Madarao (pronounced ‘mad-a-rarl’) is a smallish resort in the northern Nagano Prefecture. The resort is easily accessible thanks to the recent extension of the Shinkansen line through to Iiyama station, the whole journey from Tokyo to Iiyama taking just 110 mins. The resort is famous for it champagne powder-snow, earning it the nickname ‘MadaPOW’, and its unassuming Japanese style.
Until very recently, Madarao was very much undiscovered, and widely heralded as one of Japan’s secret resorts – largely untouched by westerners. At just under 1,400 m, Madarao Mountain is not big by Hakuba or Shiga Kogen standards, but as a north-facing mountain it still receive around 10 m of very light, very dry snow, every year.
If it’s piste skiing you’re looking for, Madarao has 30 ski runs with an even mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced. However, beyond that, Madarao offers so much more than this – beyond the piste skiing is literally hectare upon hectare of off-piste skiing, including some of the best tree skiing in the world.
Best of all, our partners at Active Life, offer Club Med style benefits, including COMPLIMENTARY ski lessons and an exclusive and COMPLIMENTARY guest-only inter-resort shuttle bus service, giving you access to 10 nearby resorts. That’s a lot of powder to explore. Through Snowriders Australia, our guests enjoy 10% off the standard room rate, ski hire, lift passes and more*
If you’re not after lessons, we also offer a range of other accommodation styles. Scroll down to see all the options available.
Xplore by Active Life
Located just 3 mins from the Madarao ski lifts, Xplore by Active Life is one of the biggest ski hotels in Madarao Kogen Ski Resort. Newly renovated in 2018, Xplore offers guests with a choice of modern western style rooms or authentic Japanese rooms. The guest rooms at Xplore are well designed and equipped with all the comfort you will need for a comfortable stay in one of the best powder resorts in Japan. The hotel perfectly encapsulates the simplicity of Japanese design with Western comfort to ensure your stay is cozy and fun.
Xplore by Active Life offers modest family rooms, double rooms (1 queen bed) and twin rooms (2 x single beds) at very competitive rates. Twin rooms are typically available at between AUD $90 and AUD $105 per per person per night (including breakfast).
Hakken by Active Life
Hakken is warm and cosy, 15-room, westernized lodge, located less than 2 mins walk (or ski-in/out) from the Madarao ski slopes. Newly renovated in 2017, Hakken offers a unique experience for guests in some rooms, blending modern western style comforts with traditional Japanese Tatami floors. Hakken, meaning Discovery in Japanese, inspires us to offer our guests a unique experience filled with modern comforts, served by its friendly Australian and Kiwi staff.
Active Life Madarao
Extensive renovations undertaken in 2016 have transformed Active Life Madarao into Madarao Kogen’s highest ranked lodge. Each day, they do their utmost to ensure that the time you spend at Active Life Madarao exceeds all your expectations. Our friendly English-speaking staff are experts when it comes to your comfort and overall enjoyment. They also serve some of the best coffee on the mountain.
Relax and enjoy the stunning contemporary décor and comfortable accommodations while experiencing the thrilling world-class skiing, stunning natural beauty and warm hospitality that Madarao is renowned for. It’s an experience unlike any other, the perfect blend of Japanese hospitality and western convenience.
Madarao Mountain Lodge
Madarao Mountain Lodge provides a family-friendly ski lodge located just metres away from the slopes at Madarao Mountain Resort. You can easily access the extensive terrain of both Madarao Mountain Resort and Tangram Ski Circus from the front door. From the lodge, its an easy ski down to the lifts and as such is ideally located if first tracks are on your holiday agenda. .
The lodge has 11 rooms. There are 4 western-style double rooms with queen sized beds. There are 3 western-style twin rooms with two single beds, one western-style triple room and one western-style family room that sleeps 4 people. We have two Japanese family rooms with tatami mats and futons, one which has an en suite bathroom. Rates are based on rooms and not per person, as in many Japanese ryokans, which is cost effective particularly for families on a budget
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