Hakuba Cortina Kokusai Resort Reviews

Resorts > Japan - Nagano (104) > Hakuba Cortina Kokusai

Hakuba Cortina Kokusai Resort Reviews

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Visitor reviews for Hakuba Cortina Kokusai Ski Resort

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Hakuba Cortina Kokusai Ratings

Overall: 4.0. Based on 3 votes and 4 reviews. Vote

Access: 3.7

(1) At least one overnight stop, (2) requires a whole day, (3) requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns (4) arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon, (5) there is a main airport within an hour of Hakuba Cortina Kokusai.

Public Transport: 4.7

(1) There are no buses or taxis to Hakuba Cortina Kokusai, (3) there are slow or infrequent buses / trains available, (5) getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections.

Scenery: 5.0

(1) An ugly resort in a bland setting, (3) average mountain views and resort, (5) a spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town.

Accommodation: 5.0

(1) No places to stay in/near Hakuba Cortina Kokusai, (3) a few places to stay in the resort, (5) a wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets.

Cheap Rooms: 2.3

(1) No budget accommodation available, (3) just one or two hostels so book ahead, (5) several cheap hostels and pensions available.

Luxury Hotels: 4.7

(1) No luxury accommodation available, (3) just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead, (5) several up-market hotels in Hakuba Cortina Kokusai.

Ski in/Ski out: 5.0

(1) The ski area is located far from any accommodation, (3) a free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip, (5) Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available.

Childcare: 5.0

(1) There are no child care facilities at Hakuba Cortina Kokusai, (5) the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche.

Snowsure: 5.0

(1) Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing, (2) is often closed due to a lack of snow, (3) occasionally suffers from a lack of snow, (4) rarely suffers from a lack of snow, (5) Hakuba Cortina Kokusai is snowsure even in the poorest seasons.

Snowmaking: 4.0

(1) Hakuba Cortina Kokusai relies entirely on natural snow, (3) there are just a few snow cannons, (5) there are snowmaking facilities on all pistes.

Snow Grooming: 4.0

(1) There are no snow groomers at Hakuba Cortina Kokusai, (3) occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state, (5) all the runs at Hakuba Cortina Kokusai are groomed daily.

Shelter: 4.0

(1) there is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut, (3) there are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close, (5) Hakuba Cortina Kokusai is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close.

Nearby options: 4.7

(1) If snow conditions are poor at Hakuba Cortina Kokusai, it will be poor everywhere nearby, (3) there are good alternatives within an hours drive, (5) other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions.

Regional rating: 5.0

(1) Hakuba Cortina Kokusai usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region, (3) has average conditions for the region, (5) usually has the best snow conditions in the region.

Lift Staff: 4.7

(1) The staff at Hakuba Cortina Kokusai are rude or unhelpful, (5) lift staff at Hakuba Cortina Kokusai are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help.

Crowds/Queues: 2.7

(1) the resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues, (3) it is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays, (5) it is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare.

Ski Schools: 3.7

(1) No ski schools available, (2) one or two ski schools but local language only, (3) a few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors, (4) plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available, (5) excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors.

Hire and Repairs: 4.3

(1) Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex. (3) there are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance, (5) good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible.

Variety of pistes: 5.0

(1) The ski runs are featureless and unvaried, (3) the ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week, (5) Hakuba Cortina Kokusai has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain.

Beginners: 4.3

(1) Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard, (3) a few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week, (3) Vast areas of gentle terrain.

Intermediates: 5.0

(1) No intermediate terrain at Hakuba Cortina Kokusai, (3) intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days, (5) vast areas of cruising runs.

Advanced: 5.0

(1) Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders, (3) enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste, (5) Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week.

Snow Park: 1.3

(1) Not even a kicker at Hakuba Cortina Kokusai, (3) average sized park quite well looked after, (5) huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails.

Off-piste: 5.0

(1) No off-piste worth mentioning, (2) off piste is out-of-bounds, (3) some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days, (5) a vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days.

Cross-country: 2.0

(1) There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Hakuba Cortina Kokusai, (3) there are some cross country trails available, (5) the area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails.

