Wadano just to the north of Happo accommodation area and is one of the most popular areas of Hakuba with a large variety of hotels and pensions. Wadano is a forest area and skims the side of Happo-One ski area most notably at Kokusai and Sakka ski areas. The area is frequented by foreigners and both ski shuttle and night time buses run through this area. There are some good restaurants and bars in lower Wadano. One of the favourites is The Pub, a British style pub with live music on some nights as well as pub grub. Check listing for accommodation in this area.

Happo is a large hotel and lodge area close to the gondola and spreading over to Nakiyama. Although there are plenty of hotels there is not a great deal of nightlife going on in this area. There is however the Yoehi Club a standing bar that attracts plenty of skiers/boarding during the winter months. Tucked away in Happo there is the Suwa Shrine with a large tree aged over 900years. Happo is also home to the Happo Information Center, this is a great place to grab a coffee and check out whats going on in Hakuba. Check listing for accommodation in this area.

Echoland is the best après ski area of Hakuba. Lots of bars and restaurants are dotted along and just off the main Echoland Street. Some of the popular bars are Arctic bar at the Whitehorse Hotel and Cherry Pub. For the more active there is the Studio 902. Echoland is also home to many specialty souvenir stores as well sports stores and rental shops. Further down the road located close to Echoland Gym is Echoland Onsen (hotspring), one of the more popular onsens in Hakuba. During winter night buses run to Echoland from xx to xx. After that taxis are available. Check listing for accommodation in this area.

Though Misorano is just a short walk to Echoland the area is a little bit quieter. Located in a forest it is mainly an accommodation area with lots of hotels and lodges, it is also home to many country homes. There are also many restaurants in this area and we suggest having a walk around to find one that might suit your taste. Check listing for accommodation in this area.

Located about 5km to the south of Hakuba train station, Groyu is a wooded area with various style of accommodation most notably lodge and pensions. Most of these accommodations are just a short walk from the Goryu base at Escal Plaza. Goryu also has good nightlife with Tracks Bar as well as lively bars at the Bears Den & Aqua Hotel to name a couple. Some good restaurants are near to the main lodges. Check listing for accommodation in this area. Around Hakuba 47 there is not much for nightlife or accommodation apart the up market Hakuba Powderhouse, which has its own bar and dining area as well as tennis courts that can be used in the green season.

To the north of Hakuba valley is the village of Otari. Otari is home to 3 of the areas ski resorts, Tsugaike Kogen, Hakuba Norikura and Hakuba Cortina. Otari has the most snowfall in the valley and bus services run from Hakuba.

Most of the accommodation in Otari is located at Tsugaike and Hakuba Norikura with numerous hotels and lodges. There are also quite a few souvenir shops and rental stores. Tsugaike and Norikura are a lot quieter than Hakuba at night - great for those who want to ski the Hakuba Valley but at the same time be away from most of the foreign apres ski areas. Norikura a little to the north of Tsugaike and has mainly Japanese style lodges (pensions). At Cortina there is one very large Gothic style hotel- Green Plaza. Check listing for accommodation in this area.

Around the train station is the business area of Hakuba. Here you will find banks, estate agents and the main post office with an ATM that caters for most foreign issued cards. There is also a McDonald's as well as a few good eateries and coffee shops. Bamboo coffee shop is a favourite of ours.