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FAQ Lift System & Passes

Our knowledge of the resort comes from years of responding to email enquiries, getting ourselves lost, finding ourselves, late-night bar conversations, your feedback, plus translations of Japanese brochures. Find out what Hakuba is like before you visit, learn a bit about the history of the town, the surrounding area, and what you can expect from the weather.

FAQ Lift System and Passes
What time do the ski lifts open?
All the resorts have different times for opening the lifts. Be careful because not all the lifts in the same resort open at the same time. Please check “Ski Areas” for lift openings.Top of page!
Are all the ski area lifts interconnected?
No, but we wish they were. Some areas are connected Goryu & 47 and Norikura & Cortina as well as the three Sun Alpina resorts of Sanosaka, Aokiko and Kashimayari. Top of page!
What lift pass should I buy?
JThere a few lift packages on offer. We suggest buying multiple day and multiple resort passes. Hakuba Alpen Resort Pass and the Hakuba All Mountain Pass are good value for money. Please see the article on “Lift Passes” Top of page!
What dates do the ski lifts open and close for the season?
Happo, Goryu, Hakuba 47 and Tsugaike try to open after the first big snowfall of the year, usually in late November or early December. The resorts will have limited operations until about Christmas. This is also when all the resorts will start full operations. The large resorts stay open until the first week in May.
Top of page!
What happens if I lose my lift pass?
We are checking this answer Top of page!
Do I need a photograph on my lift pass?
No, photographs are only required on season passes. Top of page!
Are the lift passes automatic?
All of the larger resorts are automatic. You will need to pay a deposit of 1000yen or 500yen per lift ticket. Please put your pass in your left side pocket. Some ski jackets have a special pocket for this.Top of page!
What lifts are open in summer?
Happo, Goryu and Tsugaike gondolas lifts are open in the summer for hiking and trekking. Please see Hiking & Trekking page Top of page!