Hakuba Gay Ski Week 2027

Hakuba Gay Ski Week 2027

Hakuba Gay Ski Week brings LGBTQ+ skiers and snowboarders to the Japanese Alps for ten days of skiing, parties, onsens, dinners and mountain adventures.

• Visiting for Gay Ski Week? Stay at Panketo Lodge & Yoga Studio, one of the official host properties in upper Wadano, close to the Happo-One ski lifts and the heart of the week’s activities.

The Event

• Next Edition: Friday 5th March to Sunday 14th March 2027
• Gay Ski Week Hakuba is a hosted ski experience held in Hakuba Valley, Nagano, one of Japan’s leading winter destinations.
• The event combines daily skiing and snowboarding with après-ski parties, dinners, onsens, excursions and late-night events.
• Explore the top Hakuba Valley resorts, including Happo-One, Norikura, Tsugaike and Cortina.
• Penke Panke & Panketo Lodge in Wadano serves as the host hotel during the event.

Key Highlights

• Hakuba Gay Ski Week combines ten days on the slopes with après-ski parties, group dinners and Japanese cultural experiences.
• Signature events include the Love Rainbow opening night, Tokyo Disco Parfait, the Best Dressed après-ski, the midweek Pool Party and the closing Candy Mountain celebration.
• Guests can join trips to the snow monkeys and Matsumoto Castle, unwind in traditional onsens and ski Hakuba’s leading resorts.

The Schedule

Date & Theme	Daytime	Afternoon & Evening
Friday 5th March – Meet & Greet	Arrive in Hakuba, check in and collect ski or snowboard equipment.	Dinner, drinks and the Love Rainbow opening party with DJ SüNHAüS at Penke Bar.
Saturday 6th March – Tokyo Disco Parfait	First full ski day at Happo-One.	Yoga, group onsen, dinner at Bears Cafe and Tokyo Disco Parfait from 21:00.
Sunday 7th March – Best Dressed	Ski at Happo-One.	Best Dressed après-ski at Snow Dance Terrace, Welcome Dinner and group onsen.
Monday 8th March – Snow Monkeys	Visit the Japanese snow monkeys and Zenkoji Temple.	Return to Hakuba for dinner and late-night karaoke.
Tuesday 9th March – Cortina	Group ski day at Cortina Ski Resort.	Afternoon onsen and group Izakaya dinner.
Wednesday 10th March – Pool Party	Morning skiing at Norikura and Pool Party from 13:00 to 16:30.	Dinner at Penke Bar, Altimate Showdown and Dildo Racing.
Thursday 11th March – Tsugaike	Ski day at Tsugaike Ski Resort.	Afternoon onsen, yoga and group dinner.
Friday 12th March – Matsumoto	Visit the wasabi farm and Matsumoto Castle.	Sushi Train dinner and late-night onsen.
Saturday 13th March – Candy Mountain	Ski Happo-One and join the Oakley Terrace Party from 13:00.	Dinner at Electrique and Candy Mountain from 20:00.
Sunday 14th March – Recovery Day	Morning yoga and a final ski session at Happo-One.	Farewell drinks and final group dinner.

Where to Stay in Hakuba

Wadano is the best base for Gay Ski Week, close to the host accommodation, Happo-One ski area and several of the week’s meeting points.

• Hotel Nishikan Hakuba – 3 Star – Traditional mountain hotel in the Wadano forest with comfortable rooms in a quiet setting near Happo-One.
• Hakuba Grand Apartments – 3 Star – Spacious self-catering apartments in Wadano with modern interiors featuring kitchens and living areas. Great for couples and groups staying for the full week.
• Panketo Lodge & Yoga Studio – 3 Star – One of the official Gay Ski Week host properties. Cosy lodge in upper Wadano near the Happo-One lifts.
• Hotel La Neige – 5 Star – Luxury five-star retreat in the forests of Wadano featuring elegant rooms and suites with a refined alpine feel. Enjoy fine dining and personalised service.

Getting to Hakuba

• Hakuba is in Nagano Prefecture in the Japanese Alps, around 270 km northwest of Tokyo.
• From Tokyo, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano Station, followed by the express bus to Hakuba. Direct highway buses between Tokyo and Hakuba operate during the ski season.
• Once in Hakuba, Gay Ski Week organises transport for many of its scheduled activities and ski days. Local shuttle services connect the principal ski areas and villages.

Gay Hakuba

• Hakuba does not have a permanent gay district. During Gay Ski Week, the social scene moves between the host lodges, ski resorts, restaurants, onsens and dedicated party venues.
• Wadano and Happo are the most convenient bases for the event, with restaurants and bars within easy reach and quick access to Happo-One.
• Tokyo Disco Parfait, Candy Mountain and the dedicated Gay Ski Week events provide the main LGBTQ+ nightlife during the festival.

The Host Property

• Penke Panke & Panketo Lodge is the official host property for Gay Ski Week Hakuba 2027.
• Penke Panke Lodge and Apartments
  4836 Hokujo, Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9301, Japan.
• Panketo Lodge Hakuba
  4844 Hokujo, Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9301, Japan.
• Both properties sit in upper Wadano, close to Happo-One and the Sakka ski lifts. Gay Ski Week provides transport from the host accommodation to scheduled festival activities and ski days.