Happo One

Home mountain Happo One is the largest – and oldest – ski system in the Hakuba Valley, located in western Honshu, Japan's main island. By the way, do you know how it's pronounced? Don't think of the English number "One" but you say "Aaaaaaaaaaaa There are nine ski resorts in the vicinity of Hakuba, but Happo One is perhaps the most famous of them all, with incredible views of the Japanese Alps. During the Winter Olympics in Nagano -98, the alpine events were held here. On average, 12 metres of snow is received per year, and January and February are the most heavily snowed. But it's not primarily the quality of the snow that attracts, that category is easily won by the resorts in Hokkaido, but the long slopes (Happo One's longest piste is eight kilometres long) and the forest skiing. The sparse forest combined with the steep, varied terrain makes it one of the country's best. It is worth remembering that in Japan, off-piste skiing is generally prohibited. In Happo One, however, it is allowed in most of the area, of course at your own risk.