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​Madarao Tours

Looking for a new adventure in the Japanese mountains? This winter, enjoy a guided Backcountry Tour outside of the resort boundaries, where you’ll not only learn important backcountry safety skills but also ski and board some incredible and unique terrain. There are also snowmobiles, snowshoeing or snow monkeys to add some variety to the range of winter activities that you can enjoy out of Madarao.

Shinetsu-Shizenkyo Activity Center

Based right at Iiyama Station, the SAC is a center for all things outdoor in the Northern Nagano or Shinetsu region. There are 39 ski resorts in the region, so the SAC works to promote activities across all the different mountain resorts. The SAC can help to arrange activities such as rafting, fat tyre mountain biking, trekking and snowshoeing. The Center has a variety of equipment for rent, workshop and event spaces, outdoor goods, books and other materials for sale, and even a fitting room. All two minutes from the bullet train.

Contact

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Back Country Tours 

North Nagano Outdoor Sports

​Aki the guide was born and bred in Madarao and is an accomplished skier and backcountry guide. He also runs a great little cafe on the mountain and is a great source of advice about all things Madarao. He takes you to the top of the mountain and down some epic tree runs through the forest. It is an easy, safe way to introduce yourself to skiing back country (see video link below). 

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Featured Video

Back country touring with
North Nagano Sports.

Contact North Nagano Sports

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Snowshoes Tours

Do you want a peaceful day in the forest away from all the skiers and snowboarders? Take a packed lunch and some drinks and walk through the forests around Madarao on a self guided snow shoe tour. You can go to the Madarao Tourist Association's office called Yama no Ie for more information. They will rent you some snow shoes for around 1000 yen and point you in the right direction.There are approximately 6km of sign-posted trails around Lake Nozomi. The trails are quite flat and easy, so it is not too physically challenging. You can even walk across the frozen lake at times.  Yama no Ie even offers guided tours if you don't trust your own sense of direction. The guides can even offer other facts about the area and an English speaking guide is available.

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Snow Monkey Tours

​A trip to Japan isn't complete without looking at the famous hot water loving monkeys. Jigokudani, which is near Shiga Kogen, is about a one hour drive away from Madarao.

Snow Monkey Resorts

​Running throughout the year, the Snow Monkey Resorts tours takes in some of Nagano’s most famous highlights in an enjoyable day of discovery and fun. Your English-speaking guide can meet you in Madarao in a private van to transport you to the Snow Monkey Park where you will spend time with the world-famous monkeys. Your guide will take you along the forest trail leading to the park and into Jigokudani or “Hell’s Valley” – home of the snow monkeys. As the only troop of monkeys in the world known to bathe in hot springs, your guide will introduce these truly curious creatures and provide you time to enjoy the unique experience of observing them in close proximity.

Enquire about a Snow Monkey Tour from Madarao.

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