Madarao Resort Guide

Madarao boasts an enviable snow record and impressive terrain across two interconnected ski areas. Our Madarao Resort Guide is filled with everything you need to know about Madarao and neighbouring Tangram.

Located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, on the border of Nagano and Niigata prefectures, Madarao remains one of Japan's best-kept skiing secrets among UK skiers. This hidden powder haven more than rewards those who venture off the beaten track, offering world-class snow, uncrowded slopes, and a character all of its own.

In March 2026, we visited the area to seek out resorts that meet the growing demand for more authentic Japanese resorts that still deliver a hearty dose of famous 'Japow'. Off the back of that trip, we've put together a comprehensive resort guide covering everything you need to know.

Read on for our recommendations on where to ski and stay, where to eat and drink, and what to do on both the Madarao and Tangram sides of the mountain, helping you get the most out of your Madarao ski holiday.

Madarao and Tangram are located on the same mountain with separate towns at the base © Madarao Resort

Skiing in Madarao and Tangram

The Madarao ski area spans both Madarao Mountain Resort and Tangram Ski Circus  - two interconnected resorts that share a single lift pass and sit on the same mountain. Renowned for its abundant powder, the mountain receives an impressive 10 to 13 metres of snowfall each winter. It's nicknamed "Madapow" for a reason!

The terrain sits entirely below the treeline, providing excellent visibility even when it’s dumping snow (which happens a lot!). Both sides of the mountain feature gentle beginner and intermediate slopes lower down, alongside dedicated nursery slopes. Higher up where the two ski areas link, you’ll find steeper, mostly north-facing runs that hold heaps of snow perfectly well-preserved all season long.

Founder Richard and Sales Consultant Andy Evans skied in Madarao in March 2026, so if you have any questions, just call and ask!

Where to ski in Madarao Mountain Resort

In Madarao Mountain Resort, 60% of the courses are left ungroomed, meaning there’s a very high chance you’ll be skiing deep, fluffy powder. Beyond the marked pistes, you'll discover acres of unpisted, open areas, which makes the resort feel much larger than the trail map suggests.

The resort actively "glades" its tree areas - clearing out shrubs during the summer - to create pristine, designated off-piste tree skiing. Best of all, because most local skiers prefer to stick to the groomed pistes, there is very little competition for fresh tracks in the trees.

Madarao sits in a deep powder pocket, so expect light, fluffy snow when tree skiing © Madarao Resort

Our top tip: look for the marked entry points to the tree runs. Our favourites are the Crystal Bowl area and the Sawa 1, 2, and 3 courses, which act as flowy, natural halfpipes through the forest.

Our favourite runs in Madarao:

Beginners (Green): Beginner A and B and Utopia. Located just below the Madarao Kogen Hotel, these runs have their own dedicated chairlift, offering a quiet, sunny area to practice your turns. For the young, or young at heart, you’ll cross the border between Nagano and Niigata prefectures every time you ski them!

Beginners will enjoy Madarao's groomed slopes which remain quiet and uncrowded throughout the season © Madarao Resort

Intermediates (Blue): Giant. You can’t beat this long, top-to-bottom cruiser right down the front face of the mountain.

Advanced (Black): We loved the lines through the trees in the Crystal Bowl zone. Once you go through the gates, the area opens up, giving you a wide bowl to make your way through, funnelling into a fun natural halfpipe which brings you back to the lift.

For the adventurous, there are mogul ‘zipper lines’ and a terrain park at the base of the Madarao area.

Madarao Mountain Resort's "Zipper Lines" are maintained moguls intended to test the rhythm of advanced skiers and can be found near the base of the resort © Madarao Resort

Where to ski in Tangram Ski Circus

Unlike its neighbouring resort, 70% of Tangram Ski Circus' runs are perfectly groomed. These excellent wide, open trails are superb for skiers of all abilities to enjoy carving turns in an authentically Japanese setting. Because the slopes remain uncrowded throughout the season, you won't need to worry about dodging traffic as you make your way down.

For those looking for more of a challenge, Tangram offers easy access to tree runs and off-piste zones, allowing you to dip in and out of the powder. Advanced skiers can tackle the resort's challenging mogul lines or head over to the terrain park, while families will love the dedicated children's park, where little ones can enjoy magic carpets and gentle sledding slopes.

Our favourite runs in Tangram:

Beginners (Green): the number 3 quad lift gives you a lovely range of gentle, well-groomed slopes, which all bring you back to the resort base. There’s also a separate beginner area with a magic carpet for any first-timers.

Intermediates (Blue): the Forest Line offers a great pitch following a ridgeline off the Number 5 Quad lift. What makes it one of the best runs in the resort is the stunning, panoramic view over Lake Nojiri as you ski down.

Advanced (Black): The Kings Slalom is a long, steep run from the top lift. It’s left unpisted, so that means fresh snow on powder days, or challenging moguls if it hasn’t snowed in a while.

