Active Life Madarao

The location is absolutely beautiful and the staff were amazing. If you are looking for more of a small group environment to meet people and hang out, active life is perfect.
Only a two minute walk from the first run and ski lift and still away from the busiest accommodation. Awesome restaurants near by also.
It also has a beautiful bath that is partially outside so you can enjoy the hot bath after a day on the mountain bath while still sitting outside.
Perfect unique style and great service.

Thank you for our amazing stay

My son and I stayed in Madarao for nearly 3 weeks in January. I'm so glad we chose Active Life. The overall location is the best, due to its close proximity to the mountain, shops & eateries. The place itself has a cozy, country inn vibe. Our room was quite spacious & the beds were super comfy. What made our stay most enjoyable was how well we were treated. Lisa, Stuart & entire staff went above & beyond for us. Thank you for everything. We'll be back! 🙂🤙

We loved our stay at Active Life. All the staff especially Lisa are very welcoming and helpful. This made our stay very enjoyable and relaxing. Top quality breakfast. Nice outdoor bath. Good location close to the slopes and restaurants. Nice atmosphere with the staff and other guest. Thanks again Lisa and hopefully see you again.

Our recent stay at Active Life Madarao was the absolute highlight of our snow trips this season.

What truly sets Active Life Madarao apart is its warm and welcoming atmosphere. From the moment we arrived, the staff, especially the managers Lisa and Stuart, went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and enjoyment throughout our stay. When they noticed that it was getting later in the evening and we hadn’t checked in, they initiated communication and even waited for us to arrive after hours to ensure we got settled in comfortably, understanding the challenges of a 4+ hour drive with kids.

As a family accustomed to the spaciousness of most U.S. accommodations, the room was HUGE and provided us with more than enough space for a family of five to unwind and relax without being on top of each other, which is RARE in Japan.

Breakfast was delicious, and our kids looked forward to the pancakes each morning. There is a small bar and an activities area for the kids.

Location-wise, Active Life Madarao couldn't have been more convenient. Situated just across the street from the lifts, it made our days a breeze. We definitely were able to maximize our time on the mountain, even with bringing the toddler back to the room for a break. There are plenty of food options in the area, and the staff made great recommendations.

Our experience at Active Life Madarao exceeded all expectations, offering the perfect mix of comfort, convenience, and hospitality. For families seeking a comfortable snow trip in Japan, we wholeheartedly recommend Active Life Madarao as the perfect accommodation for family fun and relaxation.

Hotel location is awesome, just a few minutes walk to the strip of F&B outlets, shops and ski mountain. Ski gear rentals are much cheaper in the hotel than the ski shop on the mountain. Hotel food and staffs are amazing! Do look out for the hotel manager Lisa, she is a rock star! She takes care of everyone from the smallest to the biggest person! And can do anything from pulling out cute snow ball makers to entertain the kids to pulling out a tractor to help a stranded vehicle on the road! We miss you Lisa, and will be back!

Great family sized rooms (enough for 4 adult size people) close to ski resort, and with a lovely relaxed and comfy vibe. Breakfast included, and delicious dinners on offer - made all the better with pre-dinner drinks in the convivial bar. Will definitely come again. Staff are excellent.

We were there when an earthquake hit and as tourists we were glad that staff were there to make sure we were safe, fed and well taken care of. Location is great, lots of parking across the road, slopes are 5 minutes away too. Games room was good when we didn't feel like skiing on some days. The place is spacious, you feel like you are staying in a big house rather than cramped hotel rooms. Highly recommended.

This was the best hotel. The beds were so comfortable and the staff were so friendly. The rooms were very clean. Lisa, the manager went out of her way to accommodate and nothing was too much trouble, regularly checking in on us. I would definitely stay at this hotel again. The washing machines were also free and the free breakfast was so yummy each morning. The onsen were so clean and lovely to soak in looking out to the snow.

Great place to stay nice and close to the ski resort. Lisa is an excellent host, very friendly and very helpful 24/7, rooms are nice and cosy, good brekfast made every morning. Everyone staying is looked after, perfect place to stay on any occasion. Would highly recommend. I would give it a 6 stars out of 5 if I could.

We left Active Life Madarao this morning with heavy hearts. We booked a 12 night trip last minute & fortune led us to what turned out to be the best accommodation we have experienced in all our travels. We have stayed in more glamorous places but from the minute Lisa told us the answer to any request is always yes we knew we'd struck gold.
Together with Stuart they make an amazing team. We have never been made so welcome. The room was enormous and if we could have taken the bed with us we would. Breakfast was yum and so fast! We dined in several times and Georgia's food was oishi. The bar is just lovely and god bless Harry for looking after us with much appreciated apres refreshments.
Love love loved staying. We stumbled on our happy place and will be back next season!❤

My family and I booked a 3 day stay from New Year's day to the 3rd of january. The hotel is nice and big with many good amenities such as a games room. The staff are very fun and friendly and can provide assistance when needed. On New Year's day there was a big earthquake that hit Japan and we were quite shaken by it as we came from Singapore, a place with little natural disasters. The staff comforted us about it and made us feel a lot better. In this hotel they serve breakfast along with a restaurant that makes dinner, there is a wide selection of good food at the restaurant. The hotel connects to a ski rental shop for easy rental before you head to the mountain which is about a 5 minute walk away. There is a row of restaurants and stores that are a quick minute away from the hotel with nice food. My family will definitely be coming back in the coming years.

First of all Colleen and I would like to say sorry for taking so long to write this review Ms. L. Dawes, but I am keeping my promise to you. Colleen and I spent a wonderful week at this location for a week of skiing (February 3-9, 2024). We took the Shankansen from Tokyo Station To Iiyama Station (1.5 hours) and then a bus (30 minutes) up to Madarao Ski Area. We recommend taking the bus costing 700 yen due to storage underneath for luggage.

