Hakuba Cortina is by far the best resort in the Hakuba Valley for those in search of steep and deep turns on a Japanese powder day. A combination of factors makes Hakuba Cortina ski resort the ultimate destination for those deep days, starting with the pitch of the trees. Unlike other Japanese resorts, Cortina opens its glades without restriction and this makes for an incredible experience. The steep pitch combined with the widely spaced trees makes this the pinnacle of a trip to Hakuba. Sadly, talk of the quality of Cortina’s tree riding is widespread meaning it is no longer a secret. This can result in some pretty big lift cues after a snowfall.

HAKUBA CORTINA FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Arriving at Cortina you at met by the sight of the iconic Green Park Hotel. A Tudor style hotel offering ski in ski out accommodation at Cortina. Most of the resorts facilities are inside the hotel, which can be pricey so if like me you are on a budget… bring your own lunch. Walking through the hotel to the slopes you will soon get a sense of excitement and anticipation, everyone is talking about getting in the lift line for the first lift.

Stepping outside the hotel you can be forgiven for thinking Cortina is a bit of nothing. There are three lifts at the base area which all run fairly slowly and it’s hard to get an appreciation for the terrain from the base area.

HAKUBA CORTINA SKI AREA

Similar to most Hakuba Valley ski resorts the terrain stats are nothing to get excited about, but who goes to Cortina to ride its 16 trails? Well, the Japanese, which is another reason it’s great because its best asset is mainly avoided by the locals. Cortina’s 16 runs sit mainly within a bowl and can be expanded if you consider that it is linked to neighbour Hakuba Norikura, but you will either need the Hakuba Valley Pass or a combined lift ticket to make use of this link.

There is some pretty decent beginner runs at Cortina however there are better Hakuba resorts to learn at. The real draw is the free ride zones including the backcountry lap that leads through to Norikura. The trees through these routes are well spread out, perfectly so! The combination of the well-spaced trees and the steep pitch makes Cortina an absolute must-visit resort.

The approach to off-piste at Cortina ski resort is different to the neighbouring Hakuba resorts. Most Hakuba resorts make you attend a course before you can ride in the dedicated off-piste zones. Hakuba Cortina is more relaxed and you are free to explore the terrain at your discretion. The tree-skiing at Hakuba Cortina is steeper, better and blessed with huge amounts of snowfall what’s not to love? Well, the one downside to skiing and snowboarding at Hakuba Cortina is that everyone knows how good it is. Be prepared to stand in lift queues but don’t worry, there is plenty of Japow to go around.

As mentioned above Hakuba Cortina ski resort is a small resort if you only take the trail map into consideration. Connected via lift to Hakuba Nortikura this opens more terrain including a fantastic backcountry route to Norikura through the trees from the top of the Number 4 chair.

BEGINNERS TERRAIN AT HAKUBA CORTINA

Cortina isn’t best known for its beginner ski and snowboard terrain but actually, it would be a decent place to learn your turns. The main beginner trail runs back down to the base area from the No. 1 chair and is a fairly long stretch. The beginner’s trail is nice and wide offering plenty of space for beginners to learn.

Also, what better place to learn than in a ski resort with copious amounts of snow, think about those soft landings.

INTERMEDIATE TERRAIN AT HAKUBA CORTINA

Intermediates will enjoy riding at Hakuba Cortina but should also consider adding the Norikura ski resort to their lift pass. A dual Cortina Norikura lift pass will open up more intermediate terrain. The Hiedayam Rinkan Course from the top of No. 4 chair allows intermediates to ski from the top of the resort dipping in and out of the trees within their comfort level.

ADVANCED TERRAIN AT HAKUBA CORTINA

Advanced skiers and snowboarders will have an absolute field day at Hakuba Cortina. The steep Hiedayama Courses are great but in reality, everyone is at Cortina for the trees. This is where Hakuba Cortina really stands out with its wide tree runs. Tree skiing at Hakuba Cortina is at your own risk and you should treat it with caution. If possible ride with a friend and bring the correct safety gear. Although the terrain is in bounds there is more snow than most skiers and snowboarders are used to so it wouldn’t be that difficult to run into trouble.

