THINGS TO DO HIKING Hakuba is located in the northern part of the Japanese alps which is the largest national park in Japan and considered to be the mountaineering and hiking mecca of Japan. There are hundreds of trails criss-crossing the mountain range and hikes ranging from short walks to multi day expeditions. The resorts of Happo, Goryu/47, and Tsugaike are open all season and offer a convenient entry point to higher altitudes. SHORT WALKS Happo Ike. Happo pond is a small pond situated at over 2100m on the crest of the ridge leading down from Karamatsu Dake. Amazing views of The three biggest peaks in Hakuba, Yari, Shakushi and Shirouma can be seen reflected in the water of the pond on a clear day. It takes about 40mins walk from the top lift of Happo to get there. Tsugaike. At about 1900m altitude, above Tsugaike ski resort there lies a high flat boggy area. In May after the snow melts the Mizubasho flowers and the whole area is carpeted in white. You can also see the unusual sight of fully leafed trees surrounded by snow in late May/early June. In summer the Nikko-Kisuge flowers and this time the whole place explodes with gold. The bog is reached by a20minute walk from the top of the Tsugaike ropeway. Kotoomi. This hike starts at the top of the Goryu resort gondola and follows the ridge up past Jizo no atama and the Jizonuma marsh where wild flowers bloom in July and August, finally climbing up the ridge to the summit of Kotoomi at 2009m. From the top there area mazing views of Kashimayari dake and Goryu Dake. Kamoshika trail. A short looped trail leading through deciduous forest with the chance of spotting Kamoshika (A kind of deer-antelope) LONGER HIKES Karamatsu Dake. A three or four hour […]

An almost spring like day but with perfect powder from top to bottom on north aspects.  

North faces still have perfect power conditions from top to bottom as we found out today behind Goryu.

An almost spring like day but with perfect powder from top to bottom on north aspects.

A consistent few weeks of cold temperatures and good regular powder dumps finished with warmer air coming in a few days ago. Evidently the northern faces didn’t realise this as the snow was still deep and pristine on any northern aspect from top to bottom as these pics show! Beautiful powder and stunning weather – what more could you ask! On the way up Roger dropping off the ridge between Ichinose and Ko-toomi Perfect powder! Looking back up from the Hirakawa

A high alpine assault of KoRenge (2760m) didn’t disappoint! A beautiful morning saw a group of locals. plus Bill from Alaska and Hans from Norway hiking out from the top of Tsugaike to their target the top of Ko-renge. The plan was to get up quickly following windblown ridge lines and descend south to SaruKura but a combination of early season unfitness, soft snow (not much wind during the last snowfall) and setting off 40 minutes later than planned meant we had to curtail the trip slightly. We ended up dropping off the corniced north east ridge of Korenge. The first bowl started over 50 degress but mellowed out below into a wide open bowl followed by perfect powder down to the flats of Shizenin below. Heres a pic of the drop in below. And some video of dropping in the same place. Mat on Korenge from steep deep japan on Vimeo. Matt on Korenge All in all a pretty Sick day!

Great Christmas! Two 11kilo Turkeys, all the trappings, roast veggies, and 40cm of fresh snow! = Lots of happy guests.

Eric, our new manager at Wadano lodge took a hike off the top of Happo today to check up on the conditions. About 2cm of snow in the valley had translated into knee deep above 2000m.