The snow that had fallen for a long time melted, and the trees in the city at the foot of the mountain turned green. The contrast between the white snow remaining in the mountains stretching to the sky and the deep blue sky is beautiful. We will be showing us this majestic season in the Hakuba area of Nagano Prefecture in early May.
At the foot of the mountain, you can finally feel the spring that has come, and when you climb the mountain you can enjoy the snow, as if to savor the end of the high season. To feel the late spring, I went on a trip with "DEFENDER HAKUBA EDITION."
the Hakuba and the defender is deep. It is the venue for Defender Day, a special event aimed at defender owners and fans, and in the past it has even been featured in the body color called Hakuba Silver. Not only winter sports, but also in the Northern Alps, where you can enjoy "EPIC ADVENTURE" in the majestic nature during the green season, the "TOUGH LUXURY" defenders look great.
HAKUBA EDITION is based on the Defender 110 X Dynamic SE D350 model. Inspired by the design team from the UK, fascinated by the majestic scenery of Hakuba Sanzan, the design team has been designed and attached to the tail door and cross car beam end cap. This is a special edition model with 150 units exclusively available in Japan, equipped with a variety of options.
It takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to board the expressway from Tokyo. I got off the nearest interchange at Hakuba and drove along the journey. Even after driving this far, I was able to concentrate on driving without feeling tired, which was due to its high quietness. I was once again able to experience the sound insulation performance, which makes it hard to notice unpleasant wind noise when driving, and was surprised by the low vibrations of the powerful diesel turbo engine and the sound insulation technology inside and outside the vehicle.
The powertrain of the water-cooled inline six-cylinder 2,993cc DOHC turbocharged, delivers a maximum output of 350PS, maintains stable driving at low speeds, not only with torqueful acceleration but also at high speeds. The mountain path leading to Hakuba also proceeds lightly. The smooth ride is achieved while still feeling grounded with the road surface due to the adaptive dynamics that automatically adjust the damper damping force of the suspension according to the driving situation.
After passing through the plains, driving along a gentle slope and crossing three lakes, the mountains of Hakuba Village become a presence. Because it is close to the Sea of Japan, Hakuba mountains have many uneven scenery even in sunny weather due to the influence of yellow sand and other factors, but on this day, it rained a few days ago, washing away dirt from the air and creating a clear, spectacular view.
Overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountains, including Hakubasansan, which appears larger every time we proceeded through Hakuba Village, we crossed the Matsukawa River and arrived at our destination, Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort, today's destination. from the "GRANIX Mountain Guide" we are asking for a guide , and took a gondola and ropeway, and headed in to the mountains.
Arakawa Satoshi, the representative of "GRANIX mountain guide," asked us to give us a guide this time. He began snowboarding from high school and spent his snow bum life in Naeba before moving to Hakuba. In winter, we guide our customers down familiar terrain. The mountain areas that are often entered in the Backcountry (BC) are Hakuba Happo, Goryu, Tsugaike, and Mt. Tateyama. In the summer, he also works as a guide to climbing Shinshu.
Tsugaike Plateau is the gateway that allows easy access to Tsugaike Natural Garden, which is 1,900m above sea level, by using the ropeway that runs from early spring. As a result, the spring field is in a calm state, making it easy for beginners to try, and is bustling with many people. A wide range of skiers and borders, from guided tour participants to veteran locals, head to the slopes from Ropeway Nature Garden Station, experiencing a different world from the spring-rising foothills.
We hiked for about two hours with a break from Tsugaike Ropeway Nature Garden Station, then climbed up to an altitude of around 2,000m, a little before Tenguhara, and then skid. Although there was concern about the heavy stop snow, which is typical of this season, the condition is not good, perhaps due to the effects of this season, when there was a lot of snowfall.
While I was on the move, I was able to enjoy the panorama that was as far as I could see, no matter where I looked, under the cloudless blue sky. It's comparable to powder riding during the high season, and gives you a feel of the natural terrain unique to spring snow. This was a BC tour of Tsugaike, where you can fully experience the scale of nature while being embraced by the mountains of Hakuba.
Although he is attracted to the easy-to-use field, he is still exhausted and unable to move, today's ride is over. Since I was there, I decided to enjoy a little bit of Hakuba drive with Arakawa-san.
As I was flowing along a pleasant forest road with new shoots that were soon accessible from the foothills, I heard that "the seat is comfortable to sit on, yet firmly seated, so it seems like it will not be easy to drag fatigue even when traveling after descending the mountain. The ceiling is high and there is no sense of pressure, so even for long rides, you can enjoy a drive without feeling blocked." Arakawa, who was riding the defender
The storage space is installed in the luggage room and can store items worn such as layers and gloves, while the pockets on the rear doors can store frequently used small items.
a defender who often features off-road track record and driving performance , but he casually goes out into a slightly far field and plays actively. Then I headed home with a solid step. It may be perfect for use as a gear that allows for the essential impossible play that makes adults enjoyable and easy to make.
Here is the car I used this time
"LAND ROVER DEFENDER HAKUBA EDITION"
[Major name] Diesel MHEV model (D350)
total length 4,945mm x total width 1,995mm x total height 1,970mm ●Wheelbase 3,020mm ●Vehicle weight 2,470kg ●Capacity 5 people ●Right-handle ●Drive system AWD ●Engine Water-cooled inline 6-cylinder 2,993cc DOHC turbocharger ●Maximum output 258kw (350PS) / 4,000rpm ●Maximum torque 700N・m / 1,500-3,000rpm
Manufacturer's suggested retail price (including consumption tax) ¥11,309,000 (price as of June 3, 2025)
The exterior features popular options such as the 20-inch Style 5095 wheels and a sliding panoramic roof.
The back door is equipped with a soft closed door that detects the lock and prevents the half door, making it a soft closed door that can be used when your hands are closed.
■Product inquiries
Land Rover Call (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 9:00-18:00)
Toll free number: 0120-18-5568
Click here for the official website
Text: Tatsunori Takanashi
Photo: Go Ito