Hakuba, Japan
2 hours by train from JR Nagano station you can get to the infamous ski town of Hakuba.
Hakuba is known for being a top ski town, they even held the Winter Olympics in 1998 and 2005! If you are a lover of winter and mountains, this place is for you!
The town is pretty quiet in the spring due to it being low season. We really enjoyed stopping by the shops, watching locals take the ski lift to enjoy the end of ski season, and just watching the slow season of a mountain town is very peaceful.
Due to it being slow season when we were there, there isn’t much you can do (unless you have all your mountain gear). We walked around the town, enjoyed some food and coffee, and admired the mountains before heading back to Nagano. Here are some of our favorites that we happened to stumble across!
Eat lunch at Sanpachi- shoten - a cafe that serves galettes and other dishes such as curry, chicken, and a vegan dish. lunchtime 11:00-15:00
The staff is very friendly! A view of the Northern Alps from the cafe is a huge plus! Also, the portions are huge!
Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9301, Japan
Grab a cup of coffee and dessert at Sounds Like Cafe. You are able to choose the beans for your coffee as well!
3020-504 Hokujo, Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9301, Japan
