The White Horse Property Group was established by myself to manage hotels in Hakuba. My passion for snow brought me here to Japan and I really enjoy having the chance to show others why Hakuba is a world class ski resort area. As the word gets out about our huge mountains and great powder we are constantly looking at other hotels and accommodation options to fit in with our customer requests. I am happy to announce that we have now linked in with the Phoenix Wing  to offer  fully self contained chalets for those who would like a bit of privacy within a very picturesque setting.  The chalets are a perfect retreat for families offering western beds for the parents and traditional futons for the children. Couples can enjoy a romantic getaway with their own fireplace and combined with a bottle of champagne and a romantic dinner served in your own dining room certainly makes a great way to cap off a brilliant day on the slopes. I have eaten at the restaurant and must say I was very impressed. I look forward to matching up some wines with the delicious menu items. Another tough job but someone has to do it. Contact me here for further information on yet another great place to stay in Hakuba.

There are endless backcountry options in Hakuba. You could ski everyday for 10 years and still not see it all. Hakuba has easy access to which ever style of terrain you want.
Side country – Able to drop in off the side of the mountain and end up back at a lift.
Slack country – a short stroll or ski down to a drop off point where there is an easy hike or traverse  back to the resort.
Back country – Hike up and hike out. (Get picked up if you are staying at the White Horse)
The picture shows a popular exit point from some amazing easy access back country. The snow bridge is remnants of avalanche debris that slides down into the valley and covers the river completely. This shot in April shows only a small section left. After that goes it is a case of getting your feet wet. It looks quite perilous however the river isn’t deep. If you fall in though you will certainly know what it feels like to swim in ice water. Some people carry a couple of plastic bags to put on their feet when crossing in the early season before it builds up or once the bridge is gone. For more info on Hakuba back country talk to your hotel reservations before booking to ensure the hotel you are staying at can provide you with the knowledge required to venture out into this amazing playground.

The White Horse Property Group also manage the Double Black Hotel in Hakuba. Situated in a forest setting in the popular Wadano area Double Black was extensively renovated in 2008. It is a large log building with 22 guest rooms and a vibrant bar and restaurant. With many of the services of the Arctic White Horse in Echoland, we have continued our concept of a hotel that offers great, personable service and very comfortable stylish surrounds. Contact us at the www.whitehorse-hakuba.com to book today.

Where to stay when you come to Hakuba. When I was holidaying here each year I tried a few different areas which gave me a good insight in how the valley all links up. For anybody who contacts me in regards to accommodation I will always be honest and assist them with what I would consider their best choice. Obviously I want everyone to come and stay with me because I think we can give them the best of what Hakuba has to offer however sometimes we do recommend other hotels or ryokans (Japanese guest house). So if it is a hotel room, lodge, self contained chalet, house, backpackers or a ryokan that you are looking for please contact me and I will be happy to point you in the right direction

We have a number of snow Parks to hit while you are in Hakuba. Although I live for the powder and the natural terrain here, we always have a number of guests who love to play in the parks. Hakuba47 has had the honors for the best park over the last few years however the other resorts are starting to pick up the pace and have developed some great areas. Yanaba has a good set up and is open in the evenings. Tsugaike had some really big hits for some big competitions during the season and Happo One has joined up with the High Cascade snow camps  to develop their park. We keep an eye on what the resorts are doing each week and assist our guests in determining where they would like to go. This season we also had some great instructors available for lessons in the park so if you feel like you need a little help on landing that Double Mctwist 1260 just like Shaun White then let us know when you are booking  with the White Horse that you would like to organise some lessons.

It is an unusual sight to see the tiered fields at the valley floor. These areas are rice paddies which are scattered everywhere throughout Japan. Many people ask me about these large areas and are surprised to hear that rice grows in the valley. It is difficult to imagine the temperature being warm enough here when we have so much snow around us.  Hakuba rice is famous because of the water that flows through the fields which is so fresh and clean.  There is never a shortage of water here as it is constantly running off the mountains all year round.