The snowiest resort in Hakuba Valley and Japan's finest steep in-bounds tree skiing — the Hotel Green Plaza at the base makes it the most underrated ski-in option in the country.
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 11°C, wind 5 km/h. We’ll resume the daily report once snowfall picks up.
Forecast data via Open-Meteo. Refreshes hourly. Always verify with the resort before driving up.
Why Hakuba Cortina
The snowiest resort in Hakuba Valley and Japan's finest steep in-bounds tree skiing — the Hotel Green Plaza at the base makes it the most underrated ski-in option in the country.
Hakuba Cortina is a premier ski resort in Nagano, with 16 marked runs and 503m of vertical. It averages around 12m of snowfall a season, over terrain that suits advanced skiers and experts. Expect deep powder and tree runs.
Terrain in detail
SeriousPlenty for advanced skiers — proper black runs, real consequence. Difficulty, powder character, and the stats that matter on the mountain itself.
Hardcore index
68
Plenty for advanced skiers — proper black runs, real consequence.
From terrain split, run profile, vertical drop, expert features.
Powder profile
Highest snowfall in Hakuba — steep tree skiing.
Heavier, frequent storm cycles — deep refills, denser snow.
12
m
per season
Frequent deep days through midwinter
Expert runs
5 of 16
Estimated from advanced terrain split.
Vertical drop
503m
Compact mountain.
Steepest pitch
42°
True double-black gradient.
Backcountry gates
Open
Lift-accessed sidecountry — register at the gate.
Tree skiing
Yes
Tagged for proper tree runs.
Moguls
Few
Mostly cord and powder.
Best for
Terrain
Getting there
From airport
3 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Train / bus
Shuttle from JR Nagano Shinkansen Station 3 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Shuttle from JR Nagano Shinkansen Station 3 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Photo: Ski Mania / Public domain · Source
Curated guides covering Hakuba Cortina and the rest of Nagano.
More resorts in Nagano
destination resort
Hakuba's crown jewel and 1998 Olympic venue, offering Japan's most challenging piste skiing with epic vertical.
resort town
Two interconnected Hakuba faces — 47's terrain park and Goryu's wide groomers under one lift ticket, plus the valley's best night-skiing.
family-focused
Japan's widest beginner piste, plus the Tsugaike DBD — lift-served backcountry zone on the top of the mountain. Rare resort that works for a first-timer AND a freerider.
resort town
Known for the Mountain Harbor — a cliff-edge gondola deck looking straight at the Northern Alps — plus wide intermediate terrain and a genuine Japanese village at the base.
