Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort is located in Otari Village in the northern part of HAKUBA VALLEY. The ski resort stretches from north to south, and although each course is not long, there is a reason why it continues to attract hardcore skiers. We asked Oike Takuma and Suzumura Arata, who continue to ski here, about the appeal of the ski resort and asked them to show us their favorite courses. This time, we will be looking at snowboarder Suzumura Arata's story. Click
here to the previous article about Oike Takuma's story
Photo/ Go Ito
What kind of place is Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort?
Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort (hereafter referred to as Hakunori) is located in the northern part of HAKUBA VALLEY in northwestern Nagano Prefecture. As the name suggests, Wakaguri Onsen is located at the foot of the ski resort, and the hot, brown water soothes the body after skiing
Otari Village receives particularly heavy snowfall within HAKUBA VALLEY, with an average annual cumulative snowfall exceeding 6 meters, and it is a region known for its heavy snowfall, with snowfall of over 50 cm in a single day. During the season, cold air frequently flows in from the Sea of Japan, crossing the Northern Alps and frequently dumping snow on Otari Village, the northernmost village in the area. Located about 20 km north of the Sea of Japan, Otari Village is similar to Myoko, a region with heavy snowfall and roughly the same distance from the Sea of Japan. As a result, the area often receives 10 to 20 cm more snow than other ski resorts in HAKUBA VALLEY
How Arata Suzumura, who continues to ski in the Hakuba area, chose Hakunori
Arata Suzumura has been skiing in the Hakuba area for over 20 years. Before making Hakunori his base, he was based in Happo-one, skiing at ski resorts and backcountry areas. During this time, he met Tomohiro Shagawa, who was pioneering the fields throughout Hakuba, and studied under him, starting his guide career at Color Sports Club. However, at a certain point, he left his guiding job to focus on riding.
At the time, he maintained a routine of skiing at Happo in the morning and then at the Otari ski resort in the afternoon. Then, he gradually began to worry about the state of the snow in the Otari area, where he would ski from noon onwards.
Not only does Otari have more snowfall than Hakuba, but the sparse number of people skiing there also makes it easier for good snow to remain. Sensing that this is a little different from Hakuba, he began to observe the region.
Happo's high altitude allows for lift access to the alpine area, and it's also large in scale. However, it's easily affected by wind and often packs up. However, Otari's leeward slopes make it more likely for snow to accumulate than Hakuba. Because it's closer to the Sea of Japan, he imagines that when a slight chill comes in, clouds gather around the large landslide on Mt. Hieda and around Yamanokami and Wakaguri. He analyzes that this may be one of the reasons why Hakunori receives so much snow. Having sensed this during his frequent visits to Otari, Suzumura Arata found a home there and made it his base.
From here, we asked Arata Suzumura about Hakunori's appeal in a Q&A format. Please enjoy the image footage that focuses on him
Three Hakunori courses that Arata Suzumura likes to ski
Q. Please tell us in your own words what makes Hakunori unique。
A. Actually, a long time ago, there was a boardercross course on the 5th lift in Hakunori, and I started skiing there and became a pro. This was the first place in the area to open up to snowboarding, and there were multiple half-pipes. There were also big competitions, and it was a lively place. At the time, famous people would come out of the forest with big grins on their faces and say, "The terrain here is great."
The ski resort isn't long vertically, but it's wide and compact. It's a lot of fun when you can find a good line. It may be hard to notice when you're just skiing down the course, but once you understand the small swells and the lines that connect the terrain, the ways you can enjoy it become more diverse. Also, there's a wide, gentle slope at the base of the ski resort, so even when friends come with their kids, it's not too crowded and they can ski safely
And then there are the hot springs. There's the Alps Hotel, Wakaguri Onsen, and Shimorose Onsen (Sante Inn Otari) down the road. It's the only ski resort in HAKUBA VALLEY that has "hot spring" in its name. One of the best things about it is being able to soak in the baths after a day of skiing
Q. Can you name your three favorite courses?
A. First of all, there's the Wakaguri Forest Course. The pair lift on this course is surrounded on both sides by conifers, so just riding it feels great.
