You’ve been dreaming of introducing your family to the slopes. You imagine rosy cheeks and smiling faces as your kids play in the snow and take their first turns on skis.
The fear, the joy, the thrill of winter!
But there are ten resorts in Hakuba, and everyone you ask tells you a different story about which is best.
Where should you ski in Hakuba with kids? Should you choose Happo, Goyu, or Iimori?
You heard that Cortina has a fun kid’s playground!
It’s confusing, I get it.
I’ve been teaching skiing for over 30 years, 7 of those in Hakuba. I’m lucky enough to work for a private ski school where I can choose which resort I take my guests to every day.
I answer your question every morning when I pick up my guests. I decide where to ski for the day based on ability level, experience, goals, and snow conditions.
Here is my list of the where to ski in Hakuba with kids.
Are you looking for more info?
Check out our resort selector. I used my years of experience teaching in the valley to create a tool that recommends the top 3 resorts for you.
7 Best Family-Friendly Resorts in Hakuba
Here is my list of the seven best family-friendly resorts in Hakuba
1 – Iimori
Soure: エイブル白馬五竜いいもり
Iimori is geared toward families. It has the best beginner lifts in the valley. The runs are wide and flat and are a great way to introduce new skiers and kids to the sport. The lodge has a large seating area at the resort’s base with good food options, and the parking lot (which usually isn’t full) is a short walk to the lifts.
There is a kids’ play area for kids who aren’t ready to wear skis and boots. For a small fee, you can ride sleds and snow bikes, all with a magic carpet ready to take you back up the hill.
This is by far my favorite resort for teaching never-ever and beginner kids. The lefties are friendly and used to having little ones on the chair, and the terrain progression from never-ever up to intermediate is excellent.
Iimori is also home to Hakuba Snow Sports. One of the two schools in the valley offers children’s group lessons.
offers
2 – Goryu
Source: Goryu Ski Resort
My second pick after Iimori is Goryu (you can ski between the two resorts). I often start a lesson at Iimori and move to Goryu if the kids are doing well. The beginner slope at the base of Goryu is wide and gentle. Other than the small steep portion right at the top of the lift, it’s perfect for beginners (this is navigable with patience and an instructor to help you along).
Goryu is also fun for intermediate kids who want fun and a challenge. Goryu waves are a serpentine section of rollers that big kids love to go fast through and even get some air if they have the guts. Goryu often builds a mini park at the bottom of the run and a mogul training course along the side. Every challenge a learning skier can ask for if they want to improve.
If you have kids who are strong intermediate skiers, you can take the gondola to the top of Goryu. The run to the bottom is listed as green, but it can be a harrowing journey if you are uncomfortable with short, steep cat tracks. However, the runs at the top are great fun, and you can always ride the gondola back down if it’s a little too much.
3 – Tsugaike Kogen
Talk about wide and open. Tsugaike has some of the best beginner kid-friendly terrain in the valley. And by wide, I mean football field wide. There are bases at Tsugaike, both of which have fantastic beginner runs.
One of the best features of Tsugaike is the beginner area tickets.
Family-friendly food options are available at the gondola’s mid-station (all the runs are green and mellow below this point), and there is also an easy run at the very top of the gondola.
With the beginner terrain at the top of the resort, Tsugaike is often an excellent bet early in the season for beginner skiers.
If you’re after more challenging terrain and want to keep your kids entertained, there are some nice intermediate runs down to the mid-station and even some secret trails through the trees.
4 – Hakuba 47
You might think that Hakuba 47, as my “home mountain,” should be at the top of my list, and I do love teaching at this resort, but it’s not my favorite.
It has some great features. The gondola goes to mid-mountain, which makes getting kids up and down a breeze. The Cat Track from mid-station is one of my favorite runs for teaching, and the restaurants are good.
The beginner run from mid-station is excellent for learning. Everything is quite flat except for one small steep portion. The only issue is that the beginner lift doesn’t have a safety bar.
What? No safety bar?
Japan has different standards regarding safety bars (as you will find out, if you ski Norikura). Unfortunately, this makes skiing with kids at Hakuba 47 a challenge. I teach younger kids here, but they never ride the lift alone, and I always hold onto them when we are on the lift.
5 – Norikura
Source: Hakuba Norikura Ski Resort
Norikura is an off-the-beaten path, and unless you ski the backcountry, you probably haven’t even thought about skiing at this resort. Because of this, it can be an excellent option for families. The quiet, flat slopes here provide a fantastic space for kids to learn. However, the resort has a few challenges, such as lifts without safety bars and limited eating options.
The resort also offers a mogul course, a few steeper red runs, and some secret powder stashes for Dad.
The resort is quite wide, and traversing from one side to the other can be challenging, especially if you’re pulling a little one along. There is also a ridge that splits the resort in two, and if you cross it, you must take a red run to return to the other side.
That being said, I have had many fun lessons with kids on Norikura and would happily teach a lesson there (and often do).
6 – Kashimayari
Source: Kashimayari Ski Resort
Kashimayari is another diamond in the rough. This resort has two bases, one accessible from the North and one from the South. If you drive from the South, the road takes you up the mountain to the lodge at the top. From the North, you take a lift to get to the chalet.
Kashimayari is fun for families with kids ready to ski intermediate runs independently. The resort is a bowl, and most runs lead back to the lodge. Kashimayari is the perfect set-it-and-forget-it resort for ski families.
Sit in the lodge (there’s an onsen up top), push the kids out the door, and watch them ski back to you.
Kashimayari has a beginner cat track from the top lift, and several fun beginners runs. But it is more of an intermediate skier playground. The line of rollers at the top is always a fun way to get that tummy twirling, and the run back down to the North Parking area is a steeper red run (there is an easy green cat track as well).
I don’t ski Kashimayari often during the winter, but when I do, I enjoy it!
7 – Sanosaka
Source: Sanosaka Ski Resort
A local favorite, Sanosaka, is usually less busy. It’s a fun family hill; however, I don’t recommend it for absolute first-timers. There are no flat beginner runs to the bottom. The resort provides stunning views of Lake Aoiki, and kids love skiing on their own here, as they must return to the base lodge.
My kids love skiing here because they can head out on their own. You must cross the train tracks on foot to get to the base, and they love watching the train go by.
One thing to note is a hike from the parking lot to the lifts. This can take some patience, and you may end up with sore arms from holding their gear while you wait.
Conclusion
So there you have it, my list of the best family-friendly ski resorts in Hakuba. I teach hundreds of lessons in Hakuba every year, many to kids and first-timers. I often ski at every one of Hakuba’s resorts weekly, frequently multiple resorts daily.
If you plan a family ski trip to Hakuba, consider adding these resorts to your itinerary. You won’t be disappointed! And remember to always stay safe on the slopes and have fun with your loved ones.
Happy skiing!
FAQ
What is the best time to visit Hakuba for a family ski trip?
The best time to visit Hakuba for a family ski trip is from December to April, when the slopes are powder-perfect, and the resorts are fully operational.
Are there English-speaking ski instructors available in Hakuba?
Yes, there are several English-speaking ski schools in Hakuba, including:
Can I rent ski equipment for my family in Hakuba?
Yes, many ski rental shops in Hakuba offer a wide variety of ski equipment for both adults and children. Some popular options include:
Hi there! I’m Mike, I love the mountains and the outdoors. I’m lucky enough to live in Hakuba, Japan where, in the winter you will find me out skiing or snowboarding and in the summer hiking the local mountain peaks.
