Japanese cherry blossom © naitokz

At the heart of the Japanese Alps is Hakuba, a popular ski resort only three hours' drive from downtown Tokyo. Hakuba is among the largest skiing resorts in Japan, incorporating 10 resorts and seven ski areas. It played host to the 1998 Winter Olympics (as part of the Nagano prefecture), and some of the facilities are still in use, including the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium and the Hakuba Olympic Village Memorial Hall.

With a variety of après ski activities, Hakuba is a fun place off the slopes as well. There are a number of good restaurants serving both western and Asian cuisine, and many hotels have relaxing hot spring baths. The main nightlife area in Hakuba is in Echoland.

Hakuba is also a popular summer resort, and is a good place for outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, rock climbing, and white water rafting. Day tours to Matsumoto Castle are a popular excursion.

Averaging 36 feet (11m) of snow per year, Hakuba is known for its reliable weather. The resort has more than 200 runs with a wide variety of difficulty, with 30 percent rated for beginners, 40 percent for intermediates, and 30 percent for advanced skiers. 138 ski lifts and five gondolas operate from 8:30am to 8:30pm daily throughout the season, which runs from December to April.