GORYU / Hakuba 47
These sister resorts, connected at the top, offer arguably the best variety for all skill levels in Hakuba. Together they boast the longest run in the valley, stretching from the top of Goryu all the way down to the base of 47, a leg-burning descent that'll have you ready for that après beer. Goryu shines for beginners with excellent learning areas at both the base and the Iimori zone, where the slopes are gentle and wide enough to build confidence without intimidation.

47 is home to the valley's premier terrain park, featuring a sizeable halfpipe and features designed for every level of progression, from first-time park riders to those throwing down serious tricks. The resort also offers fantastic tree riding opportunities, with some zones open to all and others restricted to TRZ (Tree Riding Zone) members. You can join the TRZ program by attending a safety briefing at the base in the morning, after which you'll receive an armband granting access to additional tree zones. It's free and absolutely worth doing if you're planning to explore the trees. The combination of groomed runs, park features, and tree zones makes this a mountain where you could easily spend multiple days without getting bored.

IWATAKE
Once Hakuba's best-kept secret, Iwatake has firmly established itself as a must-visit resort, especially since the opening of their state-of-the-art 10-person high-speed gondola in 2024. This infrastructure upgrade means minimal wait times even on busy days, maximizing your time on snow. The front side gondola laps might just be the best in Hakuba, with multiple routes of varying difficulty all funneling back to the gondola base, allowing groups of different abilities to ride together while choosing their own adventures.

The back side opens up into beautiful wooded trails and includes some short, beginner-friendly tree riding sections perfect for those wanting to try off-piste riding without committing to anything too intimidating. Later in the season, they set up a small terrain park that's perfect for learning basic tricks. What really sets Iwatake apart is how welcoming it is to non-riders. The stunning Mountain Harbor cafe and bakery offers panoramic views that'll make anyone's Instagram feed pop, there's a free kids' play area, the resort is dog-friendly, and they offer activities like snowshoe tours and snow buggy rides. If someone in your group needs a rest day or doesn't ski, this is where they should spend it.

‍CORTINA
Known as the powder paradise of Hakuba, Cortina sits at the northern end of the valley with a higher base elevation, typically receiving more snow than other resorts. The mountain essentially consists of one massive bowl with two ungroomed black runs cutting through it, while the rest of the bowl opens up for unrestricted tree riding. This is advanced terrain only, but for expert riders, the tree zones here offer some of the most consistently good snow in the valley.

However, Cortina's reputation has become something of a double-edged sword. The secret is well and truly out, and the aging lift infrastructure simply can't handle the crowds that descend on powder days. It's not uncommon to wait over an hour in cold, exposed lift lines when the snow is good. Honestly, we don't really recommend it anymore, as you can find equally good tree riding at Tsugaike's DBD or 47's tree zones without the soul-crushing wait times. Your precious powder day is better spent actually riding than standing in line.