Summer in Hakuba by Rental Car — The Ultimate Highland Drive Course
Be Village 
Cool highland drives above 1,000 m — explore summer Hakuba freely by rental car.
- 9:00 Depart Hakuba Cortina Lodge
- 9:40 Hakuba Iwatake MOUNTAIN HARBOR — Morning coffee with Alps views
- 12:00 Snow Peak LAND STATION HAKUBA — Lunch & shopping
- 13:30 Happo-one Gondola — Happo Pond trek or Usagidaira Terrace
- 16:00 Himekawa Source & Oyomi Wetland — Hidden cool-down walk
- 17:00 Hakuba Happo Onsen — Soak to finish the day
Summer Hakuba: A Highland Driving Paradise
Average summer temperature in Hakuba Village: about 22 °C (72 °F). At elevations between 700 m and 2,000 m, the highlands are a natural escape from city heat.
Hakuba is famous for skiing, but its Green Season (summer–autumn) is just as spectacular. Gondola-accessed mountain terraces, alpine pond treks, wildflower wetlands, hot springs — and you can fit them all into a single day by car.
Hakuba Iwatake — MOUNTAIN HARBOR
🕘 9:40–11:30 ｜ ~40 min from Cortina
Hakuba's most popular summer spot. Ride the "Noah" gondola to the summit, where a dramatic terrace juts out toward the Northern Alps like a ship's bow. Grab a coffee and pastry from THE CITY BAKERY (a NY import) and soak in the panorama.
Also at the top: forest bathing in "Nezuko no Mori," guided buggy cruises, and kid-friendly activities — great for families.
| Parking | Iwatake gondola lot (paid) |
| Gondola | Green Season operation (~Jun–Nov) |
| Tip | Arrive before 10 AM to beat crowds and catch clear mountain views |
Snow Peak LAND STATION HAKUBA — Lunch
🕛 12:00–13:00 ｜ ~10 min from Iwatake
Designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, this Snow Peak flagship features Japan's largest brand store, a restaurant serving Shinshu local ingredients, and a Starbucks with an outdoor fire pit. Pick up Hakuba-exclusive gear while you're here.
| Parking | On-site (free) |
| Food | Italian-inspired lunch with Shinshu produce; café menu |
| Location | Hakuba Kamishiro, along Route 148 |
Happo-one Gondola — Happo Pond Trek
🕜 13:30–16:00 ｜ ~10 min from Snow Peak
The day's main event. Take the "Adam" gondola and chairlifts up to Happo-ike Sanso (1,830 m), then hike to Happo Pond (2,060 m) — a mystical alpine pool that mirrors the Hakuba Sanzan peaks. Round trip: about 3 hours. CNN named it one of Japan's most beautiful places.
Short on time? The Usagidaira Terrace (1,400 m) at the gondola summit station is just an 8-minute ride. Lounge on sofa seats with panoramic views and Italian food — zero hiking required.
| Parking | Happo gondola lot (paid) |
| To Happo Pond | Gondola + lifts + ~1.5 hr walk each way |
| Easy option | Usagidaira Terrace: gondola only, 8 min |
| Note | Trekking shoes recommended for Happo Pond. Bring rain gear — weather changes fast |
Himekawa Source & Oyomi Wetland — Cool Hidden Gem
🕓 16:00–16:45 ｜ ~15 min from Happo
The spring source of the Himekawa River and the adjacent Oyomi Wetland are a local favorite that most tourists miss. A shaded 20-minute boardwalk loop stays cool even in midsummer.
Despite sitting at just 750 m, the wetland hosts sub-alpine plants normally found at much higher elevations — a quirk of its unique hydrology. Crystal-clear spring water, skunk cabbage, and rare marsh flowers make it a photographer's quiet paradise.
| Parking | Himekawa Source lot (free, ~20 cars) |
| Walk time | ~20–30 min loop |
| Best for | Skunk cabbage (May), summer marsh flowers (Jun–Aug) |
Hakuba Happo Onsen — End the Day Right
🕔 17:00–18:00 ｜ ~10 min from Himekawa
Finish the day with a soak. Hakuba Happo Onsen is a highly alkaline natural hot spring (pH 11.2) known as a "beauty bath." Several day-use facilities — Mimizuku-no-Yu, Obinata-no-Yu, Daiichi-go-no-Yu — offer outdoor baths with Northern Alps views.
Rinse off, relax, and drive back to your lodge watching the sun set behind the mountains.
| Recommended | Mimizuku-no-Yu, Obinata-no-Yu, Daiichi-go-no-Yu |
| Entry | ~¥600–800 per adult |
| Water | Alkaline simple hot spring (pH 11.2) |
Route Summary & Driving Tips
| Total distance | ~50 km (round trip from Cortina) |
| Total time | ~8–9 hours (9 AM – 6 PM) |
| Best season | Late Jun – Sep (matches gondola schedules) |
| Parking costs | ~¥1,500–2,500 total |
- Start early — Arrive at Iwatake before 10 AM to beat the gondola queue
- Mountain weather shifts fast — Afternoon thunderstorms are common. Pack rain gear and a light jacket
- Gas stations close early — Fill up in the morning; Hakuba's few stations have limited hours
- Adjust for fitness — Full Happo Pond trek: 3 hrs. Usagidaira Terrace only: 30 min. Choose your pace
🌿 Green Season discounts — Summer driving made affordable.
