THE COURSES IN DETAIL GROOMERSBeginners’arebetteroffatTsugaikeorGoryu.-therearen’tanyrealbeginnercoursesatIwatake.For intermediateriderstherearenumerouscourses,withtheonesintheupperhalfoftheresorthavingthebest snow.Infactonceyouhaveriddenthegondolatothetop,youcanspendmostofthedayusingliftstoaccessthe manyslopes.Onassunnydaythe“South”course(straightoffthegondola)hasthebestviewsbyamile.For advanced runs the “White Ribbon” course is the best. POWDER RUNSForpowderhoundsthe“View”coursesonthebacksideofthemountainarethego(View Aisalargenaturalgully and is the best). The “Dangan” course is also good for powder as is “Kamoshika Poket” course. TERRAIN PARKIwatake’sDCParkisoneofthebetteronesinHakuba.Hastheusualarrayofkickers,tables,boxes,railsandso on and is well serviced by a high speed lift. There is no half pipe - go to 47 for that.
FAMILY AND KIDS AREASIwatakehasputalotofthoughtintomakingtheresortfamilyfriendlywiththe“WhitePark”,situatedatthe topofthegondola.Itcomescompletewithatubingandsleddingarea,igloostoplayinside,anareatodo“snowangels”andaBIGharnessswingwhichsendsyoubackandforwardovertheedgeofthe mountain.Everythingisfree(theylendoutsledsandtubes)andtheonlyactivitythatwillcostyouisthe swing(500).Ofcourseyouwillneedtopayforthegondolaride,andyouwillnodoubtwanttopopinto the nearby Mountain Harbour Cafe so you won’t get away scott free. PLACES TO EATAtthetopofthegondolaistheskyarccafe/deli.Normalbellyfillingskiresortfoodsuchascurryand ramenareonthemenuhere. AlsouptopistheMountainHarbourBakery/Cafewithboththebestviewing deck in Hakuba and the best muffins and ham/cheese croissant sandwiches. SKI/BOARD RENTALSSpicyRentalshasashopatthebottomofthegondola.TheyalsohaveotherstoresatHappo,Echoland andTsugaike.Mostconvenientlyyoucancollectatanyoftheir5storesandreturn/swaptoanyofthe other.PLACES TO STAY AND GETTING THEREMostpeopleprefertostayinHakubaitselfbutifyoudowanttostaynearbytheIwatake Apartmentsarea goodplacetostay.Iwatakeis5-10minsbycarfromthecentreofHakuba-thereisfreeparking.Oryou can use the free shuttle buses if you don’t have wheels. For car rentals check out our car rental page.
•DON’T MISS: The Mountain Harbour cafe at the very top of the resort. Great views, coffee and muffins!•BEST AVOID View B course on the Back Bowl unless you like steep moguls with bare patch of ground.•BEST POWDER: The “Iwatake Back Bowl” runs, in particular the View A course are hard to beat.
THE COURSES IN DETAIL GROOMERSBeginners’arebetteroffatTsugaikeorGoryu.-therearen’tany realbeginnercoursesatIwatake.Forintermediateridersthere arenumerouscourses,withtheonesintheupperhalfofthe resorthavingthebestsnow.Infactonceyouhaveriddenthe gondolatothetop,youcanspendmostofthedayusingliftsto accessthemanyslopes.Onassunnydaythe“South”course (straightoffthegondola)hasthebestviewsbyamile.For advanced runs the “White Ribbon” course is the best. POWDER RUNSForpowderhoundsthe“View”coursesonthebacksideofthe mountainarethego(ViewAisalargenaturalgullyandisthe best).The“Dangan”courseisalsogoodforpowderasis “Kamoshika Poket” course. TERRAIN PARKIwatake’sDCParkisoneofthebetteronesinHakuba.Hasthe usualarrayofkickers,tables,boxes,railsandsoonandis wellservicedbyahighspeedlift.Thereisnohalfpipe-goto 47 for that.
FAMILY AND KIDS AREASIwatakehasputalotofthoughtintomakingtheresortfamily friendlywiththe“WhitePark”,situatedatthetopofthe gondola.Itcomescompletewithatubingandsleddingarea, igloostoplayinside,anareatodo“snowangels”andaBIG harnessswingwhichsendsyoubackandforwardoverthe edgeofthemountain.Everythingisfree(theylendoutsleds andtubes)andtheonlyactivitythatwillcostyouistheswing (500).Ofcourseyouwillneedtopayforthegondolaride,and youwillnodoubtwanttopopintothenearbyMountainHarbour Cafe so you won’t get away scott free. PLACES TO EATAtthetopofthegondolaistheskyarccafe/deli.Normalbelly fillingskiresortfoodsuchascurryandramenareonthemenu here.AlsouptopistheMountainHarbourBakery/Cafewith boththebestviewingdeckinHakubaandthebestmuffinsand ham/cheese croissant sandwiches. SKI/BOARD RENTALSSpicyRentalshasashopatthebottomofthegondola.They alsohaveotherstoresatHappo,EcholandandTsugaike.Most convenientlyyoucancollectatanyoftheir5storesand return/swap to any of the other.PLACES TO STAY AND GETTING THEREMostpeopleprefertostayinHakubaitselfbutifyoudowantto staynearbytheIwatakeApartmentsareagoodplacetostay. Iwatakeis5-10minsbycarfromthecentreofHakuba-thereis freeparking.Oryoucanusethefreeshuttlebusesifyoudon’t have wheels. For car rentals check out our car rental page.
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IWATAKE SKI RESORT
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•DON’T MISS: The Mountain Harbour cafe at the very top of the resort. Great views, coffee and muffins!•BEST AVOID View B course on the Back Bowl unless you like steep moguls with bare patch of ground.•BEST POWDER: The “Iwatake Back Bowl” runs, in particular the View A course are hard to beat.