Love More Japow? Hit Inter-linked Hakuba Goryu/47

Get a double shot of Japow and everything you love about Japan skiing at HAKUBAVALLEY’s inter-linked Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba47.

Individually great. Totally awesome together!

Thanks to the seamless inter-connection, most visitors with a HAKUBAVALLEY pass in their pocket will hardly notice they are actually skiing or riding two separate resorts. It all skis and feels like one big, varied mountain with heaps of terrain choices.

Call us biased, but our favourites are the ‘Tree Riding Member Zones’ on the 47 side, and the leg-stretching 926m vertical steep fall-line charge from the top of Alps Daira at Goryu.

On a typical Hakuba pow day this dynamic duo are right up there as one of the best choices in the valley. But if it hasn’t snowed for a few days, no drama – the groomers, bumps and parks rock regardless.

Let’s check them out..

ABLE Hakuba Goryu Snow Resort enjoys a spectacular location stretched out along a ridge of mighty Mt Goryu, one of Japan’s 100 famous mountains.

You don’t have to be a legend to enjoy the best views from the top either. Just ride the gondola up and down for access to the Panorama Course, surely among the most scenic beginner runs in Japan.

Goryu’s 8 seat gondola was the first in Japan. The Alps 360 restaurant and deck at the top have a magnificent outlook over the whole Hakuba Valley and ranges behind and opposite.

If you are good, bomb straight down a combo of the Grand Prix, Champion Dynamic and Champion Expert Courses for the full vertical at full throttle.

Another easy great views option is to hop on the 7AM start Sunrise Skiing available at no extra charge on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from mid-December to March on the Toomi Sky 4 Lift at the Escal Plaza base area.

Don’t want to stop? Night skiing that runs 100% on renewable energy is on every night on the Toomi slopes from 18:00 – 21:30, for ¥2,700 weekdays or ¥3,000 weekends and holidays. Note it’s not included with HV passes. We always take advantage of night skiing if we arrive too late to ski the day – a night session works as a good loosener if you haven’t been on snow since the last downunder season. Just get settled in at your accommodation and give those rusty legs a work out without needing to use one of your HV Pass days. Lifts close for re-grooming between 17:00 and 18:00.

Goryu Snow Park is also part of the ‘Nighta’ area. Mostly banks and berms, it supplies some fun options day or night.

For beginners and family skiers the Toomi and Iimori areas are ideal.

At Iimori Family Land there’s a 50m carpet lift for the kids. Hakuba Snow Sports School offers English lessons and programs for all levels.

The Escal Plaza at the Goryu base features a Burton Shop and variety of restaurants, including vegan and vegetarian options. Our must do after skiing is a visit to their excellent public onsen complex.

Check more including latest conditions on the Goryu website

Hakuba47 Winter Sports Park is one of Japan’s newer ski resorts, only opened in 1990.

Nobody had heard of ‘Japow’ back then, but they sure picked a great spot to get plenty of it here.

The northerly aspect guarantees high quality dry snow that lasts longer. They ski through Golden Week in May, and usually 47 has the longest top-to-bottom season of all the HAKUBAVALLEY areas.

The snow collects deepest in the awesome tree zones. Life doesn’t get much better than this when it’s on! Of course, tree skiing/riding is inherently risky. Natural snow conditions mean natural hazards. But supernatural fun if you know what you are doing and take reasonable precautions.

At Hakuba47 they divide the accessible tree areas into ‘Open Tree Zones’ anyone competent can access, and the more challenging steep, technical ‘Tree Riding Member Zones’ (TRZ), which require pre-registration at the base.

The TRZ process (well worth it!) goes like this: the first time you register (this can be done on the hour from 8.00 to 12:00 at the School Center) you attend a 10 minute safety briefing, fill and sign a waiver (downloadable to fill out prior to arrival), then leave your ID in exchange for the high visibility red bib that allows you to access the zones, writing your name on the Day List. Bibs must be returned by 15:00 and exchanged for your ID, otherwise a search may be initiated for you.

On subsequent days you don’t need to repeat the briefing or waiver, just arrive to the counter before 14:00 and exchange your ID for a bib after putting your name on the Day List.

13-18 years olds over 150cm tall may join TRZ, with a parent or adult guardian’s signature required. They must ski/ride the TRZ area with the parent/guardian who signs them in. 18-20 year olds must be able to pay for rescue expenses themselves, or have parent/guardian responsible for that.

Note Patrol may deem the conditions unsafe at any time, as it is not groomed or managed, so un-planned closures may occur. This area does have unexpected cliff drops that could cause serious injury if you accidentally go over one. This is why it is essential that you attend the safety briefing and enter at the designated areas. Our advice is to register on day 1 of your holiday so you’re ready for every pow day that comes along.

Long fall-line trails are another feature at Hakuba47. Choose from double blacks to a 6.4km winding green run top-to-bottom. The latter lets beginners check out the stunning North Japan Alps views along the way.

47PARKS boast the valley’s biggest half pipe and a mighty selection of big and small kickers, jib rails, boxes and berms. If park is beyond your skill set just check the riders out from the gondola. Big comps are a regular feature.

There’s a dedicated kid’s slope at the base.

To get the most out of the terrain, the great snow, and your holiday, get some professional help from the selection of great English-speaking snow sport schools offering programs at Hakuba47.

For something different check our Hakuba Lion Adventure snowmobile tours at the 47 base. Check them out either as a passenger on a scenic tour or take a lesson and drive yourself in a fun and safe environment.

All of this will make you hungry and thirsty. Both are well covered here. Try Pizza House Luis for classic Roman-style pizza cooked in an authentic Italian brick oven. Wash it down with a Hakuba47 original craft beer featuring 4 types of malt and 7 varieties of hops from the Hakuba Brewing Company.

Check more including latest conditions on the Hakuba47 website

Local Insider Tips: Hakuba Goryu / Hakuba47

There is so much on offer across the HAKUBAVALLEY resorts you really need to spend several seasons there to get to know them well. So we are tapping local expert knowledge from people who have done just that. Our thanks to Gary Grant from Black Pine Lodge for his insights on Goryu / Hakuba47.

“Love the long steep groomed runs at these resorts, especially the Goryu side. Like skiing a couple of Thredbo’s. The 47 tree runs can be great and the fact they are well policed and you must register (which keeps numbers down) makes it more enjoyable.

“For the ultimate challenge the Goryu ‘Adventure Course’ will test anyone’s skills. Don’t forget the Iimori zone between the two, on the same ticket. Good steep and usually not busy runs.

“When you are ready the Goryu and 47 bases have some good food outlets.”

For more info and all the latest conditions across the HAKUBAVALLEY’s 9 member resort check the website