Firstly if you get the pronunciation right it will make things a lot easier with the locals, this mountain is pronounced happo-onay.
Home to a large portion of the winter Olympic events in 1998 the mountain got its instant fame from the televising of the events, expanded roads and accommodation facility's brought burgeoning visitor numbers that turned the area into a world class resort.
Happo is only 20% advanced terrain and due to its enormous size is a great family mountain, ideally suited to on piste skiers and riders. Its large base area stretches from near the Olympic ski jump right up to Wadano and the Evergreen ski school.
Stats:
Top Elevation 1831m
Bottom Elevation 760m
Vertical Fall 1071m
13 runs the longest being 8km
20% advanced
50% Intermediate
30% Beginner
22 ski lifts
1 Gondola
Best on Mountain food: The little hut that makes pizza located at the bottom of the Kukosai lift.
The Apres scene is starting to take hold with numerous bars popping up at the base of Happo now so its a good spot to visit on a sunny day, if your craving Mexican there is a place at the bottom as well, just south of the gondola station.
TIP you will pay for parking EVERYWHERE which is very unlike Hakuba so take cash as most are usually 1000 yen or jump on the free shuttles.