MADARAO MOUNTAIN LODGE, Iiyama

Madarao Mountain Lodge offers Japanese rooms on tatami mats with futons, selected guestrooms include a flat-screen television and shared bathroom. Some units feature a private bathroom with a shower. Available room types include double, twin, triple, and family rooms, as well as studios and apartments. Amenities in all rooms: ironing facilities, heating, a sitting area, garden furniture, free toiletries, cookware/kitchen utensils, an electric kettle, a shared kitchen, a flat-screen TV, and carpeted floors. Select rooms feature mountain views. Some apartments include a sauna, a fully equipped kitchenette with a stovetop, refrigerator, oven, and microwave. The family room includes a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom.

The Greenhouse Cafe and Bar is the place for food and drinks at Madarao Mountain Lodge. The Greenhouse Cafe serves a variety of dishes from both Japan and Australia. Breakfast includes eggs, toast, cereal, miso soup, and salad. Mayuko, a qualified Japanese chef who specializes in sushi, sashimi, and tempura, provides food services. Sample the Madarao Dragon Rolls, an American-style long nori roll made with tempura prawn, Japanese mizuna greens, Caesar mayonnaise, and tobiko fish roe.

Guests can hit the slopes with ski-in/ski-out access, ski passes, and ski storage. Ski movies or live concerts are shown on the big screen TV, guests can also play darts with friends. Madarao Kogen Ski Resort and Tangram Ski Circus are worth a visit. The lodge is near activities including cross-country skiing, ski lifts, and skiing lessons. Other area activities include exploring Lake Nojiri, Numanohara Wetlands, Nozomi Lake, and Madarao Hot Spring.

Located in Madarao Mountain Resort, Madarao Mountain Lodge sits on the border of Nagano and Niigata prefectures. The bus station is at the Madarao Kogen Hotel, about 300 meters away. Iiyama Station allows guests to use the Shinkansen or bullet train, which is one and a half hours from Tokyo. Pick-ups from Iiyama Station are available on request. The nearest airport is Matsumoto, 100 km from Madarao Mountain Lodge. Landmarks nearby include Kenzakai (0.5 km), Nojiriko Terrace (2 km), and Tangram Ski Circus (3 km).

Madarao Mountain Lodge offers accommodation, a restaurant, a bar, a shared lounge, ski-to-door access, and barbecue facilities. Other amenities guests can find include a library and dry cleaning/laundry services. Guests can take advantage of ski storage and ski passes. The lodge includes a bar/lounge and a restaurant. After a day of hiking, skiing, or fishing, relax at the lodge. Mark has lived here for nearly 20 years, and Mayuko has lived for over 10 years in Australia, in Sydney and Byron Bay.