7-Day Nagano Snow Tow Itinerary
Day 1: Meet and greet
We meet at 4pm in Nagano Station which is the central transit area in Nagano Prefecture. If you are unable to arrive by 4pm at the station, you can arrange a shuttle to Hakuba's Echoland on your own to meet us there on the evening of Day 1. More information on meet up/drop off and travel to Nagano Station or Echoland can be found on our logistics page here.
We arrive in Hakuba via one of our 4-wheel drive "Adventure Vans" around 5pm. Our lodging in Hakuba is within close walking distance to all of the fun amenities of the Echoland area, including delicious Japanese and western restaurants and a healthy number of bars for you to hop around to. If you need to rent a set of powder skis or board for our trip, we'll take care of that on Day 1 as well. Further information on this trips lodging can be found here.
We arrive in Hakuba via one of our 4-wheel drive "Adventure Vans" around 5pm. Our lodging in Hakuba is within close walking distance to all of the fun amenities of the Echoland area, including delicious Japanese and western restaurants and a healthy number of bars for you to hop around to. If you need to rent a set of powder skis or board for our trip, we'll take care of that on Day 1 as well. Further information on this trips lodging can be found here.
Days 2-4 Ski Hakuba |
Day 2 Ski Happo One
As the site of Nagano's Olympic slalom and downhill events, Happo has a variety of terrain for everyone. Steep pitches starting from the highest point of any of Hakuba's resorts, long intermediate slopes for the rusty, and powder bowls for the hounds, this is a great place to start our adventure.
You should note that we purchase an all-Hakuba pass for the 3 days we'll be skiing here, so with a free shuttle service, you'll be able to hit any of the slopes on the mountain each day. While we aim to take you to the best resorts on Hakuba, there's no requirement for you to follow our schedule on this mountain. Day 3: Ski CortinaA favorite among Hakuba veterans, this resort has wonderful tree runs and Cortina's ski patrol is very relaxed in its approach to off-piste skiing. On top of that, Cortina frequently gets the most snowfall of any resort on the mountain.
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Day 4: Ski Hakuba 47/Goryu and head to Nozawa Onsen
We pack up our things, check out of Echoland, and head to Hakuba 47/Goryu. With over 11 meters of average snowfall and north-facing slopes, many believe this resort has the best snow quality on the mountain. It's got steep slopes for you to rip down and if you're a freestyler, 47's got the mountain's best park and biggest jumps. After this final day on Hakuba, we head north to explore three more mountains in pursuit of some of the best pow and terrain in Honshu.
We pack up our things, check out of Echoland, and head to Hakuba 47/Goryu. With over 11 meters of average snowfall and north-facing slopes, many believe this resort has the best snow quality on the mountain. It's got steep slopes for you to rip down and if you're a freestyler, 47's got the mountain's best park and biggest jumps. After this final day on Hakuba, we head north to explore three more mountains in pursuit of some of the best pow and terrain in Honshu.
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We arrive in one of Japan's most famous onsen (hot spring) towns—Nozawa Onsen.
This second base is a town that dates back to at least the 8th century, and has been famous as an onsen town across Japan since the Edo era three hundred years ago. At the same time, Nozawa Onsen is an historically significant ski area as Japan's second-ever established ski resort and the site of the country's first competitive ski course. The jewel of this town are the thirteen public and free onsen. Traditional buildings dating back hundreds of years are open to visitors of Nozawa and can be easily found as you walk the town's narrow and hilly roads. Townspeople maintain the baths, as they have for generations, and all you need to bring is a towel. From the Nozawa base, we'll have easy access to Myoko, Shiga Kogen and Madarao. |
Day 5: Ski Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort
Ski Nozawa, just up the hill from our lodging, this resort offers steep slopes, tree skiing, and some solid backcountry options. At the end of the day onsen-hop and hit up some local izakayas (Japanese-style bars) and the local craft brewery.
Optional: Take a break from skiing and spend the day on a snow monkey and cultural tour of Northern Nagano. Check out Japan's famous snow monkeys, one of the nation's best brewery's, and the old town of Obuse. Worried about the cost? Don't! This all-inclusive option is free of charge.
Day 6: Ski Myoko's Akakura Resorts
Hit up the famous powder-blessed mountain of Myoko at the combined resorts of Akakura Kanko/Onsen. This resort has a relaxed off-piste policy, famously deep powder and tree skiing. It is also the base-point of Myoko's best backcountry tours.
Optional: Join a guided backcountry tour by Myoko's most experienced backcountry operator. Enjoy beautiful views, a free bento lunch after your climb, and untouched pow. No backcountry experience necessary, but you must be an advanced skier to join. Just be sure to choose that option at check-out! More info here.
Ski Nozawa, just up the hill from our lodging, this resort offers steep slopes, tree skiing, and some solid backcountry options. At the end of the day onsen-hop and hit up some local izakayas (Japanese-style bars) and the local craft brewery.
Optional: Take a break from skiing and spend the day on a snow monkey and cultural tour of Northern Nagano. Check out Japan's famous snow monkeys, one of the nation's best brewery's, and the old town of Obuse. Worried about the cost? Don't! This all-inclusive option is free of charge.
Day 6: Ski Myoko's Akakura Resorts
Hit up the famous powder-blessed mountain of Myoko at the combined resorts of Akakura Kanko/Onsen. This resort has a relaxed off-piste policy, famously deep powder and tree skiing. It is also the base-point of Myoko's best backcountry tours.
Optional: Join a guided backcountry tour by Myoko's most experienced backcountry operator. Enjoy beautiful views, a free bento lunch after your climb, and untouched pow. No backcountry experience necessary, but you must be an advanced skier to join. Just be sure to choose that option at check-out! More info here.
Day 7: Choose to:
- Option #1: Transfer back to Tokyo via Iiyama station
- Option #2: Ski another full day (more on our logistics page)
Day 7 Option #1: Early Iiyama Station Dropoff (8:30 AM)
If you need to make it back to Tokyo or the airport in time for a noon arrival, we can drop you off at Iiyama Station, which is a Shinkansen (bullet train) station and will zip you back towards Tokyo.
Day 7 Option #2: Ski Shiga Kogen Resort
Finish off an epic Japow tour at Shiga Kogen, Japan's largest ski area. We'll hook you up with an all-mountain pass, giving you access to this highand's vast area of 19 interconnected resorts. After skiing, we'll drop you off where we started; at Nagano Station between 5-6PM.
How does the Snow Tow compare to our other trips? Check out or trip comparison page.