A Japanese White Christmas for the whole family – Madarao, Japan - Kuma Lodge

A Japanese White Christmas for the whole family – Madarao, Japan

Have you been dreaming of a White Christmas holiday – filled with epic powder snow, fun for the kids and great memories?

Madarao Mountain Resort perfect mix of great snow and an authentic cultural experience for your Japanese White Christmas.

madarao after the powder storm

Madarao, December 2017. Golden light after the powder storm that covered the mountain with 1.5m of fresh snow!

Kuma Lodge is offering a special group deal for a 2018 White Christmas

About Kuma Lodge

Kuma Lodge is a boutique, ski-lodge offering ski-in, ski-out access to the slopes of Madarao Mountain Resort. The slopes of Madarao are located in Nagano Prefecture, and it takes about 2 hours to get here from Tokyo Station.

Kuma is the #1 rated lodge in the area on Tripadvisor – and we pride ourselves on high quality, concierge style service.

During your stay in Madarao our team of English-speaking locals will cook you a hearty breakfast before you head to the slopes, book all of your meals at the local delicious restaurants, cater to any food requirements, arrange lift passes and tours of the local tourist attractions or other nearby ski resorts. We can also offer child minding services if prearranged – ask us if you have any questions as we are always happy to help!

japan snow resort for families

kuma lodge madarao

Kuma Lodge (red roof) is located right next to the beginner ski slopes. Most rooms offer stunning mountain views.

What is the snow like in December?

Madarao typically receives around 10-13m of snow throughout the winter season. The snow starts to fall in November, and by December there is a great base and the snow just keeps on coming. In December 2017 we had about 3m of fresh snow – nearly half of that came around Christmas time.

madarao powder december

Madarao was hit by a huge snow storm over Christmas 2017 that left the slopes covered in bottomless powder. The conditions were some of the best for the whole winter season.

The crew from Powderhounds came to Madarao to enjoy the Boxing Day powder – check out what they had to say here.

About 60% of the mountain is ungroomed – perfect for intermediate riders to develop their powder skills and advanced riders to shred it up. At the base of the mountain are gentle, groomed beginner slopes that are usually completely uncrowded. Great for the kids to learn!

Mt Madarao also offers easy access to the neighbouring resort Tangram Ski Circus which is home to the banana sled ski-doo ride – very popular with the kids, and a whole heap of great powder runs. The two resorts combined have 21 modern chairlifts and 27 official on-piste runs, with a whole lot of off-piste terrain that is easy to access.

If you want to read more about Madarao as a family snow resort – check out our article here.

Activities For The Whole Family

The main draw to Madarao is obviously amazing snow, but there is a lot more to this peaceful part of Japan. The Nagano region, particularly Iiyama is prime agricultural land when not buried under heaps of snow! There is a culture on quality food and drink, with a number of unforgettable dining experiences to be had – from the freshest Japanese hotpots, to Mongolian tents and dining in igloo’s.

shaggy yak madarao

Dining at the Shaggy Yak in a traditional Mongolian yurt is a great experience

snow monkey near madarao

A short trip to visit the snow monkeys is always worthwhile.

The Japanese Onsen experience is a must do – with the local onsen located only a few minutes walk from Kuma Lodge. Not too far away, the local Japanese snow monkeys also enjoy the natural onsens. We highly recommend the short trip to visit the snow monkeys in their natural environment – it is always a hit with the kids.

Madarao is close to other tourist ski resorts like Myoko Kogen and Nozawa Onsen. On clear days you can have stunning views from the summit of Mt Madarao, looking over the nearby mountains to the Sea of Japan. Ask our team about organising day trips to the nearby mountains.

day trip to nozawa onsen from madarao

Group day trips to Nozawa Onsen from Madarao is a great way to experience a new mountain and enjoy the street shopping.

Stunning views of the nearby Myoko on a perfect bluebird day at Madarao!

Check out our Kuma Lodge video for the full experience

Ready for a super happy snow time?

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