Expect knee-deep and silky smooth powder when off-piste skiing in Tangram © Tangram Ski Circus

Backcountry and guiding in Madarao

Private and group backcountry tours in the Madarao area are available through North Nagano Outdoor Sports. Starting from Aki's Pub&Cafe at the Madarao base, you'll hike from the lifts to find the best, untracked powder with the support of an expert local guide. They can also take you to nearby Myoko and Nozawa Onsen if you want to explore more of the area.

More skiing

If you want to elevate your Japan ski holiday into something truly epic, we highly recommend combining Madarao with one or more of its neighbouring ski areas. Thanks to its central location, you can easily access several world-class destinations, including Shiga Kogen (home to 18 ski zones), Nozawa Onsen, and Myoko Kogen in day trips from Madarao.

Access to nearby resorts is available via services like the Nagano Snow Shuttle or local inter-resort coaches. We can help with private transfers to other locations.

Japan’s oldest ski resort, Nozawa Onsen ski holidays are as famous for onsens as they are for skiing - perfect for a day ski trip from Madarao © Ski Japan

For maximum flexibility, renting a car from Iiyama or Nagano is a fantastic way to explore the region at your own pace. Alternatively, why not hire a private mountain guide? They will handle the transport and show you the very best hidden stashes these nearby resorts have to offer.

We have skied in all of these resorts, so if you have any questions, chat to one of our Japan experts on  01273 3224060 or request a quotation online and we'll be in touch.

Where to stay in Madarao and Tangram

Neither Madarao nor Tangram is a sprawling resort town, so we highly recommend staying in one of the main slope-side hotels. Both options offer excellent dining facilities and all the amenities you need right under one roof.

Madarao Kogen Hotel © Madarao Resort

Madarao Mountain Resort

Nestled at the base of the renowned Madarao, the 3* Madarao Kogen Hotel is the resort’s flagship property and where most visitors stay. 

With true ski-in, ski-out access, simply step straight from the ski locker room onto the snow. Everything you need for a seamless ski holiday is right on-site, including ski lockers, a modern rental shop, restaurants and high-quality rooms and service. After an exhilarating day on the mountain, unwind in the hotel’s natural onsen. These mineral-rich hot spring baths offer the perfect way to relax tired muscles while soaking in the serene alpine surroundings.

Madarao Hotel boasts an impressive range of facilities, including a steaming onsen for post-ski legs

Tangram Ski Circus

Positioned at the base of the slopes on the Tangram side of the mountain, the 3*+ Hotel Tangram is a resort-style property with direct ski-in, ski-out access.

The modern hotel has all the facilities you’ll need under the one roof. Most guests will stay on a half-board basis. There’s also a natural onsen with both indoor and outdoor baths, a sauna, and a swimming pool (payable locally).

Hotel Tangram is a perfect slope-side base with a range of comfortable rooms and high-quality facilities

You won’t find much late-night après here, but there is a relaxed lounge bar and a karaoke room. The ground floor of the hotel opens onto the snow, and there you’ll find ski rental, ski school, and a small shop for total convenience.

Getting around

Getting between Madarao Mountain Resort and Tangram Ski Circus is incredibly easy, as the two areas are seamlessly interconnected right at the top of the mountain, allowing you to simply ski from one side to the other.

As you cannot walk between the two resorts from the base of the mountain, you can easily ride a bus that circles around the resort, and it stops outside both the Madarao Kogen Hotel and Hotel Tangram.

Where to eat and drink in Madarao and Tangram

Both Madarao Mountain Resort and Tangram Ski Circus feature small villages at their base, though Tangram’s dining is almost entirely centralised inside Hotel Tangram.

When you're on the mountain, you'll find plenty of great slope-side cafeterias at the base of each side for an easy lunch between runs, along with a handful of fantastic independent spots for evening meals

Where to eat and drink in Madarao Mountain Resort

On-mountain dining

There are cafeteria-style buildings located at the base of the resort, ideal for quick lunches throughout the ski day. These all serve a simple, hearty dishes including ramen, soba, udon, karaage (fried chicken), and Japanese-style curry. 

Heidi - the largest and most central cafeteria of Madarao. This wood-cabin style bulding is a central hub for skiers, and has an impressive 800-person capacity.

Trois Cinq - a cosy, highly-rated ski-in/ski-out café and restaurant located right next to Lift No.1 in Madarao Mountain Resort.

Aki's Burger in Tirol - a popular ski-in ski-out burger joint located inside the Tirol lodge in Madarao Mountain Resort.

Madarao has several cafeteria-style restaurants near the base on the mountain for a quick lunch or coffee throughout a day of skiing © Madarao Resort

Lunch dining in resort

Aki’s pub - hearty pub grub and Japanese classics like ramen and curry. Great for coffee throughout the day.

Rudolf - Italian food, offering pizza, pasta and more Japanese-style sharing plates. Open at lunchtime on weekends and peak holiday dates.

Evening dining

During weekends and holiday periods, many restaurants and bars have limited seating as they aren't huge venues. We recommend booking tables in advance!

Donguri-Tei - a wooden cabin serving yakiniku Japanese barbecue and shabu-shabu hot pots. This food hub offers a premium dining experience centred around Japanese Wagyu beef, and is a great spot for evening meal.

