"Sakamai" Rice Planting Experience

The Hakuba Happo Kurobishi Sake Brewing Project, where YOU can take part in the various steps necessary for creating sake, is now in its 6th year. On 5/28 (Sun.), you will have the opportunity to join the first step in the process by participating in the “Sakamai” Rice Planting Experience Tour. After laboring in the rice paddies, participants will enjoy a BBQ featuring Hakuba Pork, locally-produced vegetables, fresh seafood and more!

Sake Brewing Project “Sakamai” Rice Planting Experience Tour

[Date]　5/28/2022 (Sat.) 8:30 ～ 13:00

[Location]　Hakuba Village・Nodaira Area

[Max Number of Participants]　50 People　※Advanced registration required

[Cost]　Adults ¥3,500, Children ¥2,000

New Lift for Hakunori

Work is set to start on 5/20 to install the newest lift at Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort. The ambitious Alps No. 11 Pair will stretch all the way up to 1,598m of elevation! Along with construction of the lift, a new “Hakuba Long Run Course” is planned, which will allow skiers and boarders to descend a whopping 898m of vert from the resort’s top to bottom!

⇒Hakuba Norikura Onsen Resort Report

Adventure & Obstacle Courses / Play Areas（Central・Southern Nagano）

Below is a list of facilities offering adventure-based activities within the central and southern “chu-nanshin” area of Nagano Prefecture.

Matsumoto Alps Park  Kids Adventure Area … Open year round.

Shinshu Skypark Family Sports Zoneン … Open year round.

Norikura BASE Igaya Recreation Land … 4/23 (Sat.) ～ 11/6 (Sun.)

Suwa City Tatenoumi Park … Open year round.

Forest Adventure・Matsukawa … 3/12 (Sat.) ～ 12/27 (Tue.)

Heavens Sonohara Kids World … 7/16 (Sat.) ～ 8/31 (Wed.)

Nagata Nature Park … 4/1 (Fri.) ～ 11/30 (Wed.)

Adventure & Obstacle Courses / Play Areas（Northern Nagano）

Below is a list of facilities offering outdoor adventure/obstacle activities in the northern “hokushin” portion of Nagano Prefecture.

Nozawa Onsen Sports Park … 5/14 (Sat.) ～ 11/6 (Sun.)  ※Open only on Saturdays & Sundays during the monts of May and June.

Zipline Adventure Madarao Kogen … Mid July ～

“Kitashinano Furusato no Mori Bunka Koen” … Open year round.

Nagano Forest Village … Mid April ～ Mid November

“Chibikko Ninja-mura” … 4/29 (Fri., holiday) ～ 11/23 (Wed., holiday)

Chausuyama Dinosaur Park  Adventure Forest … 3/19 (Sat.) ～ 12/18 (Sun.)

Adventure & Obstacle Courses / Play Areas（HAKUBA VALLEY・Azumino）

These outdoor facilities make the most of their natural setting and provide plenty of adventure and opportunities to exercise and test your dexterity, balance and skill. See the list below for a collection of such facilities in the HAKUBA VALLEY・Azumino area.

Cortina Adventure Land … 7/23 (Sat.) ～ 8/31 (Wed.) / Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays in September and October

Hakuba Alps Hotel Tree Adventure … 4/29 (Fri., holiday) ～ 11/30 (Wed.)

Hakuba Ninja Adventure … 4/28 (Thurs.) ～ 11/13 (Sun.)  [Iwatake]

Hakuba EX Adventure … 4/23 (Sat.) ～ 11/6 (Sun.)

Hakuba Green Sports Forest … 4/29 (Fri., holiday) ～ 10/30 (Sun.)

Hakuba47 Alpine Adventure … 7/15 (Fri.) ～ 9/25 (Sun.)　※Open only on Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays in September

Alps Azumino National Government Park  Omachi・Matsukawa Area … 3/19 (Sat.) ～ Late November

＊Opening dates for Hakuba Tsugaike WOW! are yet to be determined.

Craft Beer Marche in Hakuba

The “Craft Beer Marche in Hakuba” will be held over 2 days on 6/4 (Sat.) & 6/5 (Sun.). The marche will feature a selection of craft beers from makers predominantely based in Nagano Prefecture. In addition to craft beer, food booths, live performances and workshops are also planned.

Craft Beer Marche in Hakuba

[Dates]　6/4 (Sat.) 12:00 ～ 21:00 & 6/5/2022 (Sun.) 11:00 ～ 16:00

[Location]　Hakuba Village, Iida District, “Wahara Ground”

[Cost]　Single Beer Ticket ¥600, Original Glass ¥600, Advance Discount Set Ticket (5 Beer Tickets + 1 Original Glass) ¥3,000

La Niña Continues

According to the new bulletin released by the Japan Meteorological Agency today, the La Niña pattern that influenced weather across Japan during the winter months is still ongoing. Furthermore, they have projected that the condition has a high probability of continuing through the summer. Beyond that, it seems there are equal chances that La Niña will persist into the fall, or that normal weather patterns will resume. 

⇒El Niño Surveillance Bulletin (JMA)

＊In general, the La Niña phenomenon in summer tends to cause high pressure systems to form and stall to the north, leading to a rise in temperatures.

