Madarao Mountain Resort has the perfect ingredients as a powder skiing destination. The area is renowned for average snowfalls in the realm of 10 to 13 metres per season, and there is some very good tree skiing and reasonably steep bowls. Off-piste skiing is permitted, and there isn’t too much competition for the freshies. Madarao is still somewhat of an undiscovered treasure but it’s quickly becoming known as the new “it” place in Honshu for powder hounds. You might catch Mad Pow disease!
Madarao Mountain Resort (formerly Madarao Kogen ie Madarao Highlands) is located between Myoko Kogen and Nozawa Onsen, so it’s easy to ski Madarao as a day tripper from either of these ski resorts. Alternatively visit Madarao Mountain Resort as a destination resort for a few days. Madarao is largely frequented by the Japanese folk, so it offers something more unique than neighbouring ski resorts as it’s more untouched by westerners.
You can read the full review from powderhounds.com here.