About Madarao Kogen
Located between Myoko Kogen and Nozawa Onsen, Madarao is an easy day trip from either resort. Alternatively, lodging options do exist in Madarao itself, and there’s plenty more to explore there than can be achieved in a single day trip. With a vertical drop of 440 metres, and 30 trails, Madarao might be considered a medium sized resort for Japan’s standards. It also shares the mountain with neighbouring Tangram resort, with both joined at the top of the ridge at some 1392 metres from sea level (a spectacular view).
The resorts liberal approach to off-piste skiing and their heavy glading of runs, makes it a popular, albeit undiscovered powder skiing destination. There also exists some interesting sidecountry and backcountry terrain.
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TRAIL MAP
Snow Resort Stats
Mountian
- Elevation Top 1382 metres
- Elevation Bottom 942 metres
- Vertical Drop 440 metres
- Skiable Terrain Unknown
- Longest Run 2.5km
- Beginner 30%
- Intermediate 35%
- Advanced 35%
- Total Number of Trails 40+ (incl. Tangram)
Lifts
- Total 20 (incl. Tangram)
- Highest Lifted Point 1382 metres
- Gondolas & Trams 0
- High Speed Sixes 0
- Quad Chairs 2
- Triple Chairs 3
- Double Chairs 4
- Single Chairs 1
- Surface Lifts
Uphill 0 - Capacity Unknown
Snow Making
- Snow Making n/a
- Total Number of Guns n/a
- Annual Average Snowfall 12m
Terrain Park
- Total Unknown
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Madarao Kogen: Insider Ski & Snowboard Tips
Madarao is conveniently located between Myoko Kogen and Nozawa Onsen (just 40 minutes away) meaning it’s possible to base yourself at one of the two and make a day trip over to Madarao.
Madarao is broken down into 30% beginner – 40% intermediate – 30% advanced, meaning it’s suitable for the whole family – with lift tickets for those under 12 being comparatively cheap. Madarao features 60% ungroomed runs, so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to enjoy some deep pow skiing right on top of the piste. Those who fancy a bit of ‘madapow’ tree skiing, will be pleased to hear of the nicely gladed tree runs and the resorts more recently lax approach to off-piste riding.
Madarao Kogen: Access
Madarao is located 38km to the northeast of Nagano, on the border of the Niigata Prefecture.
Getting there is now speedier than ever thanks to the opening of Iiyama Station. A 110-minute Bullet Train ride from Tokyo to Iiyama, and a 30 minute bus/car ride to Madarao.The Shinkansen also makes visiting Kyoto via Kanazawa pretty quick and easy!
Madarao Kogen: Accommodation
Madarao Kogen Hotel is the resorts primary accommodation. A ski-in-ski-out hotel located at the base of Mt. Madarao above the beginner slopes, Madarao Kogen Hotel has both Japanese an Western-style rooms and multiple facilities, not least an indoor and outdoor set of onsens.
Other options include hotels lower down in the village, a number of pensions an even a few self-contained lodges.
Madarao Kogen: Restaurants & Apres
The village of Madarao is growing on account of increasing tourism, meaning there are more and more options on places to eat and après than in the past, where guests typically dined within the confines of their hotel or accommodation.
That said, the Madarao Kogen Hotel offers up a variety of dishes with most foods locally produced in the Shinshu area. Those after more western style cuisine will be pleased to hear about the buffet style restaurant as well (one that includes a chocolate fountain…)
Madarao Kogen: Non-Skiing Activities
Madarao comes with all typical Japanese non-skiing conveniences like a number of Onsens and a dedicated kids’ park below the hotel which services tubing and sledding with a small magic carpet and a wide enough space for snowball fights and snowman building. Like many Japanese resorts now, one can pursue more extreme activities such as ziplining or snowmobiling too.
Last but not least, we seriously recommend a visit to see the Japanese snow monkeys at the Jigokudani hot springs.