FREESTYLE TERRAIN AT HAKUBA CORTINA

There is no terrain park at Hakuba Cortina, but neighbour Norikura has a Pipe, a small terrain park as well as a boarder cross, and a mogul run. If freestyle is your thing then consider looking at these Hakuba Valley ski resorts; Hakuba 47, Tsugaike Kogen.

LIFTS AT HAKUBA CORTINA

Hakuba Cortina’s lift infrastructure can be quite frustrating. Seven lifts in total but none of them run particularly fast. Well, they do say good things come to those who wait and I can assure you that the run down is well worth the slow uplift. To access the more advanced terrain you will need to catch the No. 1 lift from the base area where you can then head up the No. 4 chair. There are normally long lift queues for the No. 4 lift on a powder day so if you are impatient then head to the No.5 chair which also accesses some incredible tree skiing.

HAKUBA CORTINA PROS

• Hakuba Cortina ski resort has some of the best trees runs out of any resort I have visited. The combination of steepness, the spread of trees and the quality of snow all help this.

• Hakuba Cortina and nearby Norikura receive more snow than the resorts closer to Hakuba village.

• The quality of the snow at Hakuba Cortina is unrivalled in my experience.

• Hakuba Cortina is one of the few resorts in Hakuba linked via chairlift to another. Ride between Cortina and Hakuba Norikura on the same day and explore both resorts.

• Free shuttles are available to Cortina from the Happo Bus Terminal

HAKUBA CORTINA CONS

• Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort is no longer a secret and due to the slow speed of the chairs, you can expect to spend 30-40 minutes in lift lines on busy days (it is more than worth it).

• Despite having free transport it is not an enjoyable journey with the bus normally packed full. You will need to get the 7:30 am bus to make the first lift at Cortina Japan.

TRAVEL TO HAKUBA CORTINA SKI RESORT

Free shuttle buses run to Hakuba Cortina from the Happo Bus Terminal throughout the day. If you are planning to get first tracks, you will need to get the 7:30 am bus, but be warned this is incredibly popular so be early or you could miss out. This bus also stops at Tsugaike Kogen ski resort which is another favourite in Hakuba. Cortina is the furthest resort from Hakuba Village and the drive takes around 30 minutes.

HAKUBA CORTINA SNOW RECORD

Cortina gets the most snow out of all the Hakuba Valley ski resorts. 12m plus during the winter season! That is insane. Whether Cortina gets more snowfall or it catches the snowfall better with its bowl-shaped terrain matters not as the facts are as follows. The amount of snowfall that Cortina Hakuba receives is legendary and it is more than enough to blow your mind!

HAKUBA CORTINA LIFT PASSES

HAKUBA VALLEY PASS

If you are planning to visit more Hakuba Valley ski resorts than Hakuba Cortina it may be worth picking up a Hakuba Valley pass. The Hakuba Valley Pass not only offers access to the slopes but the interconnecting resort shuttles. This means your transport and skiing is included on the same pass. Find out more by watching the video below.

EPIC PASS

If you are an Epic Pass season pass holder than you will get access to the resorts of the Hakuba Valley included with your pass. The Epic Pass allows for 5 consecutive days of skiing in the Hakuba Valley, additional tickets can be purchased at a discount.

PAY AS YOU PLAY

If you want more freedom to choose your day to day activities and resorts you won't lose much money by paying on the day. Paying for your lift passes on the day offers a number of benefits. You can get full-day, morning or afternoon passes which offers flexibility.

MORE HAKUBA CORTINA VIDEOS

HAKUBA CORTINA GALLERY

To be fair I wasn’t stopping very often to take photos and in hindsight needing photos for a blog post that wasn’t that great an idea. But the conditions were insane so it was just go go go. These screenshots below should give a pretty decent idea about what to expect when snowboarding at Hakuba Cortina.

ACCOMMODATION AT HAKUBA CORTINA

If you have the money, a stay at the Green Plaza Hotel will leave you as close to the lifts as possible. A stay in this Tudor style hotel will cost around £200 per night. More likely is that you will stay in Hakuba Village and travel to Cortina when the forecast is good.

NEARBY RESORTS

FINAL THOUGHTS ON HAKUBA CORTINA

Hakuba Cortina brought me not only some of my best days on snow but also some of the best days of my life. Although there can be crowds (usually at No.4 chair) there is some great skiing and snowboarding to be had. The traverse left from the No. 5 chair before dropping into the trees is less crowded than other parts of the resort but has some great turns.