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Onsen / Hot Springs

The Japanese love of Hot Springs, or "onsen" is inseparable from the national character. People will gladly travel many hours just for the chance to have a soak in one of the many thousands of hot springs throughout this volcanic country. The "onsen" experience, like so many things in Japan, is a multilayered experience. Some hot springs form the focal point for a whole tour...

Other Adventures

A boundless range of other activities can be found in Hakuba and area, from canyoning to paragliding to rafting to kayaking to canoeing, arts and crafts and more!

Sightseeing

The Nagano Prefecture area and beyond offer a variety of sightseeing opportunities, from the laid back ambiance of Matsumoto, with it's justly famed Matsumoto Castle, to he beauty of Zenkouji Temple in Nagano City, to the resort shopping town feel of Karuizawa...and more.

Hikes and Walks

There are many hiking opportunities around the Hakuba area, ranging from challenging multiday hikes to ones that are more suited to the "strolling". The one constant is views of the Japanese Alps and the surrounding countryside that is sure to soothe the soul.

Cycling

Japan is a cyclist's paradise in a number of respects. Forgetting the highways for a moment, it is a country of well kept roads, many of them with very light traffic (thanks to those highways!) which lead you through blissful scenery and villages where time seems to have stopped, or at least has slowed down a bit, with a refreshment stop or lodging for the night never more than a few km...

Daytrips

Hakuba can be your base for many fascinating day trips, on the way up or back from the major centres, or to break up your ski vacation.

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Onsen / Hot Springs

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Other Adventures

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Sightseeing

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Hikes and Walks

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Cycling

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Daytrips

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Sightseeing

Aoni Village

This is certainly one of the iconic images around Hakuba, and rightly so. Absolutely beautiful spot. 15 minutes away from

Sightseeing

Azumino Alps Park

Last week, on the way back from Hotaka, I took the time to stop in at the Alps Azumino Park.

Mountain Biking

Mountain Bike Clinic

I've been convinced for a long time that by bicycle is the best way to travel. It gives you enough

Other Adventures

Go-Karting

A friend's birthday celebration provided the occasion to put the pedal down and let loose for some go-kart action… at

Hikes and Walks

Happoike

Like many a man since the dawn of time... woke up with a few problems on my mind. Got myself

Sightseeing

Matsumoto

Matsumoto is a lovely town. Population of 210,000, it's about a half hours drive from Hakuba and is also the

Sightseeing

Nozawa Onsen Day Trip

One thing we don't often get in Japan is fat and lazy flowing rivers. but the Chikuma River flowing through

Hikes and Walks

Walking the Source of the Himekawa River

The Himekawa River flows through Hakuba, and indeed gains strength for 60 kms before emptying itself into the Japan Sea

Other Adventures

Canyoning and Canoeing

Well, the smiling faces you see in the photo gallery below should tell you all you need to know about

Cycling

A cycle around town

When you tell people that you like cycling, most assume either a road bike and 60 kms before breakfast, or

Other Adventures

Firefly tours

Though it is said their numbers are dwindling slightly year by year, it is still quite possible to see fireflys

Cycling

Cycling to Togakushi

Despite the heat in Hakuba over the past couple of weeks, I decided to venture out by bicycle again, over

Other Adventures

Paragliding

A mostly futile wish for most of humankinds existence, the dream to fly like a bird in the sky is

Happoike

Image Gallery

Happo-ike

Like many a man since the dawn of time... woke up with a few problems on my mind. Got myself to the top of a mountain, took a look around, and by the time I got back down, all those problems seemed to be less important somehow.

Happoike is a pond up towards the top of Happo-one. Sitting at an elevation of 2060 m it is, in all honesty, a fairly easy hike if you take the gondola and lift part of the way up. Great views of the valley, though it was a little hazy on the day I was up there. The surrounding mountains of Yariga-take, Shakushi-dake and Shirouma-dake were imposing and luckily able to be seen clearly.

Happo-ike is the entry point to climbing Karamatsu-dake, where full scale climbing gear is required. Next time!

Happo "Adam Gondola" is a seven minute walk from our front doors, and the round trip hike, if you take the gondola and lifts, can be completed in about 4 hours. Longer and more challenging options for those who feel like spreading out a bit more.