The town of Hakuba in northern Nagano Prefecture is no stranger to global attention. A winter sports mecca, it hosted the alpine and Nordic skiing competitions at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. The ...

The local government here will introduce fines for public nuisances, such as late-night fireworks and littering, following a ...

At 5 p.m., the line outside Ohyokkuri has already begun to form. The traditional izakaya, or pub, is so popular that people start waiting outside for half an hour before it opens to get a seat. On the ...

Though the 2020 ski season has been one of the warmest in recent years, the advent of winter brings with it the season for snow sports. Every year, scores of tourists come from outside Japan just for ...

It’s affordable, has great powder, and is just a few hours from Tokyo. What else could you ask for? Hakuba Valley is located in Japan's Nagano Prefecture, which is just three hours from Tokyo by ...

Hakuba, Nagano Pref. – In Hakuba at this time of year, ski lift lights illuminate the night sky. Restaurant kitchens run late into the evening, and English conversations spill onto the streets. It’s ...

Japan is home to some incredible snow destinations, making it a top choice for skiing and snowboarding. You might not think to visit these places once the snow melts, but the green season at Japan's ...

Japan is a country whose boom-bust experience with winter sports has left a mix of charmingly dated resorts matched with an infusion of new-found interest from foreign visitors. In the inverse of the ...

Outside of the bustling winter months, the ski resort village of Hakuba in Nagano Prefecture boasts a modest population that barely tops 8,000. But when ski season arrives, village officials face ...