More tree-skiing zones than any other resort in Japan — a small, unglamorous mountain that rewards exactly one type of skier (the patient powder one).
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 15°C, wind 5 km/h. We’ll resume the daily report once snowfall picks up.
Forecast data via Open-Meteo. Refreshes hourly. Always verify with the resort before driving up.
Why Madarao Kogen
More tree-skiing zones than any other resort in Japan — a small, unglamorous mountain that rewards exactly one type of skier (the patient powder one).
Madarao Kogen is a ski resort in Nagano, with 28 marked runs and 440m of vertical. It averages around 12m of snowfall a season, over terrain that suits advanced skiers. Expect deep powder and tree runs.
Terrain in detail
SeriousPlenty for advanced skiers — proper black runs, real consequence. Difficulty, powder character, and the stats that matter on the mountain itself.
Hardcore index
60
Plenty for advanced skiers — proper black runs, real consequence.
From terrain split, run profile, vertical drop, expert features.
Powder profile
Inland alpine — variable depending on storm direction.
Drier on cold storms, deeper when the Sea of Japan fires.
12
m
per season
Frequent deep days through midwinter
Expert runs
10 of 28
Estimated from advanced terrain split.
Vertical drop
440m
Compact mountain.
Steepest pitch
—
Pitch not published.
Backcountry gates
None
In-bounds skiing only.
Tree skiing
Yes
Tagged for proper tree runs.
Moguls
Few
Mostly cord and powder.
Best for
Terrain
Getting there
From airport
2 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Train / bus
Shuttle from JR Iiyama Shinkansen Station 2 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Shuttle from JR Iiyama Shinkansen Station 2 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Photo: Ski Mania / Public domain · Source
Curated guides covering Madarao Kogen and the rest of Nagano.
More resorts in Nagano
destination resort
Hakuba's crown jewel and 1998 Olympic venue, offering Japan's most challenging piste skiing with epic vertical.
resort town
Two interconnected Hakuba faces — 47's terrain park and Goryu's wide groomers under one lift ticket, plus the valley's best night-skiing.
powder-focused
The snowiest resort in Hakuba Valley and Japan's finest steep in-bounds tree skiing — the Hotel Green Plaza at the base makes it the most underrated ski-in option in the country.
family-focused
Japan's widest beginner piste, plus the Tsugaike DBD — lift-served backcountry zone on the top of the mountain. Rare resort that works for a first-timer AND a freerider.
