Hakuba Iwatake Nordic Center Nordic/Cross Country Centers Resort (Are you this resort?)

General Comments/Likes

This nordic facility is adjacent to the Iwatake ski area, in the Hakuba Valley of the “Japan Alps” region of west-central Honshu. This area hosted many olympic events in the 1998 Nagano Games. This area has two loops, a 10K and a 5K, as well as what appeared to be a 400 m circuit for starting and finishing races. All of it was groomed to perfection for skate and classical. The 10K loop had some advanced/difficult ascents and decents, and wound through some majestic fir or redwood stands and bridged over one of the area’s access roads. We were among perhaps a dozen other skiers/snowshoers that day. The daily fee was nominal, like five dollars, and the equipment rental was also cheap, perhaps 10 dollars. The staff at the nordic center was extremely helpful and friendly, with excellent English. As good as the alpine skiing was at Happo, this was a very worthwhile break. We also got to witness a demonstration of synchronized skiing on the main slopes at Iwatake while we geared up. Very interesting.

Dislikes

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