Hakuba is considered one of Japan's premier alpine resort getaways, located in the Japanese Alps in Nagano and gaining recognition worldwide as one of the featured venues in Nagano's 1998 Winter Olympics. Some facilities, like the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium, remain in use today, with the nearby Hakuba Olympic Village Memorial Hall also worth a quick visit.

Ten resorts in the region, including Jiigatake, Kashimayari, Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba47, Hakuba Happo-one, Hakuba Iwatake, Tsugaike Kogen, Hakuba Norikura Onsen and Hakuba Cortina, all offer a 'Hakuba Valley Ticket' (from ¥6,000 for one day), an all mountain area pass granting access across the grand resort area encompassing the Northern Alps, Otari and Omachi.