The snow that has been falling for a long time melts, and the trees in the town at the foot of the mountain turn green. The remaining white snow on the mountains stretching into the sky creates a beautiful contrast with the deep blue sky. This majestic season is witnessed in the Hakuba area of Nagano Prefecture in early May
At the foot of the mountain, you can feel the arrival of spring at last, and up the mountain you can enjoy the snow as you savor the end of the high season. To feel this late arrival of spring, I the Defender Hakuba Edition .
Hakuba and the Defender have a deep connection. It is the venue for Defender Day, a special event for Defender owners and fans, and in the past even offered a body color called Hakuba Silver. The Northern Alps are a great place for winter sports, and in the green season you can enjoy epic adventures amidst the magnificent nature, making the Defender a perfect fit for the tough and luxurious Defender.
The HAKUBA EDITION is based on the Defender 110 X Dynamic SE D350 model. Inspired by the majestic scenery of the Hakuba Sanzan mountains, the design team in the UK designed signature graphic stickers that are affixed to the tail doors and cross car beam end caps. This special edition vehicle is limited to 150 units in Japan and comes equipped with a variety of options.
It's about three and a half hours on the highway from Tokyo. I get off at the interchange nearest to Hakuba and begin my journey. The reason I was able to concentrate on driving without feeling tired during the drive is due to the car's exceptional quietness. I was once again impressed by the soundproofing performance, which almost completely eliminates unpleasant wind noise while driving, and was amazed by the minimal vibration of the powerful diesel turbo engine and the soundproofing technology used inside and outside the car
The water-cooled, inline 6-cylinder, 2,993cc, DOHC turbocharged powertrain delivers a maximum output of 350 PS, and not only does it provide torqueful acceleration, but it also maintains stable driving at low revolutions even at high speeds. It also cruises smoothly along the mountain roads leading to Hakuba. The smooth ride, while still giving you a sense of contact with the road, is thanks to the Adaptive Dynamics system, which automatically adjusts the suspension's damping force to suit the driving conditions
As we leave the plains, drive along gentle slopes, and cross three lakes, the mountains of Hakuba Village come into sharper focus. Because the Hakuba mountains are close to the Sea of Japan, they are often clouded in color even on clear days due to the effects of yellow sand, but on this day, it had rained a few days prior, washing away the dirt in the air and revealing a clear, spectacular view
As we drove through Hakuba Village, we were overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountains, including the Hakuba Sanzan, which seemed to grow larger as we crossed the Matsukawa River and arrived at our destination for the day, Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort. We met up with our guide, GRANIX mountain guide Satoshi Arakawa, and took the gondola and ropeway to enter the mountain.
Our guide this time was Satoshi Arakawa, the representative of GRANIX mountain guide. He started snowboarding in high school, and after a stint as a snowbum in Naeba, he moved to Hakuba. In the winter, he guides guests to the terrain he is familiar with. His favorite backcountry (BC) mountain ranges are Hakuba Happo, Goryu, Tsugaike, and Tateyama. In the summer, he also works as a mountaineering guide in Shinshu
Tsugaike Kogen is the gateway to Tsugaike Nature Park, located at an altitude of 1,900m, and can be accessed easily by using the ropeway that operates from early spring. As a result, the fields are bustling with people in the spring when the conditions are calm, making them suitable for beginners. From guided tour participants to experienced locals, a wide range of skiers and snowboarders head to the slopes from the Ropeway Nature Park Station, experiencing a world completely different from the beautiful spring weather at the foot of the mountain
We hiked for about two hours with breaks in between from Tsugaike Ropeway Shizenen Station, and climbed to an altitude of about 2,000m, just before Tenguhara, and then skied down. We were worried about the heavy, wet snow that is typical of this season, but the conditions were pretty good, perhaps due to the heavy snowfall this season
During the trip, under a cloudless blue sky, we were able to enjoy a spectacular panoramic view as far as the eye could see, and we were able to enjoy a pleasant ride. The feeling of gliding through the natural terrain that spring snow offers is comparable to powder riding in the peak season. Surrounded by the Hakuba mountains, this was a BC tour at Tsugaike where we were able to fully experience the scale of nature
Although I was tempted to leave this easy-to-enjoy field behind, I decided to end today's ride before I got too tired and couldn't move. Since I was there, I decided to enjoy a little drive around Hakuba with Mr. Arakawa
As we drove along a pleasant forest road with new buds sprouting and accessible not far from the foot of the mountain, Arakawa, who was driving a Defender for the first time, had a favorable impression. "These seats are comfortable and enveloping, yet still provide a firm seating position, so I don't think I'll be too tired when I travel back down the mountain. The ceiling is high and there's no sense of oppression, so I think I'll be able to enjoy a long drive without feeling claustrophobic . "
The storage space in the luggage compartment can hold layers, gloves and other personal items, while the pockets in the rear doors can hold frequently used small items
The Defender often featured for its off-road performance and track record , but it's also perfect for casually heading out to a field a little further away for some active fun, then returning home with a firm step. It may be the perfect vehicle for such adult fun, as an essential piece of gear that makes the impossible possible.
The car used this time is
"LAND ROVER DEFENDER HAKUBA EDITION"
[Main specifications] Diesel MHEV model (D350)
Length 4,945mm x Width 1,995mm x Height 1,970mm ● Wheelbase 3,020mm ● Vehicle weight 2,470kg ● Seating capacity 5 ● Right-hand drive ● Drive system AWD ● Engine Water-cooled inline 6-cylinder 2,993cc DOHC turbocharged ● 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 20-inch Style 5095 wheels and a sliding panoramic roof
The back door is equipped with a soft-close door that detects the locked state and quietly locks to prevent the door from being left ajar, which is great when your hands are full
■For inquiries regarding products, please call
Land Rover (9:00-18:00, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays).
Toll-free number: 0120-18-5568.
For official website, please click here.
Text: Tatsunori Takanashi
Photo: Go Ito