5 Stunning Northern Alps Drive Courses from Hakuba & Otari Village
Be Village 
Use Otari Village as your base to explore the Northern Alps by rental car.
- Course 1 — Tsugaike Nature Park & Otari Onsen: Alpine wetlands and hidden hot springs
- Course 2 — Shirasawa Tunnel (Minegata Pass): The Northern Alps appear from nowhere
- Course 3 — Route 148 to Nishina Three Lakes: Three lakes and mountain panoramas
- Course 4 — Kamaike Pond & Mt. Amakazari: Beech forests and secret autumn color
- Course 5 — Oide Park & Hakuba Iwatake: Classic Hakuba Sanzan views
Otari Village: The Perfect Base for a Northern Alps Drive
Otari Village sits at the far northwest corner of Nagano Prefecture. It's one of the rare municipalities in Japan that straddles two national parks — Chubu Sangaku National Park and Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park.
Starting from Hakuba Cortina Lodge (where Hakuba Rent a Car is based), you can reach stunning Northern Alps panoramas, silent beech forests, emerald lakes, and historic Salt Road scenery — all within 30 minutes to 1.5 hours of driving.
Here are 5 drive courses hand-picked by our local staff.
Tsugaike Nature Park & Otari Onsen — Wetlands & Hidden Hot Springs
Combine Otari's two star attractions in one trip. Tsugaike Nature Park sits at roughly 2,000 m elevation — ride the gondola and ropeway up to find alpine wetlands ablaze with wildflowers (skunk cabbage in May–Jun, day lilies in Jul–Aug) and spectacular autumn foliage (Sep–Oct), all backdropped by the Hakuba Sanzan peaks.
In the afternoon, head to Otari Onsen. Soak in an outdoor, stone-walled bath fed by natural hot spring water, surrounded by primeval beech forest at the foot of Mt. Amakazari.
| Start | Hakuba Cortina Lodge |
| Route | Prefectural Rd 433 → Tsugaike Kogen → Rte 148 → Otari Onsen |
| Highlights | Tsugaike Nature Park (gondola + ropeway), Hakuba Sanzan views from Observation Marsh, Otari Onsen outdoor baths |
| Parking | Tsugaike Kogen lot (paid); Otari Onsen area (free) |
| Note | Tsugaike Panorama Way operates ~Jun to early Nov. Check schedule before going |
Shirasawa Tunnel (Minegata Pass) — The Alps Appear from Nowhere
Drive Route 406 from Hakuba Village toward Nagano and you'll reach the Shirasawa Tunnel at 1,100 m elevation. The moment you exit this short tunnel, the entire Ushirodateyama mountain range — Kashimayari, Goryū, Karamatsu, Shirouma-yari — unfolds right in front of you. This "sudden reveal" of the Northern Alps is unforgettable, no matter how many times you see it.
A small gravel parking area on the Hakuba side of the tunnel lets you stop and take it all in. Morning is best — the peaks are front-lit and the details pop.
| Start | Hakuba Cortina Lodge → via Hakuba center |
| Route | Rte 148 → Oide intersection → Rte 406 → Shirasawa Tunnel |
| Highlights | Ushirodateyama panorama from Shirasawa Tunnel, Oide Park suspension bridge (on return) |
| Parking | ~5 cars at tunnel entrance (free, gravel) |
| Note | Winding mountain road with tight curves. May close in winter. Road is narrow — watch for oncoming traffic |
Route 148 to Nishina Three Lakes — Lakes & Alps
Head south on Route 148 through Hakuba Village into Omachi City and you'll pass the Nishina Three Lakes — Aoki-ko, Nakatsuna-ko, and Kizaki-ko. Each lake has its own character.
Aoki-ko is famous for its mirror-like clarity reflecting the Northern Alps. Nakatsuna-ko blooms with wild cherry trees in late April. Kizaki-ko offers canoeing, fishing, and lakeside camping. In Omachi town, don't miss the local specialty: Kurobe Dam Curry.
| Start | Hakuba Cortina Lodge |
| Route | Rte 148 south → Hakuba → Aoki-ko → Nakatsuna-ko → Kizaki-ko → Omachi |
| Highlights | Northern Alps reflected in Aoki-ko, cherry blossoms at Nakatsuna-ko (late Apr–May), Omachi Alpine Museum, Takagari-yama viewpoint |
| Parking | Free lots at each lake |
| Note | Route 148 has moderate traffic. Sanosaka area is an accident-prone zone — keep speed down |
Kamaike Pond & Mt. Amakazari — Beech Forests & Secret Autumn Color
Kamaike Pond lies hidden at the foot of Mt. Amakazari (one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains), ringed by primeval beech forest. A 2 km boardwalk loops around the pond — an easy 30-minute stroll.
In mid-to-late October, the beech canopy turns blazing orange and reflects perfectly on the still water. It's a scene that stops you in your tracks. Afterwards, soak in the Amakazari Kogen open-air bath — a rustic stone tub set right in the forest, fed by natural hot spring water.
| Start | Hakuba Cortina Lodge |
| Route | Rte 148 → Otari Onsen direction → Kamaike parking |
| Highlights | Kamaike autumn reflections (mid–late Oct), beech forest boardwalk, Amakazari Kogen outdoor bath, Buna-rintei café |
| Parking | Kamaike lot (free, ~20 cars) |
| Note | Peak foliage weekends get crowded — go early morning. Narrow sections on the access road |
Oide Park & Hakuba Iwatake — Classic Hakuba Sanzan Views
Hit Hakuba's most iconic photo spots in one loop. Oide Park features a pedestrian suspension bridge over the Himekawa River with the Hakuba Sanzan as its backdrop — a scene so perfect it's been turned into a jigsaw puzzle.
From there, drive 10 minutes to Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort. Take the gondola to the summit and enjoy a coffee at the HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR terrace, where the entire Northern Alps panorama stretches out before you.
| Start | Hakuba Cortina Lodge |
| Route | Rte 148 → Hakuba center → Oide Park → Hakuba Iwatake |
| Highlights | Oide suspension bridge with Hakuba Sanzan, HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR terrace café, Hakuba rice paddy reflections |
| Parking | Oide Park (free, ~10 cars); Iwatake gondola lot (paid) |
| Note | MOUNTAIN HARBOR gondola is seasonal. Peak-season weekends get busy — go in the morning |
Northern Alps Driving Tips
- Mountain weather changes fast — Clear mornings often turn cloudy by afternoon. Aim for morning drives for the best views
- Gas stations are scarce — Especially within Otari Village. Check your fuel level before heading out
- Tight curves and steep grades — Our 4WD cars handle them well, but keep your speed down and stay alert
- Winter road closures — Route 406 (Shirasawa Tunnel) and the road to Kamaike may close in winter
- Watch for wildlife — Deer and Japanese serow sometimes cross the road, especially at dawn and dusk
Hakuba Rent a Car — Your Gateway to Northern Alps Drives.