Madarao Kogen Hotel dining

If staying in Madarao Mountain Resort, you'll stay in Madarao Kogen Hotel, which features high-quality and standout restaurants. These include:

Piemonte Restaurant - a generous breakfast and hearty dinner showcase a blend of international and local flavours.

For customers staying in Madarao Hotel, expect exquisite, local flavours © Madarao Resort

Furusato Restaurant - serves authentic Japanese cuisine for both lunch and dinner.

Ohanabatake lounge bar - offers a relaxed setting for light bites, daytime refreshments, or après-ski drinks. Best enjoyed alongside sweeping views through its panoramic windows.

Where to eat and drink in Tangram Ski Circus

If staying in Hotel Tangram, most guests tend to stay on a half-board basis, enjoying breakfast right at their hotel before heading out. The hotel's restaurants include:

Hotel Tangram dining

Zig Zag - where you'll eat breakfast and dinner on half board. Varied menu of Japanese and Western cuisine.

Le Tangram - a Japanese/Fusion restaurant, and Koma, a popular soba noodle restaurant.

Customers can enjoy a mixed Japanese and Western-style buffet served daily in the main dining room in the Madarao Kogen Hotel © Maradaro Kogen Hotel

Après

As Madarao is not a huge town, die-hard apres-goers will prefer larger, busier resorts such as Niseko or Hakuba. With that said, there are still plenty of friendly post-ski pint spots that are ideal for those looking for a cold beer and decent sized meal after a day of skiing powder. our recommendation:

Shaggy Yak - just a short walk from the lift in Madarao Mountain Resort and in the heart of the village, Shaggy Yak is popular with season workers, and a prime spot for a post-ski pint and food. Expect Japanese craft beer, whiskies and sake, as well as a mix of izakaya-style sharing plates and western bar snacks.

Activities in Madarao

Madarao is all about the skiing, so most visitors will relax with a quiet après drink and dinner, then perhaps an onsen after their days on the slopes.

Jigokudani Monkey Park

For a day off from skiing, the resort is a short distance from Jigokudani, home of the world-famous snow monkeys. Watching these wild monkeys bathe in natural hot springs - seemingly unbothered by visitors - is a uniquely Japanese and genuinely unforgettable experience. It’s heartwarming, slightly surreal and often a highlight of your trip for non-skiers and skiers alike.

Japan Sales & Product Manager Andy Knights visited the Jigokudani Monkey Park in 2023 and made some furry friends!

The guided day excursion (priced at £100 per person) includes return transport, lunch and commentary. The tour also visits Zenko-ji, a 7th-century temple and important cultural landmark, and also includes a guided sake tasting session at a nearby brewery.

Onsens

After a day of bounding down light, fluffy powder, unwinding in an onsen is our personal favourite way to rejuvinate the ski legs!

The primary onsens in Madarao are located in Madarao Kogen Hotel and Hotel Tangram, and both are popular for their high-quality indoor baths, outdoor open-air baths, and saunas.

Madarao Kogen Hotel boasts large, steaming indoor and outdoor onsens for skiers to relax after a long day on the slopes © Madarao Kogen Hotel

Iiyama

Just a short drive from the resort, the nearby town of Iiyama (pronounced ee-yama) is a great spot to spend an afternoon or evening if you want a taste of authentic Japanese culture. It’s famous for its Buddhist Altar Street, where you can wander up the snowy steps to explore a handful of quiet temples and Shinto shrines, or pop into local tea shops to see traditional origami and impressive altar craftsmanship first-hand.

Iiyama is also the place to go if you fancy eating out of the resort for a night, as the town is full of cosy local izakayas and great little restaurants. Plus, it’s a handy pit stop if you just need to find an ATM or stock up on grocery essentials.

Between January and February, a makeshift village of kamakura snow huts is created just north of Iiyama City © Madarao Resort

Getting down the mountain to the station is straightforward thanks to the local and express buses, which pick up right outside the Madarao Kogen Hotel roundabout and drop you off directly at the covered Madarao Exit of Iiyama Station.

Kids in Madarao

Families love the quiet atmosphere and easy mountain access here. Off the slopes, children can enjoy a dedicated Kids Park designed for sledging and snow tubing, complete with a magic carpet lift to save them from running up the hill. The nearby "Sky House" (Sora no Ie) provides a warm hut to shelter from the elements and offers sledge rentals.

Snow sledding on Madarao's nursery slopes is a popular children's activity and is guaranteed to bring a huge smile to your face! © Madaroa Resort

Ski School in Madarao

Madarao’s international ski and snowboard school, North Nagano Outdoor Sports, offers group and private lessons with English-speaking, internationally qualified instructors.

North Nagano Outdoor Sports is a great option for beginner skiers or snowboarders, or those generally looking to sharpen their skills! © Madarao Resort

Have a question about Madarao?

Take a look at our Madarao FAQs or call our team on 01273 224060 to speak to someone who has skied and stayed here.