Snow Machine is taking place from Tuesday 3 – Sunday 8 March, 2026.

The festival is located in the beautiful Hakuba Valley, one of the snowiest places on earth!
We will have en-piste Après Stages for you to enjoy during the day, from Wednesday to Saturday. Along with our Main Arena going off for three big nights, Thursday to Saturday.

Snow Machine Festival is four days and three nights of music, snow, après, adventure and so much memory making! Hit the fresh pow each morning before making your way to one of our Après Stages which will be across various resorts.  Enjoy tabletop dancing en-piste as the artists from our line up hit the DJ decks.

After that, make your way back down into town, have a traditional onsen, and freshen up before heading to our Main Arena for a night of live music in full festival mode! But the night doesn’t stop there – some of Hakuba’s hottest bars and clubs will be hosting official after parties each night! Bounce around on the dancefloor before you head to bed, ready to do it all again the next day!

Throughout the week, we’ll also be hosting a number of Side Events that you can grab a ticket to! Stay tuned to our socials as we announce these in the coming months.

Need some down time from all the shredding? There’s plenty to do in and around Hakuba to keep you busy before the main stage action.

From traditional onsens, to a visit to the local Snow Monkeys. There’s plenty to see and do!

Get in touch with our friendly team for some more tailored advice or to help you book.

There are direct flights to Tokyo from most Australian capital cities. You can fly into either Narita Airport or Haneda Airport.
From here you have a few options to get to Hakuba. The fastest and most iconic option is to combine a trip on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and a bus. Otherwise there are buses and a daily train direct to Hakuba.

We will have direct airport buses available on our website soon.

For a door-to-door service, there are direct buses to Hakuba from Narita or Haneda international airports in Tokyo (these will be available on our website soon). Once you arrive in Hakuba, the bus company can drop you off in the closest village hub to your accommodation. Many accommodations also have a shuttle service which you can prearrange pick up on arrival.

Alternatively you can make your own way to Hakuba from the airport. Jump on a local train/airport connect to Tokyo Station, then onto the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagano Station, and bus to Hakuba (Happo Bus Terminal). If you’re a seasoned Japan traveller you’ll know this is the fastest way, but does require a few change overs and changing stations, which could be daunting for first timers travelling to Japan.

Hot tip: if you’re making your own way, and don’t want to carry your ski/board bag with you on Japanese public transport… you can ship your luggage from the airport directly to your accommodation through Yamato Transport (Black Cat) services.

Hakuba offers a range of properties to suit every budget and group size. Including traditional Japanese tatami rooms, lively hostels, luxury chalets and everything in between, we’ve got you covered. Check out the packages we have available or reach out the the team to discuss options for you or your group.

Regarding bedding:
– Japanese tatami rooms are usually large rooms with traditional tatami floor (woven mats) and futon beds (quilted pads) – which means sleeping on the floor and no shoes allowed inside.
– Western rooms will have western-style single/double/queen/king beds. Note that twin bedding is most common in Japan.
– Many accommodations offer mixed rooms with a combination of some western beds and some tatami with futon beds.

Hakuba Valley is home to world class ski resorts, with an incredible amount of annual snowfall. There are 10 resorts in the valley.
Your Snow Machine lift pass will include access to the 7 biggest resorts: Happo One, Goryu, Hakuba 47, Iwatake, Tsugaike, Norikura and Cortina. All are well suited to all levels and abilities, for seasoned pros to those getting their first turns in.

Depending on where you are staying the resorts are either ski in/ski out, or a short walk or shuttle bus ride away.

Depending on where you stay, and where you decide to ride each day, a lot of accommodations are either ski in/ski out or a short walk from the lifts.

Alternatively, there are shuttle buses operated by the individual resorts (free services) and ‘Hakuba Valley’ (paid service) giving you access to all resorts in Hakuba. Shuttle timetables and bus stops will be available closer to the ski season.

Please note: resort shuttles are not operated by Snow Machine.

Most accommodation is within walking distance to the nearby village centre, so you’ll be doing a fair bit of walking. If your property is a further out of town there are shuttle buses available (operated by Hakuba Valley) and some taxis available.

It might also be worth looking into hiring a car – let us know if you would like some help arranging this. Please remember that Japan has zero tolerance for drink driving.

