HAKUBA VILLAGE

Hakuba Village is located in the mountainous Japanese Alps region of Nagano Prefecture. Blessed with powder snow and hot springs, many people immediately think “winter resort!” when they hear Hakuba. While it’s famous for winter sports and includes the Hakuba Jump Ski Stadium (a Nagano Olympics venue), Hakuba is actually enjoyable year-round. It’s an activity treasure trove: camping, mountain biking, and climbing in the mountains; paragliding and hot-air balloons in the sky; and fishing and rafting in meltwater rivers. Within the village, shuttle buses operate, making it easy to get around even without a car. Dining options are broad—yakiniku, tonkatsu, Shinshu soba, and more. A recommended spot is “Hakuba Tap Room.” It’s about 2 km from Hakuba Station, but beer lovers will enjoy up to 16 kinds of craft beer while looking out at Hakuba’s alpine scenery. Of course, don’t drive after drinking—plan your return accordingly.