Хакуба: Таулы аймақ және туризм орталығы

the village in Nagano Prefecture

Hakuba is located in a mountain basin in far northwestern Nagano Prefecture, bordered by Toyama Prefecture to the west. The 2900 meter Ushiro Tateyama Mountains border the village to the west. Much of the village is within the borders of the Chūbu Sangaku National Park.

The village has humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), with cold, extremely snowy winters, and warm, rainy summers. With temperatures cooled by the elevation, monthly 24 hour average temperature ranges from in January to in July.

The area of present day Hakuba was part of ancient Shinano Province and was part of the territory controlled by Matsumoto Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of the Edo period. Hakuba was once part of the route called the Salt Road used to bring salt and other marine products from the coast at Itoigawa in Echigo Province (now Niigata Prefecture). Despite some localized road damage and a suspension of rail services on sections of the Ōito Line, there was however no major impact on hotels or ski tourism related infrastructure.

Per Japanese census data, the population of Hakuba peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since.

The economy of Hakuba is heavily dependent on seasonal tourism.

Hakuba has two public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village has one public high school operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education. Hakuba International School will be the newest school within the region. The international school is a boarding school which allows students from Japan to experience the tranquility and adventure Hakuba has to offer. The school follows the International Baccalaureate system which helps students focus on global issues such as living sustainably.

Surrounded by the Sea of Japan (northward), Nagano City (eastward) and the Tateyama Kurobe Dam area (southward), Hakuba is also a popular summer vacation area which offers a variety of outdoor activities at an altitude of 700–800 metres, e. g. hiking, rafting/shower climbing, paragliding, mountain bike, bird sighting etc. Other day activities to enjoy include visiting the snow monkeys, kimono experiences, Taiko drumming, traditional cooking classes, Matsumoto castle tours and more.

The Hakuba Valley (which also includes the neighboring cities of Omachi and Otari) is home to 10 resorts, including 135 lifts (inc. 5 gondolas) accessing over 200 runs that offer an expanse of terrain and at least 14 terrain parks. There are 960 hectares of skiable terrain which equates to 137  km of piste. The Hakuba ski resorts are not interconnected via the slopes (except for Hakuba 47 and Goryu, and Cortina and Norikura), but they can be accessed off a common lift ticket and there are free shuttle buses to get around to the different ski areas. The ski resorts from north to south are: Cortina, Norikura, Tsugaike Kogen, Iwatake, Happo One, Hakuba 47 (ja), Goryu, Sanosaka, Kashimayari and Jigatake. Hakuba offers varied forms of skiing across the resorts but it is generally very well suited to beginners and intermediates with many long perfectly groomed runs and fantastic fall line. There's also some world class back country skiing on offer. Hakuba has lessons and guiding available through both traditional Japanese ski schools and International ski schools including Hakuba Ski Concierge, Evergreen International Ski School, Happo one Ski and Snowboard School, Hakuba Snow Sports School and Hakuba 47 Ski Academy International. Duing the winter, many athletes go to the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium to challenge themselves with the 90 meter and 120 meter jumps they offer. It is a perfect place for advanced skiers to test their skills. The stadium also provides activities for all levels.

The ski resorts and village of Hakuba were the setting for the 2008 Japanese film "Gin Iro No Shiizun" (銀色のシーズン). Hakuba is shown in episodes 21 and 22 of the anime Great Teacher Onizuka. Hakuba is where Soma Cruz from Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow lives.