Ms. Dawes was waiting for us outside to make sure we were not lost, which was really nice of her. The Hotel/Lodge wasn't too far from the slopes but its slightly up hill especially when wearing boots and carrying your skies and poles. The room was exactly as advertised (clean, comfortable, and warm for those cold nights). The bathroom was really small but it had great water pressure and the water was hot and never cold. Most of all, we didn't have to share a bathroom unlike some room rates. We had a queen bed and the room was small but that is to be expected in Japan. I had my skies and gear forwarded from Narita Airport, which is worth every yen. Space is a premium especially on the train. I only wish they had hooks on the door to hang our coats and other clothing items. Since the walls are made out of stucco I understand the reason for not having hooks.

There was an open closet but the metal rod looked flimsy and we didn't want to take a chance and put to much on it. Though this place is dated they have kept it up and nothing seems to be breaking down or in need of immediate repairs.

The best time of my stay was during breakfast, which came with continental breakfast fare and a hot breakfast that was included in the price. On a good note we were able to have as much fried eggs or whatever they were making as long as everyone had their share prior to asking for seconds.

In addition, we were provided with free laundry with detergent to wash our clothes on a first come first basis. Also, there was a snow/mud room to hang our skies to dry overnight which made things very convenient in the mornings as you put on your ski boots and prep for the slopes with the provided benches. After a day on the slopes we enjoyed the onsen on the premises and yes bathing suits are required.

Ms. Dawes and her staff are very wonderful people and you can see she actually enjoys her job. One morning during breakfast Ms. Dawes set up a birthday small cake and what appeared to be a Mimosa with balloons for one of the guest, in my opinion it's her calling to be in this industry.

The morning we were leaving Ms. Dawes and her staff helped loaded our luggage onto the van so we could go to the bus stop at the base of the resort so we would be the first to have space for our luggage and seating. This was very surprising because they didn't have to do that, but it made us feel that they were concerned for our safety when it came to trips and falls on the ice/snow going to the bus station.

I would highly recommend this place for anyone visiting Madarao Kogen Ski Resort for the first time. When it comes to places to eat there are many places to go out during the evening. It is best to have the staff book your reservations in the mornings prior to hitting the slopes. The eating establishments are booked fast and you maybe out of luck. There is an option of eating at the Hotel/Lodge if you so wish. At the base of the resort there is a convenient store (inside another hotel) to buy snacks for your room for the evening.

Best Regards,

Dee & Colleen
Park City, Utah (USA)

What a great experience. Lisa met us at the door and we were immediately feeling welcomed and at home. Nothing was too much trouble for Lisa and Stuart.
The beds, oh the beds, soooo comfortable. Lovely spacious room, my daughter loved the window sill.
Skiing a short walk away.
Easy to get to via Iiyama station bus stop. Dropped right at the front of hotel at Plaza bus stop.
Scrumptious breakfast and a games room, bar, sit and chill spots and an onsen to soak in.
Staff were just so friendly and ready to have a chat and offer helpful advice.
Highly recommend Active Life Madarao.

We loved our stay at Active Life Madarao, couldn't have had a better location situated only a few minute walk to the lift and restaurants.

The facilities offered are great and the service from Lisa was amazing, she assisted our group with transfers, and booking meals whatever we asked was never too much - Thanks for making our stay so enjoyable, see you next year!

The hotel was wonderful, and owner Lisa was so enthusiasm and easy going. I will always remember how we celebrated the happy new year with your invited for firework show. Besides, due to earthquakes, we can’t go home without your help. We are really appreciate you guys. I think I will come back in the future, see you! Love you all ~~~

As soon as we checked in, you got an amazing welcoming and homey feeling! The staff were absolutely incredible! So helpful and kind, especially Lisa! We’ve never met staff so friendly, they treated us like their family even though we were there for a week. The hotel was so nice! Very clean, and our room was spacious and had a great view! It was also very central to everything including the ski lifts! My partner and i will definitely be coming back, possibly to work there! Wouldn’t recommend an accommodation enough! Definitely needs to be in your list! Thank you Lisa and the rest of the staff for making our stay amazing! Lots of love, Lorne and Lily xxxx

Lisa and her team go above and beyond. We had an incredible stay with our young daughter and they were so accommodating and kind! Cannot recommend this place highly enough!!!!

We stayed at Active Life Madarao for 3 nights with our family of 5 and our 2 friends visiting. We had the package that included, lift passes, breakfast, and dinner. We also rented ski and snowboard equipment on site, which was reasonably priced and great quality. It was SO nice having everything right there. All of the employees spoke English, there was plenty of space to lounge and socialize, and the bar was a great place to hangout in the evenings. The ski resort itself was a decent size and we really enjoyed our experience. Soaking in the onsen with our whole family in the evenings (wearing swimsuits) was very relaxing. Customer service throughout the resort was amazing, but Lisa is exceptional. She made sure we enjoyed our stay from beginning to end and took care of any issues as they arose, even helping us load our car and seeing us off. This place is a gem and we hope to return soon!

Excellent location with great view.
Near to many great eateries.

Room was big and clean but no all things were functioning.

The hotel manager Lisa was really helpful and welcoming. She has been helpful in solving our problems and questions etc and our travel requirements.

This hotel is walking distance to Ski lifts though though it is not the closest.

Last trip we stayed at Active Life explore and this time at Active life as the explore building is being renovated.
Both trips have been fantastic !
Large comfortable room, good snow gear storage area, relaxing onsen.
All the staff were really friendly especially the manager Preaw, who was super helpful with everything.