Ski Hakuba with Kids!
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Our Sales Team Manager, Justine has organised countless family ski holidays over the past 11 years. Here she explains her top recommendations for skiing Hakuba with kids. |
Why Hakuba?
Hakuba is one of Japan’s premier winter destinations. Located in the beautiful Northern Alps on the main island of Honshu, Hakuba boasts some of the best skiing and snowboarding in Japan. With three main villages and 10 ski resorts in the valley, Hakuba offers something for every family – whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been hitting the slopes for years. There are plenty of beginner ski slopes as well as some of the longest vertical skiing in Japan.
How To Get There
Hakuba is easily accessible from the two major airports in Tokyo, as well as from other Japanese cities. When arriving at either Narita or Haneda Airports there is a direct coach operating a number of daily services to your accommodation. This is the easiest and most convenient option when traveling with children. Simply, jump on and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Depending on your arrival time, you may prefer to experience the famous Shinkansen AKA the bullet train. Experience speeds of up to 320km per hour!
Family Accommodation
From traditional Ryokan’s (Japanese lodges) to five-star chalets Hakuba has plenty of accommodation options to suit all budgets. At the more affordable end, you have Japanese and Western-run lodges or small villas suitable for families. Mid-range to deluxe accommodation includes hotels and self-contained chalets and if you are looking for something fancy there are a number of five-star properties to choose from. Some of our favourites for families include the ski-in ski-out Marillen Hotel, Mizuhou Chalets, and Mominoki Hotel.
Ski School & Ski Hire
Taking care of the children is easy. There are fantastic ski schools offering lessons in English for kids three years and up. Depending on the location of your accommodation we’d recommend Hakuba Snow Sports School, Hakuba Ski Concierge, or Evergreen International Ski School. If you have little ones Evergreen also has a daycare program for children 18 months and up – however, this did not operate in the 22/23 season, so we recommend checking directly with them if it is operating this season.
There are also a number of rental stores in Hakuba, with a range of equipment suitable for all levels and abilities. Our preferred rental companies are Central Snow Sports and Rhythm Snow Sports – both offer a huge range of gear for all ability levels.
Day Tours
The Hakuba Valley lift pass is a non-consecutive pass, therefore you can make the most of your days off with the family. From Hakuba, there are a number of day tours available depending on what you want to do with your time. Kids especially love visiting the world-famous Jigokudani Snow Monkeys and watching them bathe in the onsens – a memorable experience for the whole family!
If you have any further questions about travelling as a family or would like to start planning your next adventure complete an enquiry form, and our team will happily create a custom package for you. Or discover our packages below:
