OVERVIEW of
HAKUBA CORTINA

Hakuba Cortina is the valley's prince of POW, with a giant fairy tale hotel to prove it. This striking ski resort at the extreme northern end of the Hakuba Valley has a well-earned reputation for being home to the deepest, lightest powder around. Being even just a few kilometers closer to the Sea of Japan than Otari's other resorts, yields roughly an extra meter of snowfall over the duration of the season, with an official average of a whopping 12 meters. But it's not just that more snow falls here, it's that Cortina's natural bowl shape and abundant trees seem to aid in preserving those extra accumulations. Bottomless snow, gloriously steep terrain and a delightfully progressive tree skiing policy have put it on the map, but there are plenty of other reasons to plan a visit here, not the least of which is the wonderful 257-room Tudor inspired architectural anomaly that is Cortina's Green Plaza Hotel. There you'll find a complete range of family-friendly services and facilities that will make your stay memorable and carefree.

THE MOUNTAIN

COURSE DETAILS

THE VILLAGE

As with many Japanese ski resorts, Cortina doesn't have a typical ski village, but as previously mentioned, its base area is graced with a large, upscale, ski in ski out resort hotel that offers a supremely convenient, self-contained alternative to the standard ski village model. Inside are an impressive array of services and facilities, including multiple restaurants, large lockers for storing ski equipment, a convenience store, karaoke room, rental shop, day care center, game arcade, massage services, gender-separated saunas and fabulous natural onsen baths (hot springs).

This all-in-one approach means you won't have to worry about making reservations or organizing transportation for dinners out each evening, making it an especially attractive option for families or groups staying for a number of days. However, if you find yourself itching to see what else is out there, the restaurants and bars of Norikura and Tsugaike are a short 10 or 15-minute ride away on the Otari Night Bus, respectively.

For more information about local accommodation in the HAKUBA CORTINA area, please click on the following link:

Hakuba Cortina Accomodation

ACTIVITIES

ACCESS•GETTING AROUND

Throughout the day Hakuba Valley Shuttle Buses to and from Cortina run more or less hourly, providing easy access between all of the other resorts of the Hakuba Valley as well as to Hakuba Station, Happo Bus Terminal and various other locations in Hakuba village. These buses are ¥500 per ride, or free for those in possession of the valley-wide Hakuba Valley lift ticket. Please check the Hakuba Valley homepage for more details, including the current or upcoming season's shuttle bus timetable.

Hakuba Valley

If you are staying in Cortina and need or want to stock up on groceries, make a pharmacy run or go out for dinner and drinks in Norikura, Tsugaike or Happo after spending your day here, the Otari Night Bus travels the route between the Happo Bus Terminal and Minami Otari Station, including stops at the three Otari ski resorts (Tsugaike, Norikura and Cortina), several times per night from late December to the end of February. Adult fares are fixed at ¥300 for a single ride.