Dangers & annoyances

Things you have to watch out for in Hakuba

Hakuba is on the whole, like the rest of Japan, a very safe place to visit. But you need to keep the following in the back of your mind. • Avalanches. Do not go backcountry unless you are sufficiently equipped and experienced, and do not jump ropes within the ski resorts. People die every year from avalanches in Hakuba. • Getting lost at night. It is easy if you have had more than a few drinks and it is blizzarding to get lost. It might be tempting to have a nap on the side of the road, but don’t do it. Chances are you won’t wake up again-hypothermia will get you. Ensure you stay with your mates-each looking after each other and making sure you all get home safely. Taxis finish at 2.00 am . • Getting your jacket stolen or mistakenly taken from a bar. This happens a lot more than you might imagine. Never leave wallets , mobile phones or other precious items in your jacket pockets. Do not leave your jacket in the entrance area. Take it inside the bar with you and keep an eye on it if you need to take it off. • Drink driving. Alcohol limit in Japan is 0.00%. If you get caught you will be deported after spending some time in a Japanese prison. And it is not just the driver that has to be wary, passengers also get fined if their driver has been drinking. • Taking drugs. Penalties for even simple posssession of marijuana are up to 5 yrs in jail, though you may be just deported are spending a number of days in jail if you are lucky.