When you hear Hakuba, your mind probably jumps straight to those famous winter ski slopes, right? Mine did too, until I realized it’s an absolute treasure in the summer! This place turned out to be the perfect escape I needed for a getaway from the heat of Tokyo this summer.

Since Hakuba sits up high, the air is wonderfully crisp and cool—a total relief from the city heat. I opted for a gentle hike, a scenic 1.5-hour course that included a gondola ride, and from there, I followed the wooden boardwalks. It was the perfect middle ground—challenging enough to break a good sweat, but accessible enough that I could just focus on the stunning, wide-open mountain panorama. Sitting up there, taking in that view, I felt all my usual stress just melt away.

The best part? It’s surprisingly easy to get to! From Tokyo, it’s just about 2.5 hours on the Shinkansen and bus, which means it’s totally doable for a quick 1-night, 2-day trip. And after that satisfying hike, I knew exactly where to go: the Hakuba Happo Onsen. Sinking into those hot spring waters while looking out at the mountains I had just walked among felt like the ultimate reward. It was the ideal blend of getting active and then completely relaxing.