagano (長野県)
Attractions : Host of the ski downhills events of Olympic Games of Nagano in 1998, one of the most famous ski resort in Japan





When : from early December to early May (for the ski season)
Access :
by train : from Matsumoto to Hakuba via JR Oito Line, 90-110 minutes, 1110 yen;
Matsumoto can be easily reached from Shinjuku by JR Ltd. Exp. Super Azusa, 150-170 minutes; On some days (week-ends ?), There is one direct train per day from Shinjuku to Hakuba, the Super Azusa 11, leaving Shinjuku at 10:00 and arriving at 13:44 (8070 yen)
Matsumoto can also be reached from Nagoya by JR Ltd. Exp. Shinano, 120 minutes.

by bus from Nagano : there is a bus running every hour for Hakuba, operated by Alpico bus (1400 yen); departure from East exit of Nagano Station, from bus bus stop 6. If you overnight in Hakuba, you can take a direct shared taxi between Nagano Station and any hotel in Hakuba; this costs 3000 yen, but you will be dropped at your hotel, and the timetable is arranged to suit your shinkansen schedule.

by highway bus : especially in winter, there are plenty of connexions, especially from Tokyo and Nagoya; night buses are also available; just check at any travel agency or train station for the corresponding pamphlets.

by car : (snow tires / chains a must in winter !)
from Tokyo, you can either use the Chuo or the Kanetsu highways; Take the Chuo Expressway to Okaya JCT and head towards Nagano (Nagano Expressway), exit at Toyoshina IC and follow Routes 147 & 148 through Omachi to Hakuba; Or take the Kanetsu Expressway to Fujioka JCT and head towards Nagano (Joshinetsu Expressway); exit at Nagano IC and follow the Hakuba Nagano Olympic Road to Hakuba; both options take about 4 hours;
from Nagoya, take the Chuo Expressway to Okaya JCT and head towards Nagano on the Nagano Expressway, exit at Toyoshina IC and follow Routes 147 & 148 through Omachi to Hakuba; this takes about 3.5 hours.

Going around

There are 3 bus lines that bring visitors around hotels, bars and restaurants in the late afternoon and evening (from 17:30 to 22:15). But there is a maximum of 5 buses per day, so check the schedule very carefully.
If you don't plan on drinking, a car is still very convenient...

Internet : www.vill.hakuba.nagano.jp/~us/

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Visit Hakuba

Hakuba's history as a mountain resort began around 1900; the town is mentioned by Rev. Walter Weston, who is considered by many as the father of mountaineering in Japan. After skiing was introduced, Hakuba began to be quite popular and, by the middle of the 20th century, 11 ski resorts were found in the valleys around Hakuba. Of course, the real fame of that place came during the Olympic Games of Nagano in 1998, Hakuba hosting the ski downhills events.

Hakuba's history goes back much more in the past, as the town is on the "Salt Road" (shio no michi) linking Matsumoto to the Japan Sea. Still now, temples, shrines and statues can be found along that road.

Hakuba is quite different from the usual Japanese ski resort village. First, there is an unusual number of foreigners not only visiting and skiing there, but also living and working in Hakuba! I have seen foreigners working in hotels, ski rental agencies, at the ski field, in restaurants on the slopes... This is really not common in Japan, and it creates a comfortable feeling for foreigners.

Hakuba has some hot springs, but they are clearly not as great as many found in Nagano-ken. As a result, there are less Japanese families traveling to Hakuba, and more skiers and snowboarders. This is also an obvious result of the Olympic Games as ski runs are really long, and some can clearly difficult - again not usual in Japan.

Many facilities were built for the Olympic Games, including the ski jump facility that can be visited. Close to it is located the Olympic Museum (of very little interest) and the Visitor Center, which has many pamphlets and good information.





Ski

Lets assume you go to Hakuba in winter, for skiing - although I heard there are some great hikes around in summer...



source : http://www.hakubatourism.com

From one end of the valley to the other, there are 10 resorts offering a total of 200 runs. The most popular and larger ski resorts are Hakuba 47 and Happo-One :

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Where to stay

There are two main areas for accommodation in Hakuba : At the bottom of Happo-One ski field and in Echo Land, located between Hakuba 47 and Happo-One ski fields.

At the bottom of Happo-One ski field are many large, expensive hotels, which are just a couple of minutes by foot from the lifts. There are some bars, but restaurants are located in the hotels. On the other hand, if you stay in Echo Land, you will need a transportation to reach the ski fields (can be provided by the accommodations), but you will find lots of bars and restaurants around. Finally, the "village" itself has many accommodations, too, but mostly traditional ryokan and small hotels.


Hakuba Mominoki Hotel

A beautiful hotel - and an expensive one - with great rooms, a large onsen, 5 restaurants and bars (including the wine bar mentioned below). The inside of the hotel is really nice, and even if you do not stay there, it is worth to cross the lobby at least once.

internet : www.mominokihotel.com


Hotel La Neige Higashikan

Probably the best hotel of the town. Hotel La Neige is a very expensive, boutique accommodation, with a famous a la carte restaurant.

internet : www.laneige-higashikan.com


Hakuba Tokyu Hotel

A large hotel with comfortable rooms. This place caters to groups - banquet facilities and karaoke rooms are available - so you might find some good package with this hotel. Indoor onsen available

internet : www.hakuba-tokyu.co.jp


White Horse Hotel

The White Horse Hotel is a boutique style hotel situated in Echoland. Japanese rooms with western comforts. Free shuttles to any of the ten resorts in the valley.

internet : www.whitehorse-hakuba.com


Terry Hotel

A cheaper option, but an excellent deal! Two sizes of rooms are proposed, the larger one (called Maisonnette Room) being a small duplex; they start at 14500 yen for 2 persons. Very reasonable French restaurant with cheap wines. The plus of the hotel is a nice small outdoor onsen with a wooden bath.

internet : www.hakubaterry.com


Blue Dragon

Located in the Echoland area, Blue Dragon is a contemporary lodge managed by an Australian couple, with rooms from 9000 yen per person. A contemporary Japanese design with western service and facilities, in an excellent location.

internet : www.bluedragonhakuba.com

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Restaurants & Bars

Vendimia Wine and Tapas

Located just next the Mominoki Pub, in the Hakuba Mominoki Hotel complex, this fantastic wine bar specialized in Spanish wines is the place to spend some time after dinner! With very high ceilings made of wood taken from an old shrine, and a chimney, this is a cosy place that has a good selection of wines. The owner, C. Lawrence Rials, is knowledgeable and friendly. Tapas (including iberiko ham) are available. Highly recommended.
Open: 17:30 - late
Phone: 090-9357-8511