In September, information on season passes and early bird tickets for ski resorts across the country is released all at once, giving you plenty of information to help you decide where to base your winter skiing
People who have already decided where they want to ski have already purchased their winter tickets, but not everyone is like that
Considering various factors such as accessibility from home, the size and number of ski resorts, snow depth, ticket price, and the number of days and times you plan to ski, you'll agonize over the decision right up until the deadline. This is especially true if you're considering buying a season pass for the first time.
So, here we introduce two skiers with different backgrounds who were deeply captivated by the allure of skiing after purchasing their first season pass.
Sayuri Aizawa, a resident of the Kanto region, got her first Hakuba Valley all-mountain season pass (commonly known as the Valley Pass) in the 2024-2025 season and spent a season at Hakuba Valley. Akiho Nagasaki moved to Nagano Prefecture from Kansai after purchasing a season pass and finding a job there.
What did their first season pass bring to their snowboarding lives, and how did it change them from previous seasons? We met at Able Hakuba Goryu on March 30th of last season and talked to them while skiing together.
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Changing the way you skate?! From "relying on luck" to "targeting" style
STEEP Editorial Team (hereinafter STEEP):Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule at the end of the season.
To get straight to the point, what kind of snowboarding life were you both leading before you got your volleyball tickets?
Sayuri Aizawa (hereinafterAizawa):I started snowboarding seriously after I became a working adult. I've been snowboarding for nine years now. Back then, people who lived close by would get together and go to the slopes in one car, like a "shared ride" style. We would all snowboard together, and on the way back we would have dinner or go to a hot spring before heading home. It was a typical way of enjoying snowboarding.
Since we had to coordinate our trips with friends who had cars, the driver often had the final say on where to go, so it was rare for me to say to myself, "I'm going to that ski resort today."
NagasakiAkiho(hereinafter Nagasaki):I also started snowboarding in my first year of university, and it's been six seasons since then. But until I bought a volleyball pass last season, I was lucky if I could go two or three times a season. I'd
coordinate my days off with friends and just go, saying, "Let's go!" So, I wouldn't know if the conditions that day were powder or hard, icy until I got there. It was completely up to luck. The idea of choosing the conditions never even crossed my mind.
STEEP:After going from that style to getting a volleyball ticket, what was the first thing that changed?
Nagasaki:Everything has changed (laughs). The biggest change is the number of days I go snowboarding. I used to go snowboarding two or three times a season, but suddenly it increased to 25 or even 30 times. I've surpassed the total number of days I've snowboarded in my entire snowboarding career up to that point in just one season.
STEEP:That's a dramatic change. Has it changed how you choose where to skate?
Aizawa: I think that might be the biggest change for me. I've made it a habit to check the weekend weather map starting around Wednesday. I'll think things like, "With this winter pressure pattern, it looks like it'll snow in the Otari area (Tsugaike, Norikura, Cortina) near the Niigata prefectural border," or "The westerly winds are strong, so Hakuba 47, with its valley topography that offers good shelter from the wind, might be a good target." I
've changed to a more proactive approach, predicting the best conditions for the day and "going out to target" them.
Nagasaki:That's right. Hakuba Valley is long from north to south, so the weather can be completely different depending on the area, even on the same day. Even if the Hakuba area is blocked by strong winds, we can quickly switch to Plan B, like, "Okay, let's go to Mt. Jigatake on the south side."
Having so many options is really reassuring. The risk of a trip being a wasted effort has been almost eliminated.
STEEP:So you've shifted from a "leave it to chance" approach to a style where you read the weather and "target" your moves. I imagine your daily routine has changed as well, hasn't it?
Nagasaki: It's completely different. Before, I felt a strong need to "get my money's worth" from the lift ticket, so I would ski from morning until the lifts closed in the evening. But with a valet pass, I have the peace of mind that "I can ski anytime."
So now I can enjoy truly luxurious ways of spending my time, like skiing just a few runs on an untouched slope first thing in the morning and heading home by 10 a.m. before the snow gets rough.
Aizawa: I totally understand that.
Just enjoying the best conditions, then relaxing at a cafe in the afternoon or going to a hot spring. Being freed from the feeling of being rushed for time was a huge mental change. I think I shifted from skiing that focused on quantity to skiing that pursues quality.
Changes in daily life: the slopes become a part of your daily life?
STEEP:When your style changes, it seems like it affects not only how you ski but also your lifestyle itself. In particular, how did your weekdays change?
Aizawa:For some reason, the best powder days often happen on weekdays (laughs). Since getting a valet pass, if I'm convinced from the weather forecast that there will definitely be good snow on a particular day, I take a day off without hesitation.
I can have the ski resort all to myself, which is incomparable to the crowds on weekends. I think this is the greatest privilege I've been able to enjoy because I have a valet pass.
Nagasaki: I was still a university student during the season, so on days when the best conditions were expected, I would intentionally schedule my classes for the afternoon and ski hard in the mornings. I would also connect to Wi-Fi at a cafe at the foot of the mountain and take online classes.
