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Upper Wadano Accommodation

Pros: lots of ski-in ski-out accommodation; easy access to mellow beginner terrain.
Cons: limited restaurants; less bus connections.

The Wadano area has lots of Hakuba hotels that were built or redeveloped for the 1998 Winter Olympics. Upper Wadano is located adjacent to the northern part of the Happo One ski resort at the Sakka base, which has great mellow beginners’ terrain and a kids’ snow park. Many of the hotels are ski-in ski-out or close to it.

This is the place to stay if you largely just want to ride at Happo One. There are bus stops in Upper Wadano for the Hakuba 47 ski resort but to get to the other ski resorts, you’ll need to change buses at the Happo bus terminal (or in Lower Wadano).

There aren’t many restaurants or bars in Upper Wadano and the northern end of the village in particular is somewhat isolated, so it suits those who don’t want to go out every night. You’ll need to use the night bus or a taxi to get to dinner elsewhere, or you’ll get very fit walking up and down the hill.