Hakuba Mountain Opening Festivities

On 5/28 (Sat.), for the first time in 3 years, the 56th Annual Hakuba Mountain Opening Festivities will be held to ceremonially announce the arrival of the summer mountaineering season in the Hakuba Range of the Northern Alps. The festivities will include a “Daisekkei Trekking Tour” led by local Hakuba Mountain Guides.

56th Annual Hakuba Mountain Opening Festivities

[Date]　5/28/2022 (Sat.)

[Location]　Hakuba Village Sarukura Parking Lot

[Time]　8:00 Tour Registration, 8:10 Mountain Safety Ceremony・Departure Ceremony

[Participants]　400 People（Resevation required by 5/20 (Fri.))

[Fee]　Trekking Tour ¥1,000 (Elementary school age children and younger FREE) ※Cost includes guiding fee, commemorative pin, and insurance.

＊On the day of the festival a special bus for participants will run from JR Hakuba Station 〜 Happo No. 5 Parking Lot 〜 Sarukura for an additional round-trip fee of ¥1,000.

＊Participants of the trekking tour will have the opportunity to buy commemorative pins from the cancelled 54th and 55th annual festivities.

Nagano Prefecture Season Ski Pass

The application period for the incredibly popular “Nagano Prefecture Season Ski Pass” is set to kick off again this year on 5/11 (Wed.). This year a new Parent-Child set ticket (1 Adult Pass + 1 Child Pass) has been added to the lineup.

Nagano Prefecture Season Ski Pass

[Application Period]　Parent-Child Set Pass: Noon on  5/11 (Wed.) ～ Noon on 5/20 (Fri.), Adult Pass・Child Pass: Noon on 5/23 (Mon.) ～ Noon on 6/1 (Wed.)

[Results Announced]　Parent-Child Set Passes: 5/27 (Fri.), Adult・Child Passes: 6/8 (Wed.)

[Pass Fees]　Parent-Child Set Pass ¥45,000 (50 Sets), Adult Pass ¥30,000 (150 Sets), Child Pass ¥15,000 (50 Sets)

＊Child tickets are valid for children up to the 6th grade of elementary school who are able to get on and off the lift without the assistance of an adult.

Ski Resorts OPEN Beyond 5/9 (Mon.)

Below are ski resorts which will remain open beyond 5/9 (Mon.). (※The dates listed in parentheses indicate the planned closure date, but may be moved up in accordance with snow conditions.) 

Gassan (July), Kagura (5/22), Lotte Arai (5/15), Shiga Kogen (6/5), Tateyama (Late June), Norikura (Late August), Senjojiki (Late May)

＊The submission of a mountaineering plan is required at Tateyama and Norikura.

＊Senjojiki’s T-bar lift is not operating for the current season.

Happo, Goryu47, Tsugaike & Nozawa Onsen Now CLOSED

As of 5/8 (Sun.), Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort, Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort,Hakuba47 Winter Sports Park, Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort, and Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort have concluded operation for the 2021-22 winter season.

＊The Happo Alpen Line will operate on Saturdays & Sundays from 6/4 (Sat. ) ～ 6/12 (Sun.), and daily from 6/18 (Sat.) ～ 11/6 (Sun.), with the Kurobishi Line operating from 7/1 (Fri.) ～ 10/16 (Sun.).

＊The Goryu Telecabine (Hakuba Goryu Alpine Botanical Garden) will be open on Saturdays & Sundays from 6/4 (Sat.) ～ 6/19 (Sun.), and daily from 6/25 (Sat.) ～ 10/23 (Sun.).

＊Hakuba47 Mountain Sports Park is set to operate from 7/15 (Fri.) ～ 9/25※ (Sun.). ※The area will be open only on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays during the month of September.

＊Tsugaike Ropeway (Tsugaike Nature Park) will operate daily from 6/11 (Sat.) ～ 10/23 (Sun.).

＊The Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort Summer Slope will be open from 6/18 (Sat.) ～ 11/6 (Sun.). ※The Zip Sky Ride and Nasuki Park will open from 5/14 (Sat.)

Snow Depth Rankings (5/8)

This is a ranking of current snow depths at ski resorts across the country (TOP 15), as reported on 5/8 (Sun.). Today was the last day of operation for the winter season for many ski resorts..

No. 1 Tengendai (Yamagata)  ○300cm

No. 2 Daisetsuzan Kurodake (Hokkaido)  ◎260cm

No. 3 Kagura (Niigata)  △200cm

No. 4 Charmant Hiuchi (Niigata)  △180cm

No. 5 Okutadami Maruyama (Niigata)  ◎170cm

No. 6 Geto Kogen (Iwate)  ○165cm

No. 7 Sapporo Kokusai (Hokkaido)  ◎160cm

No. 8 Lotte Arai (Niigata)  △126cm

No. 9 Hakuba Goryu (Nagano)  △120cm

No. 9 Hakuba47 (Nagano)  △120cm

No. 9 Shiga Kogen (Nagano)  △120cm

No. 12 Tsugaike Kogen △115cm, No. 13 Hakuba Happo-One △100cm, No. 14 Grandeco △85cm, No. 15 Marunuma Kogen ○80cm

＊Gassan is currently at 810cm, while Tateyama is reporting 590cm.

＊This list excludes small, local resorts with only one, or no lifts.

＊◎… Fully Open (80% or more runs open),  〇… Mostly Open (50% or more runs open),  △… Partially Open (Less than 50% of runs open),  ×… Closed