Madarao Mountain Ski Resort
Madarao Mountain Ski Resort is located 11km from IIyama which is under 2-hrs from Tokyo via Shinkansen. Madarao Accommodation is varied and eclectic in type and style. Most accommodation in Madarao is Lodge or Inn style evolving from a vibrant history around the late 60’s / 70’s era, developing as a Pension Village.
Once upon a time, in its more colourful days, Madarao was a playground for the more affluent Japanese snow enthusiast and holiday-maker, looking to establish holiday homes and Bed & Breakfast Lodges as part of their early retirement plans in their 40’s. It was also the location of a vibrant world-class Jazz scene. Like many Japanese ski area destinations it’s gone through somewhat of a boom and bust, so to speak and now more recently a revival with the introduction of new capital from western ski enthusiasts and property investors.
There is no question, Madarao is now well and truly discovered. Up until more recently the marketing message of the Resort was - “Madarao, the Best Kept Secret Ski Destination in Japan”, with the claim to fame being 60% of the mountain terrain un-groomed, with significant powder tree skiing.
As such the last eleven real estate transactions in Madarao since 2016 have been to Australian & NZ syndicates looking for property investment returns from winter lifestyle assets outside of Australia. Japan is the obvious choice.
Madarao Mountain Ski Resort is one of Japan’s hidden gems.
Lifts & Terrain
Mt Madarao peaks at 1382 m, offering skiers 440 m of vertical to play with. The resort is serviced by 15 lifts, including two high-speed detachable quads.
Beginners have plenty of ground to cover towards the base of the mountain. Beginner A & B, Utopia, and Shirakaba are all ideally suited to first-timers. More experienced skiers should head up to View Point, atop the No.13 lift, from there, skiers can access all parts of the mountain.
Crystal Bowl and PowderWave2 offer some of the resort’s best tree skiing. On the other side of the resort, WorldCup was previously used as a moguls course at the 1988 Freestyle Skiing World Cup. It sits alongside Powderwave, another of the resort’s gladed areas for tree skiing.
Located on the northwestern side of Mount Madarao, Tangram Ski Circus offers a bit of variety for beginners and intermediates. The resort comprises 15 runs over 520 vertical meters. Experienced skiers won’t be challenged much by Tangrams mellow groomers, however, two of Tangrams lifts No 1 & 2, can be used to access some of Madarao’s best tree skiing. Perhaps reason alone to spend the extra money and get an all mountain pass. In addition to that convenience, Tangram has also opened up some decent tree runs that are worth taking a run at.
Ski Madarao
By Japanese standards, Madarao is considered a mid-sized resort (small by USA standards). Skiers will only need a few days to get the lay of the land. However, guests can opt to purchase an all-mountain pass, allowing access to the adjoining Tangram Ski Circus resort. This ticket gives skiers access to 34.8 km of runs in total—just shy of Nozawa Onsen’s 44.5 km.
What you may think Madarao lacks in overall size and length of run, it will more than make up for in the quality and depth of the powder, if you catch the right conditions. The photo's above were taken in January 2017 on Powder Wave II, during a 9-day storm which unloaded almost 3 meters of snow in 3 days.
Madarao has embraced its reputation as a powder haven, opting to keep 60% of its slopes un-groomed. The resort not only condones tree skiing, it encourages it. Madarao has gladed much of its forested area, opening up some beautiful tree runs. There are also backcountry options for those looking to test themselves in the side/backcountry terrain with an experienced guide.
In addition to the accessible tree skiing and reliable powder skiing, there is variable terrain for all levels of rider.
Food & Nightlife in Madarao
Madarao Kogen’s culinary scene is as vibrant as its slopes, with over 26 dining options ranging from cozy Izakaya's to fine dining. Savour local specialties like shabu shabu hot pot, fresh soba noodles, or sushi, or indulge in western comforts like pizza at Rudolph’s or gourmet burgers.
For an authentic experience, venture to Donguri-tei for lantern-lit Japanese hot pot or Maroudo for daily-made soba. Aya Lodge’s bar serves craft beers, sake, and cocktails from 4pm, perfect for après-ski stories.
While Madarao’s nightlife is laid-back, you’ll find live music and boutique bars like Aki’s Pub or Chill Bar for a relaxed evening. Plan your dining with our Madarao Restaurant Guide, and let us handle reservations for a seamless culinary adventure.
