The Japanese Alps for ski incentives and mountain retreats
An Olympic valley in the Northern Alps, about 3 hours from Tokyo: powder snow in winter, hiking and outdoor activities in summer, onsen all year round.
From Tokyo: Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano (about 1h20–1h40), then express bus or private coach to Hakuba (about 1 hour); Hakuba Valley quotes 2h50 at the fastest. From Narita or Haneda, first transfer to Tokyo Station; direct buses and shared taxis also link the airports with Hakuba in season.
From Nagoya: about 3h30 by Limited Express Shinano via Matsumoto. From Osaka: about 4h45. From Kanazawa: about 2h40 via the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Oito Line.
Nearest airport: Shinshu-Matsumoto (domestic flights), about 35 minutes by bus from Matsumoto Station.
Tip: for groups we reserve Shinkansen cars to Nagano and snow-equipped coaches, with separate luggage transport if needed; in winter we build in time for snowy roads.
Hakuba has no convention center: meetings take place in the valley's hotels and lodges, whose rooms usually hold a few dozen people. THE ALPS HOTEL HAKUBA, at the foot of the Hakuba Norikura ski area, reopens on 15 December 2026 under Plan・Do・See management with 159 rooms, a natural onsen and a restaurant for 220; its meeting spaces are to be confirmed on request.
In practice, Hakuba works very well for groups of 10 to 150 on an incentive, an executive committee or a team seminar. Beyond that, the group must be split across several hotels, or the plenary held in Nagano or Matsumoto before heading up to the valley.
The lively center of the valley at the foot of Happo-one, the Olympic ski area: hotels, restaurants, bars and the Hakuba Happo bus terminal.
Areas of lodges, chalets and restaurants between Happo and Iwatake, popular with international visitors.
A mountain open in summer and winter, with a panoramic summit terrace facing the three Hakuba peaks: a good setting for a team activity or lunch.
A ski area with wide, easy runs, ideal for beginners; in summer, a ropeway up to the alpine wetlands of Tsugaike Nature Park.
In the north of the valley (Otari village), a ski area linked to Cortina, with onsen and Lake Aoki nearby; THE ALPS HOTEL HAKUBA sits at the foot of the slopes.
Hakuba Norikura (Otari, Nagano)
A 159-room resort at the foot of the Hakuba Norikura ski area in the Northern Alps, with ski-in/ski-out access, a natural onsen, a heated outdoor pool and sauna. Renovated and reopening under Plan・Do・See management on 15 December 2026.
6 restaurants
Hakuba Iwatake summit, 1,289 m (Hakuba village, Nagano) · 白馬岩岳 山頂 スカイアーク（Hakuba DELI）／HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR
At the top of the Hakuba Iwatake gondola, the Sky Ark building houses Hakuba Deli, a self-service restaurant of about 312 seats built around Shinshu produce (daily plates, "Hakuba Sanzan" hashed beef rice, Hakuba beer), plus a deck café. Next door, the Hakuba Mountain Harbor viewing terrace, with a branch of The City Bakery, faces the three Hakuba peaks (Shirouma, Shakushi and Yari). Open in the green season (late April to mid-November) and the winter season (mid-December to late March), daytime only.
Groups up to 312 paxLunch: dishes around ¥1,500 to ¥1,700
Hakuba Goryu – Alps-daira, 1,515 m (Kamishiro, Hakuba village) · ALPS360（白馬五竜 アルプス平）
A panoramic restaurant at the top of the Hakuba Goryu gondola, at Alps-daira (1,515 m), facing Mount Goryu and the Northern Alps. In the green season it borders an alpine garden of over 300 species and serves buckwheat galettes by Hakuba Crêpier, hot dogs and the desserts of an in-house pastry chef; in winter, pasta, curries and rice bowls for skiers, with a terrace above the slopes. Open in the daytime, in the green season (late June to mid-October) and the ski season.
On request
Happo, Hokujo (Hakuba Marukin Ryokan) · 白馬八方 山吹食堂
Opened in December 2024 in the renovated former dining hall of Hakuba Marukin Ryokan, the largest ryokan in Happo, and developed with the Yamabuki miso group (Komoro, founded 1674). A 104-seat hall open to all, where miso goes into Japanese, Western and Chinese dishes: chanchan-yaki, miso ramen, house-smoked sausages and sanzoku-yaki chicken. Open year-round, with closing days varying by season.
