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Freshly snow-covered slopes, trees and lifts below Madarao Kogen Hotel, with winter mountains beyond.
Explore / Madarao / Lessons & Rentals

MADARAO

📍Iiyama, Nagano, Japan

🌲 Tree Skiing❄️ Powder Haven💎 Hidden Gem🤙 Local's Favorite7 Days on Ikon☀️ Year-round destination

Photo: Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0 · Photo details

⬇️
Vertical drop
1,443 ft*
🗻
Skiable terrain
185 acres*
❄️
Avg snowfall
472 in*
🚡
Lifts
10

Madarao Rental Center

Madarao Mountain Resort

Rentals

Madarao’s rental program offers standard and high-grade equipment, with Powder Station staff advising on gear and Ogasaka BLASTRACK fat skis available.

Why we like it

Visitors can choose between basic and higher-grade equipment and get powder-oriented guidance directly at the resort.

Best for:

Resort-base pickupStandard or high-grade gearPowder ski options
Sources & planning details

Checked: identity, location, description, recommendation details, website, rentals.

Supporting source ↗ · checked 2026-10-27

Visit Website

North Nagano Outdoor Sports Ski & Snowboard School

North Nagano Outdoor Sports, Aki’s Pub & Cafe, Madarao Mountain Resort

Ski LessonsSnowboard LessonsPrivate LessonsKids Programs

North Nagano Outdoor Sports teaches skiing and snowboarding in English at Madarao. Adults and children can book a group or ask for private coaching.

Why we like it

The instructors work on soft-snow technique as well as the basics. Describe how comfortably you link turns when booking so they can place you in a suitable lesson.

Best for:

English-language lessonsFamily groupsSoft-snow technique
Sources & planning details

Checked: identity, location, description, recommendation details, website, phone, ski lessons, snowboard lessons, private lessons, kids programs.

Supporting source ↗ · checked 2026-10-31

Visit Website+81 90 4461 7354

Powder Station Private Slope Guiding

Powder Station inside Restaurant Heidi, Madarao Mountain Resort

Guiding

Madarao’s Powder Station offers private guiding on resort slopes and designated tree runs. The guide plans the route around the group’s ability and interests.

Why we like it

Meet inside Restaurant Heidi with a helmet and your skiing or snowboarding gear. A group of similar ability can ask the guide for an introduction to the open tree courses.

Best for:

First visits to the tree coursesPrivate resort guiding
Sources & planning details

Checked: identity, location, description, recommendation details, website, guiding.

Supporting source ↗ · checked 2026-10-31

Visit Website
💡

Pro Tip: Book Early

Lessons and rentals at popular resorts often book up quickly, especially during peak season and holidays. We recommend booking at least 1–2 weeks in advance to secure your preferred times.

Sources & planning context

Historical planning figures · Figures marked * come from earlier references and may differ from current resort figures.

Other names · Madarao Mountain Resort, Madarao Kogen

Compare the kind of instruction or equipment you need. The provider can match your ability, age and dates to a current program.

Typically mid December to late March

A broad planning range from the historical guide, conditions permitting. Use the operator’s schedule for your travel dates.

Official schedules & conditions ↗
Schedule source ↗Official resort ↗
Summer and winter destination
Yes
Source ↗ · Oct 25, 2026
Beyond winter
Summer zipline adventures, outdoor exploration activities and camping at Madarao.
Source ↗ · Oct 25, 2026
Summer visit planning
Zipline adventures require reservations.
Source ↗ · Oct 25, 2026
Official website
https://www.madarao.jp/
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Summit elevation (ft)
4531
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Runs
32
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Lifts
10
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026

Historical mountain figures awaiting field-level confirmation: Vertical drop (ft), Skiable area (acres), Reported average snowfall (in), Base elevation (ft), Longest run (mi).

Individual listings retain their own sources and check dates. A source check covers only the named details; it does not confirm availability. Snowfall averages describe climate, not a forecast.

Madarao course-by-course guide ↗The operator describes Upper Champion, the sections of Crystal, Powder Line, and the marked tree courses. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Travel to Madarao ↗Tokyo to Iiyama by rail connects with mountain buses. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Powder Station slope guiding ↗Guided introductions cover designated tree terrain and Tangram from Heidi. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Madarao Mountain Resort | Accommodation ↗The operator lists slope access, indoor and outdoor onsen, buffet dining, rentals and laundry at Madarao Kogen Hotel. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Madarao Kogen Hotel ↗Operator property page links accommodation, hot spring, dining and direct booking. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Chill Madarao | Rooms and suites ↗The boutique lodge is at the top of Lift 1 with slopeside access, private bathrooms, Western beds, two-room suites, a café and a bar. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Pension Pure ↗The operator identifies a small pension in the Madarao highlands, Iiyama. It offers winter stays and provides room, booking and access information. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Madarao Mountain Lodge ↗The lodge operator identifies ski and snowboard equipment available to guests and describes the hosts’ background at Madarao. The destination lists this as a local lodge. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Hotel Madarao ↗Village hotel within walking distance of the ski area, with dorm beds, private double/twin rooms with either shared or en suite bathrooms, and family rooms. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

North Nagano Outdoor Sports international ski and snowboard school ↗The Madarao operator provides English-language private and group instruction for adults and children, including work on soft-snow technique. It lists its contact at Aki’s Pub & Cafe. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Madarao resort school directory ↗The resort lists North Nagano Outdoor Sports for English instruction, alongside distinct local schools. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

THE MADARAO · Ski restaurants ↗Heidi is the main restaurant in the bottom area of the ski slopes, with a range of meals and a café area. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Chill Madarao · Chill Bar ↗Bar by Lift No. 1 offering house cocktails using Japanese herbs and citrus, local craft beer and Japanese whisky. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Shinshu-Iiyama Tourism · Gourmet Guide ↗Rokubei serves Iiyama specialties including Tomikura soba and sasazushi with drinks brewed in Iiyama and Nagano. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

THE MADARAO · Bar and restaurants ↗Piedmont, the main restaurant at Madarao Kogen Hotel, offers reserved meals using seasonal regional ingredients. Dinner formats vary between set meals and a peak-season buffet. Reserve by the previous day. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

  • Ikon Pass opening dates — September 29, 2026 ↗

    Publishes a tentative opening target, subject to weather and terrain availability. Use the operator’s schedule for a specific visit.

  • Green Season | The Madarao ↗

    Summer zipline adventures, outdoor exploration activities and camping at Madarao.

  • Alterra: Madarao joins Ikon for 2026–27 ↗

    September 10, 2026 announcement confirms seven days on Ikon Pass and five on Ikon Base, without blackout dates.

  • Madarao course information ↗

    The official Madarao course information page supports the asserted static mountain facts. Metric source values are stored in the site's rounded imperial display units.

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