With 10 different ski resorts in the Hakuba Valley there is no shortage of terrain to explore, but what makes Hakuba such a popular destination is its variety of things to do off the mountain too. Whether you’re having a rest day or the weather isn’t too flash, there’s something to keep you entertained. Think snow monkeys, onsens, sake tasting, snow mobiling, castles and more…

Let us know if you’re interested in booking any day trips!

If you are travelling from outside of Japan, yes. Hakuba is an international location and you will require a valid passport for travel. For most nationalities, you don’t need to apply for a tourist visa if you’re staying for less than 90 days. You will receive one upon arrival to Japan.

For current travel requirements, please visit Smart Traveller AUS for up to date information.

All Snow Machine packages include:

• 5 or 7 nights accommodation in Hakuba
• 4 day lift pass for Happo One, Goryu, Hakuba 47, Iwatake, Tsugaike, Norikura & Cortina
• Snow Machine Festival Pass
• Access to official Snow Machine After Parties
• First access to Side Event tickets
• Travel advisor

Accommodation dates:
5 night package Tuesday 3 – Sunday 8 March 2026
7 night package Monday 2 – Monday 9 March 2026

All Snow Machine packages are available on our website.

All packages are set 5 or 7 nights accommodation and cannot be shortened. However we can help you organise additional nights, pending availability with the accommodation provider.

If you would like to make any other amendments, please reach out to the Snow Machine team.

A deposit of $399pp is due on confirmation of your booking. A second instalment of $500pp is payable on Wednesday 1st October 2025 and final payment is due on Monday 1st December 2025.

Initial deposit can be paid with all major credit/debit cards via the website, a ticketing fee will be applied. Following installments can be paid with credit card or bank transfer.

Packages are non refundable once purchased. Please check the Terms & Conditions for the full refund policy.

Yes, you can book for a group of friends online, you will need to make payment in one transaction and have your friends names and emails ready.

You will not be able to book a twin room online for yourself. However, you can reach out to the Snow Machine team and we can see what options are available.

To guarantee your booking in the same room, you will need to book your packages in the one transaction. If your friend decides to join at a later stage we will do our best to accommodate your request but we can not guarantee it.

Yes, if you can no longer attend you are welcome to transfer your package to someone else, there is a $50 admin fee. All name change requests must be made no later than 40 days prior to the festival. Any deposits made will be transferred to the new person so you will have to sort finances yourselves. You will need to advise the Snow Machine team in writing and change the name on the ticket.

A confirmation from our ticketing partners will be sent as soon as you make the booking, you will then receive an itinerary from us within 4 weeks.

We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance at the time of purchasing your package or ticket, to cover you for unforeseen events that arise prior to travel. For an online quote or further details click here.

If you’re planning on skiing or snowboarding, please ensure you select Snow Cover and read the PSD to make sure it is right for you.

Limited festival only tickets will be released via the Snow Machine website closer to the date

You will exchange your electronic ticket for a festival wristband when you arrive in Hakuba, we will provide more information closer to the date.

From Wednesday to Saturday, you’ll find the Après Stages pumping at the ski resorts. Some of the stages will be accessible to those not skiing/boarding, others will be only accessible to those on skis/boards.

At night (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), the Main Arena will light up for the evening full of music, dancing and making memories with friends, walking distance from Happo Village.

There is free parking available at most ski resorts. There is no official parking available at the main stage, however street parking is available in surrounding areas.

Yes, there will be a range of food and beverage options available at all events. We strive to provide options for different dietary requirements.

No, all venues are fully licensed so you are not permitted to bring your own alcohol to the event. Bag searches will be conducted before entering the event and any alcohol will be confiscated.

Yes, card is accepted at all events. Après and the Main Arena will be cashless. Please be sure to bring your credit/debit cards or make sure your phone is fully charged if you’re planning to use Apple Pay or Google Pay. Don’t forget to let your bank know about your overseas travel!

Please note that some bars and restaurants in Hakuba are cash only.

Yes, there will be first aid on hand at Snow Machine Main Arena.

You must be 18+ to attend the main stage event, make sure you bring valid ID.

Japanese alcohol law states only those 20+ are allowed to buy alcohol.

ID will be checked upon entry EVERY night.

Our team is working hard to lock in all the stages and times! Set times will be announced as soon as possible, but at the very least, check the Snow Machine app the week prior to the festival.

You will need to bring a valid photo ID to be permitted into the festival. The following forms of ID will be accepted:

• Current Passport (for Australian and international attendees)
• Current Drivers License (for Japanese attendees only)