Hakuba (Hakuba47 + Happo 1)

Well I arrived in Hakuba with not much knowledge of where the place I was staying was. It was all a bit of a mad rush and forgot to draw/print out a map. Though all was not lost (*ho ho*), I caught a train and got off at Kanabawa station. Started to drag my stuff down the hill and then was pondering which way to go. It must have looked real obvious that I had no idea where I was going as this bus driver stopped asked me what I was looking for. I told him Hakuba Alps Backpackers, he told me to get in and drove me there.

That was the introduction to the friendliest place I have been too.. after a bit of tooing and frowing. I walked into what I thought was the Backpackers and then thought this cant be it, there are 8 chinese and its too nice - I must be walking into their apartment. There was no reception either ... anyway I went back up after trying the restaurant next door and started to chat to the Chinese. They turned out to be from Hong Kong and were dead friendly. Next Ray who was from Colorado and now lives in Osaka then another two from Osaka (and I am sorry I forget their names) but had a chat with them all and then went for an Onsen and food.

Anyway you get the picture its a nice place.

Went out boarding with Ray the next day, up to Happo One - cloudy and a bit of a white out but all together good fun.
On my return Jason (Canadian but also lives in Japan) arrived got chatting and he told me about a bar he started called `MyBar` which is Nagoya... shall be visiting shortly. Went out boarding with him and the guys/girls from HK for the next two days. By this point it had dumped a load of snow and the conditions were really good.

On the fourth day came two lads from the UK, from Sheffield and they were right sound. Sam and Shaun were both basically nuts and took us down some proper off piste. I had a bit of a fall when I missed a turn and dropped 4ft on to my back... but it definately helped step my game up.

All in all Hakuba was amazing ... great slopes, Hakuba 47 / Goryu are connected with 47 having a snowpark which is pretty impressive.

Totally recommend the Hakuba Alps Backpackers and also their bar, Traxs on the weekends which is how I spent my last night.

Anyway here are some pics.