Madarao Kogen: some of the best inbounds tree skiing in Nagano

Madarao Kogen built its tree skiing into the mountain on purpose. Its tree runs are marked on the trail map and patrolled like any other run, which is a large part of why it has a reputation for some of the best inbounds tree skiing in Nagano.

The resort sits on the Nagano/Niigata border, in a bowl that catches and holds snow, with a base around 908 to 910m and a summit at 1,350m, for about 440m of vertical. It runs 31 pistes, matching the figure the wider Iiyama guide already gives it, and around 10 lifts of its own, though you will see higher counts quoted where they fold in the neighbouring resort it links to. None of that is the headline. The headline is that a genuinely large share of the terrain here is designated, in-bounds tree skiing, not a handful of gaps between the groomers.

The mountain

Madarao's 31 runs spread across a bowl-shaped mountain that tends to hold what falls on it rather than blowing it clear. The pisted terrain is mixed enough for most levels, but the real draw is what happens off the groomed line: a wide spread of glades that are actually part of the marked trail network, not an unofficial extra. The number of named tree runs varies depending on who is counting. What is clear is that the zones are marked, patrolled and built into how the mountain is laid out, which is the distinctive part.

There is also backcountry access beyond the marked zones, through a gate near the top of the mountain, with the usual beacon, shovel and probe expected of anyone using it, and local guiding recommended if you have not skied the area before.

Linked with Tangram

Madarao is not sold as a standalone resort. A combined lift pass covers both Madarao and the neighbouring Tangram, and the two are physically joined by a lift link over the summit rather than just a shared ticket and a shuttle bus between separate base areas, so it is a genuine linked circuit rather than two resorts that happen to sell the same pass. Tangram is its own resort with its own character and is not covered here; treat the link as a bonus on a Madarao day, not the main event.

Snow

Madarao's position in a snow-catching bowl on the Nagano/Niigata border gives it a season that regularly runs to somewhere between 10 and 13 metres, opening in mid-December and holding through to late March or early April. That is a range rather than a single official figure, but it is consistent across the sources checked, and it is enough to make Madarao a reasonable bet even on days when the bigger-name resorts nearby are running short.

Getting there

The nearest station is Iiyama, on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Without a car, budget 20 to 30 minutes from Iiyama Station: either the direct resort bus, which runs a limited timetable worth checking in advance, or a taxi, at roughly ¥5,000. Madarao is also part of the wider Iiyama-area cluster of resorts, covered in full there, where most visitors are working from a hire car and treating Madarao as one stop among many rather than a single destination.

Where to stay

The base area has a genuine mix of lodging, from small, independently run lodges through to a larger, full-service hotel. Madarao Mountain Lodge, renovated in 2017, sits a short walk from the slopes with its own cafe; other options range from compact guesthouse-style lodges to Madarao Kogen Hotel, the largest single property at the base, which has its own restaurant, rental and childcare. Check rates directly before committing to dates.

Rental, lessons and food

Rental and lesson bookings are best made through the base area rather than assumed to be available on arrival, particularly in peak weeks. The base is described as having a genuine spread of dining options rather than a single cafeteria, running from casual noodle and rice-bowl places through to sit-down restaurants, so there is more choice here than the resort's relatively low profile might suggest.

The feel

Madarao reads as a resort built by people who actually ski trees, rather than one that tolerates it. The marked, patrolled glades are the point, the vertical and run count are respectable without being spectacular, and the Tangram link adds range without adding complication. It suits a powder-focused day trip out of the wider Iiyama area as much as it suits a dedicated stay, and it rewards showing up after fresh snow rather than treating it as a groomer-cruising resort.

Need to know

Lift pass

Shared Mountain Pass with Tangram, around ¥8,500 at the counter, around ¥6,500 booked in advance (2025-26 pricing).

Getting there

Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama Station, then 20 to 30 minutes by direct resort bus (limited timetable) or taxi, around ¥5,000.

Terrain

31 runs, 440m vertical, base around 908 to 910m, summit 1,350m. Around 10 lifts, more once Tangram's own lifts are counted.

Tree skiing

Marked, patrolled, in-bounds glades built into the terrain, plus a gated backcountry access point above them.

Linked resort

Tangram, over the summit on the same pass.