Luge/Toboggan: 1.3

(1) No designated luge or toboggan runs, (3) there are toboggan runs that open quite often, (5) Hakuba Cortina Kokusai has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages.

Mountain Dining: 3.7

(1) Nowhere to buy food by the pistes, (3) some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive, (5) there is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets.

Eating: 5.0

(1) Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. (5) A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants.

Apres-Ski: 3.3

(1) Nothing to do, not even a bar, (3) there are a few bars in the resort but nothing special, (5) clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere.

Other Sports: 3.0

(1) No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts, (3) resort has just a small public swimming pool, (5) resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool.

Entertainment: 2.7

(1) Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here, (3) the non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week, (5) the resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports.

Winter Walks: 1.3

(1) Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails, (3) a couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails, (5) extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities.

Ski Pass Value: 5.0

(1) A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available, (3) the ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts, (5) ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area.

Value (National): 4.3

(1) Overall, Hakuba Cortina Kokusai is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money, (3) overall represents average value for money, (5) overall offers the best value resort in the country.

Value (Global): 5.0

(1) Overall, Hakuba Cortina Kokusai is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world, (3) overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries, (5) internationally the resort offers excellent value for money.

Show all 35 ratings

December 27, 2014
Dr Gordon caldwell from

United Kingdom

I have skied in Argentiere, Tignes, St Anton, Verbier, Mammoth Mountain, Lake Tahoe, but none can match Hakuba Cortina for value, amount of skiing per lift, stunning views, quality and value of food. Cortina is linked to a resort perfect for family skiing, and also greater selection of eating places. Today we paid 4500 Yen for a pass covering the two areas. Everyone's so friendly and helpful. It's amazing being greeted on and off lifts! Around Hakuba we've skied Happo, Goryu, Hakuba 47, but Cortina is really special. Easy to get to on shuttle bus from Happo information centre 500 Yen each way.

October 26, 2013
John-San from

Australia

For the last 4 season I have work and live in the Hakuba-Mura area. The transport to this resort is great. Both the resort and Hakuba information Centre have shuttles that will get you there before the lift starts (8.30am). It leaves Hakuba information Centre at 8.00am, 9.00am and 10.00am. So to get first line you don't need a car, unless you want to leave early. The first returning bus leaves at 3.20pm, then 4.20pm and 5.20 pm. The staff are very accommodating but speak limited English. But this is a reality everywhere seeing that you are in a non English country!!! The snow is superb and views are superb. The whole experience is superb. Any time off I get I stay at the this resort. I base 400 meter from Goryu but prefer to by pass this, 47, Happo Iwatake and Tsugaiki to stay and board this venue, Cortina. Like all the resort in Hakuba-mura it is crowded during the winter holidays. The crowds decrease during February and are non-existent in March. March still receives good dumps of snow but not huge like in Dec, Jan, and Feb. I can recommend this resort highly. You don't need a car to take advantage of this resort just don't have an attitude like the people who are down on Cortina because they can not organise themselves. If you do go by shuttle take a change of clothes and take advantage of their amazing onsen which is free with your full day lift pass which also gives you a Y1000 off lunch.

January 26, 2012
John from

Japan

The best place after a nice dump of snow. Always less crowded than Happo or 47 and for some reason seems to snow more here as well. It's a great training for learning to really ski in powder without having to dodge trees. The runs are wide and long. Downside, hard to get to without a car, hence, why it's not as busy. My tip, hire one, it's worth it.

November 30, 2005
James Schlieff from

Australia

Hakuba Cortina Kokusai is nestled on the northern end of the awesome Hakuba! Valley in Nagano Japan. The weird looking Hotel Green Plaze (www.hgp.co.jp) is situated on the mountain and is known as the 'romantic resort'. Cortina has 17 runs and the longest run is 5km. 9 Lifts allow skiers and snowboarders to reach high points and ski onto neighbouring Hakuba Norikura. It is located very close to other world famous resorts such as Happo-one where the downhill race for the winter olmpics were located. A shuttle bus runs between the resorts in the Hakuba Valley and takes around 20 mins.