Hakuba Cortina is a ski area located in Otari Village, just to the north of Hakuba Village in northern Nagano Prefecture. The fairly compact bowl shape means most courses end up back at the base area. Hakuba Cortina often receives some of the heaviest snowfall in the Hakuba region and is popular for 'self-responsibility' powder tree run areas outside of the main specified courses. Hakuba Cortina is connected with the Hakuba Norikura Onsen ski area, and a shared lift ticket is available as well as individual tickets. It has been operating since 1970.
Hakuba Village is just over 40km to the west of Nagano city in the northern region of Nagano Prefecture. It was host to some of the major events of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, including alpine skiing, ski jump events and cross country events. In recent years, the Hakuba region has become one of Japan's most popular winter sports regions with visitors from overseas.
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at Hakuba Cortina. There are also a number of independent ski and snowboard schools that cover the Hakuba area, please check the Lessons in English section for current listings on SnowJapan.
Equipment Rental
Ski Rental:
Available
Snowboard Rental:
Available
Ski and snowboard equipment & wear rental is available.
Children's facilities
There are two kids areas at Hakuba Cortina.
The Kids Park Area is by the base hotel and open from 9:00am until 4:00pm. There is snow tubing, a sledding area and a 'playing in the snow' area. Some activities are charged.
The Yuki Asobi Park is open on weekends and holidays only from 25th December 2021 until 21st March 2022. It is open during the daytime (9:00am until 4:00pm) and in the evening (7:00pm until 8:20pm). Entry is 600 yen (300 yen for children) in the daytime and 2,000 yen (1,500 yen for children) in the evening. Various activities on offer.
There are also special lessons for young children.
Park information
There are some areas beyond the official ski runs. These areas are entered entirely at ones own risk.
Hakuba Cortina Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Mid December until Early April
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Daytime
Weekends and holidays
Normally open from 8:30am until 4:30pm
Weekdays
Normally open from 8:30am until 4:30pm
'Nighta' (night skiing)
Weekends and holidays
Sometimes
Weekdays
No
Opening information
Hakuba Cortina is normally open from 8:30am until 4:30pm in the daytime.
Night skiing is from 5:00pm until 9:00pm over the New Year period (29th December 2021 until 2nd January 2022).
During the period 4th January until 3rd April, the Cortina Number 3 quad lift and Cortina Number 5 pair lift will not be operating on weekdays. Those two lifts will however be available on weekends and holiday.
Hakuba Cortina Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Elementary School age
Senior
60 years & over
1 Day (8:30am-5pm)
4,200 yen
2,600 yen
3,700 yen
4 Hours
3,200 yen
2,000 yen
Night (from 5pm)
1,500 yen
1,000 yen
Season Ticket
40,000 yen
24,000 yen
32,000 yen
Norikura Cortina 1 Day
5,000 yen
3,500 yen
4,500 yen
Norikura Cortina Season
56,000 yen
36,000 yen
46,000 yen
Hakuba Valley 1 Day
6,600 yen
3,800 yen
Hakuba Valley 2 Days
12,500 yen
7,100 yen
Hakuba Valley 3 Days
18,700 yen
10,500 yen
Hakuba Valley 4 Days
24,900 yen
13,900 yen
Hakuba Valley 5 Days
31,000 yen
17,400 yen
Hakuba Valley 6 Days
37,200 yen
20,800 yen
Hakuba Valley 7 Days
43,400 yen
24,300 yen
Hakuba Valley 8 Days
49,000 yen
27,400 yen
Hakuba Valley 9 Days
54,700 yen
30,400 yen
Hakuba Valley 10 Days
60,300 yen
33,500 yen
2021-2022 Season Lift Tickets
Tickets noted as 'Norikura Cortina' above are valid at both Hakuba Cortina and the connecting Hakuba Norikura Onsen ski areas. Otherwise, they are just for Hakuba Cortina.
Early season is until 23rd December 2021.
Spring season is from 22nd March 2022.
Night skiing is 29th December through 2nd January 2022.
Getting to Hakuba Cortina
By public transport
Train
57.4km from Nagano Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line
6.4km from Minami Otari Station on the Oito Line
13.7km from Hakuba Station on the Oito Line
Information
Hakuba Cortina is the most northerly ski resort in the Hakuba and Otari valley and close to the border with Niigata Prefecture. It is in fact just 36km from the Japan Sea coast in Itoigawa (Niigata). The closest expressway exit is Itoigawa IC on the Hokuriku Expressway. Most people arriving from the south though will get to the region either from the Nagano IC of the Joshinetsu Expressway (58km) or the Azumino IC on the Nagano Expressway (62km). Please note that Azumino IC used to be called Toyoshina IC - it was renamed in October 2012.
Hakuba Cortina is a few km from the main Route 148 road and the Minami Otari train station on the local Oito line. Nagano Station (Hokuriku Shinkasen line) is about 56km away a 90 minute or so journey.
Bus
There is usually a bus from Nagano Station to the Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba (at the base of the ski area). The bus route takes about 100 minutes.
By Car
40.6km from the Itoigawa IC on the Hokuriku Expressway
58.1km from the Nagano IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway
63.5km from the Azumino IC on the Nagano Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 148 (4.9km away)
Direction
Otari village is located in the north-western region of Nagano Prefecture, just to the north of Hakuba village. Route 148 goes north-south through the region.
Hakuba Cortina is the most northerly of the ski and snowboard resorts in this region, quite close to the border with Niigata Prefecture.
To get to Hakuba Cortina from the central area of Hakuba (Hakuba Station), head north on Route 148 towards Otari. Continue on Route 148 for about 8.8km. Turn left onto Prefecture 433 and follow the winding road for about 3km until reaching a sign to turn right for Hakuba Cortina.
If approaching from the north, turn right onto Prefecture 433 at the Tsugaike Kogen and Hakuba Norikura signpost before reaching Hakuba village.
Getting to the Hakuba region There are three main ways to approach the Hakuba region by road – from Nagano city (and the Nagano IC exit on the Joshinetsu Expressway), from the south (and the Azumino IC exit on the Nagano Expressway) and from the north (and the Itoigawa IC exit on the Hokuriku Expressway).
Approaching Hakuba village from Nagano IC (Joshinetsu Expressway) From the Nagano IC exit, turn right Prefecture Road 35 and head north for about 3.5km until arriving at the Nagano Minami By-pass (Route 19). Turn left onto Route 19 and drive by the river for around 13km until arriving at the Hakuba Nagano Toll Road. Turn onto this road (the normal charge is 210 yen per vehicle) and then continue straight on Prefecture Road 31 and then Prefecture Road 33 to head into Hakuba, which is well signposted. The journey from Nagano IC to central Hakuba is around 46km.
Approaching Hakuba village from Azumino IC (Nagano Expressway) From the Azumino IC exit, go straight ahead at the exit traffic lights and follow Prefecture Road 310 for just over 4.5km until reaching Route 147. Turn right onto Route 147 (signposted as Omachi and Matsukawa Village). Follow this road and then Route 148 into Hakuba. The journey from Azumino IC to central Hakuba is around 50km.
Approaching Hakuba village from Itoigawa IC (Hokuriku Expressway) From the Itoigawa IC exit, turn left to head south on Route 148 to the Hakuba area, passing through Otari Village along the way. The journey from Itoigawa IC to central Hakuba is about 45km.
Parking
There is parking for 1,100 vehicles at the base area. Parking is free every day of the season.
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