On requestÀ la carte dinner: dishes from ¥710 to ¥1,760 incl
Hokujo, Hakuba village (Nagano) · 肉匠なか澤
A high-end yakiniku restaurant in a building inspired by Kyoto's machiya, halfway between JR Hakuba Station and the Happo bus terminal. It has its own butchery: wagyu selected cut by cut, raw beef dishes prepared under Nagano Prefecture's certification standards, Kobe sirloin always available, and Nagano vegetables and rice. Tasting courses are grilled at the table by a chef, or guests grill for themselves. Four private rooms for 4 to 10, booth seating and a counter, with wine and sake chosen by a sommelier.
On request
Happo, Hokujo (Hakuba Tokyu Hotel) · レストラン シャモニー（白馬東急ホテル）
The Hakuba Tokyu Hotel's main restaurant, on the second floor, with 64 seats beneath tall windows. In the evening, seasonal courses blending French technique with a Japanese sensibility, built on Shinshu produce; in the morning, a Japanese and Western buffet. A vegan menu is available, and the fireplace lounge-bar The Lodge extends the evening in the hotel.
On requestDinner: courses from ¥10,565 to ¥21,503 per person
Hokujo, near JR Hakuba Station (Hakuba village, Nagano) · そば神 白馬店
A hand-made soba house near Hakuba Station that makes its dough with the valley's spring water and serves lunch only, so the noodles are always freshly cut. Cold or hot soba, crisp tempura of seasonal mountain vegetables and mushrooms, and a "Sobajin teishoku" set with sansai rice; a dining room with low tables on tatami.
On requestSoba from ¥950 to ¥1,950
3 days · Hakuba
This 3-day executive retreat in Hakuba sets a leadership team of 10 to 40 in front of the Japanese Northern Alps between May and October. It alternates strategy sessions at the hotel, a guided hike to Happo-ike pond above 2,000 m after the gondola, outdoor reflection time and Nagano-style dinners. Hakuba is about 3 hours from Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen and road.
From €3,100 per person, excluding flights
4 days · Hakuba
This Hakuba ski incentive brings 20 to 120 participants to the Japanese Northern Alps for 4 days, about 3 hours from Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen and coach. The group stays at the foot of the Hakuba Norikura slopes, takes ski or snowshoe lessons by level, unwinds in the onsen and spends one day watching the snow monkeys of Jigokudani. Offered from January to March, starting with the 2027 season.
From €2,900 per person, excluding flights
8 days · Tokyo · Hakuba · Kyoto · Okinawa
This 8-day trip for top performers brings together four sides of Japan: Tokyo, the Japanese Alps in Hakuba, Kyoto and Okinawa's west coast. Transfers are realistic: Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano then coach to Hakuba, Shinkansen and Thunderbird train via Tsuruga to Kyoto, and a domestic flight from Itami to Naha in about 2 hours. Designed for winter, from mid-December to March, with skiing in Hakuba and mild weather in Okinawa, for 15 to 60 participants.
From €9,600 per person, excluding international flights
5 days · Tokyo · Hakuba
This 5-day incentive pairs two nights in Tokyo with two nights in Hakuba, in the Northern Alps, for 30 to 100 participants. The group rides the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano (about 1 h 20 from Tokyo Station), visits Zenko-ji temple, then reaches the mountains by coach for a snow day with a choice of skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing. The contrast between the capital and snowy peaks shapes the whole trip, from January to March.
From €3,600 per person, excluding flights
Yes, for groups of 10 to 150 looking for a mountain experience: skiing, outdoor activities, onsen and convivial dinners. Beyond that, accommodation must be split across several hotels, and there is no large plenary hall in the valley.
No. We arrange beginner lessons and alternatives for non-skiers: snowshoeing, onsen, a visit to the Olympic stadium, or an excursion to Matsumoto or the snow monkeys depending on the length of stay.
By Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano (reserved cars), then private coach to the hotel, about 3 hours in total. In winter we use snow-equipped coaches and build in extra time.
Modest meeting rooms, mid-sized hotels, very limited services in the shoulder seasons (May–June and November) and demanding winter logistics. These constraints are managed with early planning and the right group size.
January–February for powder and a ski incentive, July–September for a cool retreat and outdoor activities, October for autumn colors. Avoid the May–June and November shoulder seasons.
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