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.
Runs
16
Vertical
503m
Summit
1440m
Base 940m
Annual snow
12m/season
Premium
Best season Mid-December to early April
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.
Japan's finest steep tree skiing
Plan your trip
Hakuba Cortina is the northernmost Hakuba Valley resort — Japan's deepest tree-skiing on a steep north face, anchored by the giant Tudor-style Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba at the base.
Long-haul gateways and the cheapest domestic hops.
Tokyo is the gateway. Cortina is a further ~25 min drive north of central Hakuba village.
Matsumoto is the closest regional airport — limited service from Sapporo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.
Trains, shuttles, and rentals from the airport.
Nagano Station → Hakuba Station (Alpico, ¥2,400), then free Hotel Green Plaza shuttle to Cortina.
Free inter-resort shuttle linking Cortina, Norikura, Tsugaike, and the rest of the Valley. Hotel Green Plaza also runs its own shuttle.
Hand-picked stays across the resort's two zones.
Cortina is dominated by the giant Tudor-style Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba at the base — additional smaller pensions in Otari village.
Tudor-style giant at the Cortina base — 250+ rooms, ski-in/ski-out, 11-bath onsen complex, family-friendly.
Family-run pensions in Otari village — cheaper alternatives to the Green Plaza, with shuttle to Cortina.
Pass, lessons, gear, and guides for powder days.
Cortina and Norikura share a single 1-day pass (¥6,500–7,500). Hakuba Valley 1-day at ¥10,400 covers all 10 resorts.
Cortina's in-house ski school plus Evergreen for English-speaking lessons.
On-site rental at Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba; Rhythm and Spicy deliver from central Hakuba.
Cortina's gates open the steepest Hakuba terrain — small-group guides cover Korejina back face and Norikura side-country.
Onsen soaks and rest-day excursions nearby.
Hotel Green Plaza's 11-bath onsen complex plus traditional Otari village onsen.
Cover, connectivity, and bag forwarding before you fly.
Activate before you fly. ~$10–15 for 7 days vs $35–60 for pocket WiFi. Coverage at Cortina is strong.
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 & features
Photo: Ski Mania / Public domain · Source
Getting there
Nearest airport, train and bus options, and what the drive looks like in winter conditions.
From airport
3 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Train / bus
Shuttle from JR Nagano Shinkansen Station 3 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Overview
Shuttle from JR Nagano Shinkansen Station
From airport
3 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 13°C, wind 9 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.
Nearby resorts
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.
Trail map
Open full sizeReady to book?
Stays, lift passes, rentals — everything you need in one place.
Book & plan
At the resort
Book accommodationOfficial resort siteGetting there
Domestic flights to Tokyo HanedaNagano airport transfers
