NAGANO JAPAN

Madarao & Iiyama

Lying across the valley from the more famous Nozawa Onsen, Madarao Mountin Resort lies somewhat in the shadow of its better known and larger neighbour. But for those who make it there, Madarao offers typically quieter ski runs, great powder and an open attitude when it comes to getting off-piste. The magic combination of fun terrain, fantastic tree zones and access to some of Nagano’s best backcountry ensures that the resort wins lots of fans who come back again and again. Smaller, quieter and more relaxed than Nozawa, it’s no surprise that once people discover Madarao, they tend to fall in love with it.

Madarao is easily accessible from Iiyama – the nearest town to the resort and a convenient stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running from Tokyo to Kanazawa. Only 10-minutes past Nagano, Iiyama Station acts as a gateway to Madarao, Nozawa Onsen and lots of other quiet attractions in the area. A popular town for many foreign reisdents to relocate to, Iiyama can be easily explored on bicycle including in spring when Iiyama Joshi Park is blessed with some of the region’s best cherry blossoms. Madarao too is becoming increasingly well-known for the activities on offer outside of winter including mountain-biking, trail-running and SUP (stand-up paddling) in the surrounding lakes. In every sense, both Madarao and Iiyama are quickly developing into all-year-round destinations.