It felt like the ski resort wasn't a special place anymore, but rather an extension of my daily life, a part of my "living area."
STEEP:It really sounds like snowboarding has become an integral part of your lifestyle. What about the fun you have after riding, the so-called après-snow?
Aizawa:That has changed. Before, I naturally ate a lot of food at the ski resort, but now that I'm finishing up earlier in the morning more often, I've started to enjoy exploring delicious restaurants within Hakuba Village.
I like Grindel, which is popular for its hearty set meals, and Nou Cafe, which serves delicious local vegetables.
Nagasaki:My base was in the Omachi area, so I often went to places like "Tawaraya," a Chinese restaurant with amazing gyoza, and "Kunkuntei," a place where locals gather. I also learned a lot about good places from the locals through our interactions. It felt like my enjoyment of things other than skiing was expanding more and more.
Connecting people, knowledge, and fields expands the world
STEEP:You mentioned connections with people. Did the volleyball tickets lead to any changes in your relationships?
Nagasaki:Perhaps the biggest takeaway was the connections I made with so many different people.
Everyone I met prioritized spending the season at Hakuba Valley above all else, and I was shocked to find that most of them were people I would never normally encounter, given that I only ski a few times a year. Despite our different backgrounds, we
all connected through the common thread of "valley tickets," and I found their stories fascinating. Above all, I was surprised and inspired by everyone's high level of enthusiasm. The valley tickets were quite expensive for a student like me (laughs), but I gained so much from the experience.
Aizawa:My circle of friends has grown tremendously. I've met locals and been able to ski with them, and they've taught me a lot of real-world information that you can't find on the internet, like "That stream is dangerous in early spring" or "Tomorrow there will be a southerly wind, so that other slope is better."
Connecting with people who have different skiing styles and values has really deepened my understanding of the world of snowboarding.
STEEP:When you spend that much time at the same ski resort, your perspective on the slopes changes, right?
Aizawa:That's right. On south-facing slopes that get plenty of sunlight, the snow softens quickly, while on north-facing slopes, the snow quality remains good throughout the season. I hadn't really paid much attention to that before, but by going there often, I've become more aware of the terrain's conditions.
Nagasaki:On ridges where the wind blows through, the snow gets blown away and hardens, but the best powder accumulates on the leeward terrain. You start to understand these things intuitively while skiing. It's a feeling of increasing the "resolution" of your ability to see the slopes, which you gain by going there throughout the season. I've discovered the fun of exploring the slopes, rather than just skiing down the courses.
Volleyball tickets to enrich your snowboarding life
STEEP:From what you've told me, it's clear that the valet pass is more than just a season pass. To reiterate, what do you like about Hakuba Valley, and what are your favorite ski resorts?
Aizawa:I think the best thing is being able to choose a location depending on the weather and other factors. Depending on the conditions, we can flexibly choose to go to Otari, Hakuba, or Omachi, and the fact that we can travel within an hour's drive is a great advantage.
My favorite ski resort is Cortina's Itahira course when it's snowing. The course is wide and the runs are beautiful, so you can ski in the powder with ease. Of the groomed slopes, I think Happo is the best for practice. Riesen and Skyline have steep slopes and long runs, so you have to work hard to ski. I also like the gondola routine at Iwatake. It's long, and the side walls have varying terrain, so it's fun
Nagasaki:For me, the volleyball ticket was a life-changing purchase. I even moved from Kansai to Nagano Prefecture. If I hadn't bought it, I think I'd still be just a casual snowboarder who only skis a few times a season. It taught me the true fun and depth of snowboarding.
My favorite ski resort is Jigatake. The lower part of the resort has a single, gentle slope, while the upper part is shorter but has a relatively rich terrain. It's really friendly, catering to a wide range of people, with a gentle tree run course, a park next to the lift, and family-friendly facilities. When I went to Happo at the beginning of the season to ski, I almost cried because I couldn't ski, so Jigatake was the perfect place to practice my skills. Another plus point is that if you have a volleyball ticket, you can get free curry rice on weekdays, lol
STEEP: Thank you both so much for sharing your valuable insights.
10th Anniversary Hakuba Valley All Mountain Season Pass Early Bird Discount Available Until October 30th
The 2025-2026 season marks the 10th year since the start of valley ticket sales. Anticipation for the 2025-2026 season is building as each ski resort in Hakuba Valley announces new season pass types and updates on expanded facilities and services. The early bird discount period, where you can get tickets at a lower price than the regular price, runs until October 30th. Be sure to sift through the abundance of information before the season begins
| Ticket type | Sale price Adult | Sales price for children (ages 6-12) | Sales period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Bird | 154,000 yen | 81,000 yen | August 29th (Friday) - October 30th (Thursday) |
| usually | 184,000 yen | 97,000 yen | 10/31 (Friday) - 2/2 (Monday) |
Information
Hakuba Valley
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