ski_04_madarao
Madarao & Tangram
Madarao and Tangram is Japan's tree-run capital — two linked ski resorts, 51 courses, and a famous glade network, all on 100% natural snow the locals call "Mada-pow".
Buy Shinkansen ticket to Iiyama →About the resort
Tree runs and Mada-pow
Madarao Mountain Resort and Tangram Ski Circus share a summit on the Nagano–Niigata border. Madarao ski terrain pioneered marked, patrolled tree skiing in Japan — over a dozen gladed zones that turn every storm day into a playground.
🌲 Japan's tree-run capital
More than a dozen marked glades — powder pillows, birch forests, and banked gullies, all inbounds.
❄️ 100% natural snow
No snowmaking needed: the border ridge catches storm after storm of dry "Mada-pow".
🔗 Two resorts, one ridge
A joint ticket links Madarao with Tangram's sheltered, family-friendly slopes over the summit.
🤝 Small and friendly
A compact international scene — guesthouses, a few good bars, and no lift lines.
Terrain by level
Getting there
Tokyo to Madarao, step by step
Book your Shinkansen ticket online
Choose your date and train, pay online, and receive your QR voucher by email.
Hokuriku Shinkansen: Tokyo → Iiyama
Print your tickets from your QR voucher at a station ticket machine, then board.
approx. 110 minMadarao bus: Iiyama Station → Madarao Kogen
The direct express bus climbs to the resort village. See the full timetable ↓
approx. 25–30 minSki both sides
Ride Madarao's glades, then cross the summit to Tangram for sheltered cruisers.
Resort info
The mountain, by the numbers
Modest on paper, mighty in the trees.
| Courses | 51 across Madarao (32) and Tangram — joint ticket available |
|---|---|
| Tree runs | 12+ marked and patrolled gladed zones at Madarao |
| Top elevation | 1,350 m (Mt. Madarao) |
| Longest run | 2.5 km |
| Snow | 100% natural — deep, consistent border-ridge powder |
| Terrain mix | 30% beginner · 35% intermediate · 35% advanced |
| Season | Mid-December – late March |
| Getting around | Both resorts link at the summit; village is walkable |
Winter services
Small resort, sorted services
The international boom brought English-friendly services without the crowds.
🎿 Rentals
Village shops rent all-mountain and powder gear; book ahead for peak weeks.
🎓 Ski & snowboard schools
English-language lessons and first-timer packages run daily.
🌲 Tree-run clinics
Local guides and clinics teach glade technique — the smart way into Mada-pow.
👶 Family zones
Tangram's gentle, sheltered slopes and kids park suit young families.
📦 Luggage delivery
Takkyubin courier delivers ski bags to your guesthouse or hotel.
Village info
A village of guesthouses
Madarao Kogen village is a scatter of pensions, lodges, and a few bars at the base of the slopes.
- Village life — family-run guesthouses and lodges, many with their own baths and home cooking.
- Tangram side — a single resort hotel with pool and onsen — quiet and self-contained.
- Iiyama town — the valley town below has supermarkets, ATMs, and the Shinkansen station.
- Neighbors — Nozawa Onsen and Myoko are each about 30–40 minutes away for a change of scene.
Restaurant & nightlife
Fireside nights
Après here means a craft beer by the fire and dinner at your guesthouse — cozy, not clubby.
- Guesthouse dinners — many pensions serve excellent home-style dinners — book meals with your room.
- Village bars — a few international-run bars pour local craft beer and sake.
- Local flavors — Iiyama's snow-country vegetables, soba, and Nagano apples.
- Good to know — options are limited — reserve dinner ahead; the village sleeps early on powder eves.
When to go
Madarao & Tangram season at a glance
Getting here
Iiyama Station → Madarao Bus
The Madarao bus (direct express) runs between Iiyama Shinkansen Station and Madarao Kogen / Tangram, expected to operate from mid-December to late March. Timetable below is provisional, based on the 2025–26 season. Please confirm the latest schedule with the operator before your trip.
| Stop | Bus 1 | Bus 2 | Bus 3 | Bus 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iiyama Station | 8:50 | 11:20 | 13:30 | 16:30 |
| Plaza-mae | 9:26 | 11:40 | 13:50 | 16:50 |
| Madarao Kogen Hotel | 9:27 | 11:41 | 13:51 | 16:51 |
| Tangram Madarao | 9:32 | 11:50 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
From Kanazawa: 7:32 / 8:35 / 9:34 / 10:33 / 12:13 / 14:13 / 16:07
Later trains arrive after the last bus (16:30) — taxi only.
| Stop | Bus 1 | Bus 2 | Bus 3 | Bus 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangram Madarao | — | 13:00 | — | — |
| Madarao Kogen Hotel | 9:45 | 13:20 | 14:50 | 17:20 |
| Plaza-mae | 9:46 | 13:21 | 14:51 | 17:21 |
| Iiyama Station | 10:15 | 13:45 | 15:20 | 17:50 |
To Kanazawa: 10:28 / 12:17 / 13:02 / 15:02 / 17:03 / 18:20 / 20:01 / 21:00 / 22:00
Earlier trains leave before the first bus arrives (10:15) — taxi only.
💳 Express bus (NOTOMA / 急行): cashless payment accepted. Community bus (飯山市コミュニティバス): cash only, at ticket machines or onboard.
Good to know