PerhapsthesingularbestviewinHakubawith boththevillageitselfandthemountainrange laidoutinfrontofyou.Itisa10minutewalk fromJRHakuba,soashortdrivefrom anywhereinHakuba.Therearegreatviewson theroaduptothehotelafteryoucrossthe bridge,andfortheenergeticyoucanhikeup the slope behind the hotel.
5. IWATAKE CITY BAKERY SKYDECK
TheskydeckislocatedatthetopofIwatakeski Resortbutitisincludedinthislistasmanynon skierswillenjoyavisittothebakerycafe.Sip onahotcappucinowhilstmunchingdowna freshlybakedsconeallwhilsttakinginthe amazingviewsfromtheskydeck.Itis undoubtedlythebestviewofHappoSkiResort inthevalley.Youneedtobuyareturngondola pass at the bottom.
2. OHASHI BRIDGE
ThisviewpointtakesintheMatsukawaRiver (usuallymostlyfrozenoverinwinter)aswellas the3highestpeaksofHakuba;HakubaYari, HakubuaShakushi,HakubaDake.Itis probablythemostphotographedviewin Hakuba.FromtheHappoBusTerminalitisa 10-15minutewalkoracoupleofminsbycar (car park on right after crossing the bridge).
3.OIDE PARK
Manyfeaturescombinetomakethisavery photogenicpoint.Firstyouhavetheclearblue runningwateroftheHimegawaRiver.Then youhavethepicturesquefootbridgeanda coupleoftraditionalgrassedthatchedhouses. Finallythebackdropisofcoursethemountain range in the distance.
TAKE TIME TO GET THE BROADER PICTURE
Alloftheseviewpointscanbevisitedwithoutacar,althoughofcoursehavingacarwillmakeiteasier.Besttimetogois absolutelythemorningaround9-11am.Tooearlyandthelightcontrastistoogreat,andafternoonshotsresultinover exposure of the sky due to the position of the sun.
BEST PANORAMIC VIEWPOINTS IN HAKUBA
4.NODAIRA VILLAGE
Thisoneisa15mindrivesoyouwilldefinitely needacartogethere.Thequaintlittle agriculturalvillagesitshighupinthe mountainsontheothersideofthevalley. Beingfurtherawayfromthemountainrangeof Hakubathantheotherviewpointsitisa fantasticspotforgettingpanoramicviews.Itis notwellknownsoyouwillprobablybetheonly touristshereaswell.Taketimetohaveawalk through the village.
6.OGAWA OBSERVATORY
Anotheroneyouwillneedacarfor.Highupon thesteepandwindingroute36(turnoffonthe waytoNagano)areseveralwonderfulvantage pointstoviewtheentiretyoftheNorthern Alps. Whatmakestheseviewsuniqueisthatyou canseetheseriesofforestedridgesand valleysintheforegroundofthealpswhich completethelandscape.Abouta30-40min drive 1 way.Photo: Manu from Manu’s Massages
Alloftheseviewpointscanbevisitedwithoutacar,although ofcoursehavingacarwillmakeiteasier.Besttimetogois absolutelythemorningaround9-11am.Tooearlyandthe lightcontrastistoogreat,andafternoonshotsresultinover exposure of the sky due to the position of the sun.
TheskydeckislocatedatthetopofIwatakeski Resortbutitisincludedinthislistasmanynon skierswillenjoyavisittothebakerycafe.Sipona hotcappucinowhilstmunchingdownafreshly bakedsconeallwhilsttakingintheamazingviews fromtheskydeck.Itisundoubtedlythebestviewof HappoSkiResortinthevalley.Youneedtobuya return gondola pass at the bottom.
4.NODAIRA VILLAGE
Thisoneisa15mindrivesoyouwilldefinitely needacartogethere.Thequaintlittleagricultural villagesitshighupinthemountainsontheother sideofthevalley.Beingfurtherawayfromthe mountainrangeofHakubathantheother viewpointsitisafantasticspotforgetting panoramicviews.Itisnotwellknownsoyouwill probablybetheonlytouristshereaswell.Take time to have a walk through the village.
6.OGAWA OBSERVATORY
Anotheroneyouwillneedacarfor.Highuponthe steepandwindingroute36(turnoffonthewayto Nagano)areseveralwonderfulvantagepointsto viewtheentiretyoftheNorthern Alps.Whatmakes theseviewsuniqueisthatyoucanseetheseries offorestedridgesandvalleysintheforegroundof thealpswhichcompletethelandscape.Abouta 30-40 min drive 1 way.Photo: Manu from Manu’s Massages