The slope is really suitable for beginners. There is also a detour course that runs through the forest, and there are small banks here and there, so you can have fun even if you're not going fast. The forest between these detours has a slope that even children can enter, and you can do tree runs, so even beginners can enjoy sliding between the trees.
The idea that gentle slopes are boring is a preconceived notion, and I ski with the goal of enjoying gentle slopes in mind. If you look closely, you'll see that even this mellow slope is subtly undulating. It's a good idea to look around and pay attention to the small banks, the slopes closer to the rider's right section of the course, and the terrain connected to the lift posts. If you also try making lots of turns with short or curved boards, or get creative with how you play, gentle slopes that you may have overlooked before will start to look like great courses. The
entire course is in a valley that protects from the wind, so it's fine even in tough conditions.
The second is the "Highway Course." From the top, you can see the Northern Alps, including the Hakuba Sanzan, Mt. Karamatsu, and Mt. Goryu, all connected to the mountains, and it's a great vantage point from which to get a panoramic view of Happo and Goryu.
The first slope from the lift exit is pleasant to ski on in the morning, but it can get hard, so ski with caution. When it gets rough, it can get quite hard.
My favorite part is when the course wraps around to the left after the first slope. There's a big regular bank here, and I really love making turns onto it
The regular side is a wall-like terrain, so you can slide down to the bottom by hitting it like you're surfing. The slope is a gentle stream with a moderate one-sided slope, and the packed snow is nicely formed, so the toe edge easily bites in, allowing you to maintain the speed to easily hit the next wall and smoothly connect turns. Also, the face, starting with the first large bank, faces north, so it's great because you can trust the snow quality and go all out
The last course is the "Kamoshika Course." This course runs straight up the ridge from the middle of the highway course, separate from the valley terrain. You can build up speed from the upper part of the highway course, and it's the perfect place for those who enjoy carving on groomed slopes. The narrow course on the ridge widens as you go down, so it's fun to change the arc of your turns as you ski. It's also popular with skiers who like to drop vertically
Q. Tell us about the newly installed 11-line lift。
A. Regarding using Route 11, what Takuma said last time . The steepest slope is right after you get off the lift. There's no doubt that it's a very difficult area. The north slope facing Cortina is steepest at the back and gradually becomes mellower, but you need to be very careful at the top.
The terrain is prone to avalanches due to the northerly winds that can create wind slabs. The snow is often unstable, so extreme caution is required. If you're at the top, take care not to cause an avalanche, and if you're at the bottom, keep an eye out for avalanches from above
There is a route that leads to Oyasawa on the Tsugaike side, but it involves a lot of lateral movement, so you could get stuck if the snow is too deep. Don't go in alone; accompany a skier or be sure to bring poles
The area accessed by lift 11 is an unmanaged mountain area. To be frank, it is a place only accessible to those with serious backcountry experience. If you think you'll be fine because you're wearing a helmet and carrying avalanche gear, you should practice using your gear before skiing here and learn how to deal with accidents before heading out
Please be aware that this is a lift in a mountainous area
<The person who taught me>
Arata Suzumura
Since the 1990s, he has lived a snowy mountain bum life in North America, seeking waves in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka when there is no snow. In Japan, he has focused on the Hakuba area, aiming for big slopes. In 2019, he moved to Otari Village and runs the guesthouse "Oyado WOOD," pursuing the mountains and sea with the changing seasons
Born in 1977 in Aichi Prefecture/resident of Otari Village
Instagram: aratasuzumura
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■Information
Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort
〒399-9422 Hakuba Norikura Kogen, Otari Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano Prefecture
Official website: https://www.hakunori.com/
Official social media: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube