Check in with what’s been happening at Kuma Lodge, Madarao, Japan!
Kuma: The Story Behind This Japanese Ski Lodge (8/19/2018) - When it comes to ski vacations, the old adage of “Location, Location, Location” has never been of more importance. With this in mind in 2015, Kuma Lodge owners Scott, Darrien & Nestor set out to locate a yet to be discovered ski resort, at least not by the western ski community, & we found ourselves […]
A Perfect Week In Madarao at Kuma Lodge (7/17/2018) - Madarao Mountain Resort and Kuma Lodge is an amazing place for a week long holiday. A trip to Madarao is guaranteed great snow, good culture and excellent food – check out what a typical week looks like for Kuma guests. Day 1 Take the Shinkansen Bullet train from Tokyo to Iiyama (101 mins), experience Japanese […]
Five Reasons Why You Need to Visit Madarao Japan This Winter (6/9/2018) - Madarao is one of the true hidden gems of the Japanese Alps. Largely undiscovered by Western snow tourists – Madarao offers everything from deep powder, family friendly fun, empty ski runs, cheap lift passes, culinary delights and a truly authentic Japanese experience. Epic Snow: World class snow, dual mountain ‘Powder Pass’ to access Madarao Mountain […]
NEWS FLASH – Madarao Loves Families & Tobogganing Is Encouraged! (6/8/2018) - Families that have pre-booked a snow holiday at Thredbo ski slopes are not happy about missing out on tobogganing fun this season after NSW Alpine resort decided to ban the family-friendly pastime. Thredbo has decided to ban tobogganing right before the start of the 2018 season. The Thredbo toboggan ban less than two weeks from […]
When is the best time of year to visit Madarao, Japan? (6/6/2018) - Japan is now the number one destination for Aussies and Kiwis to hit the slopes – with hordes of Southern Hemisphere tourists hitting the slopes in January. Many do not realise that Japan has amazing snow conditions from early December through to the end of March. Planning a Japanese snow holiday outside of the traditional […]
Madarao Mountain Resort Scores 4.5/5 From Powderhounds (5/27/2018) - Powderhounds loves Madarao Mountain Resort for the amazing snow and uncrowded slopes. The Powderhounds crew said “The Powderhounds coined the term “Mad-a-Pow” some years ago when we first caught a bad case of Mad Pow disease, and on our visit in the 2017-2018 season it lived up to the hype of its slogan. The pow […]
25 Best Things to Do in Tokyo (5/23/2018) - Tokyo is the biggest metropolis in the world! There is an amazing amount of things to do and see. The Kuma Lodge team love Japan, not only for the amazing snow, but also for the rich cultural experiences. We highly recommend that you block off a few days to explore Tokyo either before you hit […]
The Kuma Lodge Madarao Dining & Nightlife Guide (5/22/2018) - Japan is not just about incredible powder – the warm hospitality of the locals and huge range of delicious food make it a must do for those who enjoy quality dining experiences. The area surrounding Madarao sees some of the heaviest snowfall in mainland Japan, so it may not be immediately obvious that this is […]
Concierge Service & Madarao Accommodation at Kuma Lodge (5/18/2018) - The team at Kuma Lodge want you to have the best Japanese snow holiday possible! Our crew offer complete concierge style service – from organising transport, meals, babysitting or day trips to some of the great tourist attractions that surround Madarao. A fun time in the Japanese snow for you and your family – without […]
JNTO Travel Planner (5/15/2018) - The Japanese public transport system is one of the best in the world – check out the JNTO Travel Planner to easily map out the journey on your next holiday. Use the “JNTO Travel Planner” for train and map information helpful in traveling around Japan. By simply entering the departing and arrival station, get an […]
About the JR Japan Rail Pass (5/15/2018) - The JR Rail Pass is one of the best ways for tourists to explore Japan. The Japan Rail (JR) Pass is a special pass valid for unlimited travel on Japan Railways (JR) transportation, including all JR trains (shinkansen “bullet trains” except “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” services, limited express trains, express trains and rapid or local trains)*, […]
Japan Domestic Airport Guide (5/15/2018) - Japan – Endless Discovery has put together a great resource for those who want to explore multiple areas of Japan in one trip. Japan is blessed with an amazing train network and convenient domestic flights. Getting between the prime snow regions of Honshu and Hokkaido can be as simple as a single train ride, or […]
Seeking Nirvana 3.1 – The Lost Craftsmen (Short Film) (5/10/2018) - A great short film that truly shows the Japanese snow experience. Check it out. A journey into Japan’s rich maker culture and legendary powdery winter. A look at the past, present and future of craftsmanship intertwined with the search for carving the perfect turn. #SeekingNirvana #StrangeAdventures @seeking.nirvana
The Snowbiz Crew Visit Kuma Lodge, Madarao (5/4/2018) - The team from Snowbiz on the Gold Coast set off for Japan in February for an epic two week tour through the Japanese Alps. Jacque Janet – Snowbiz manager and his crew hunted down some great Japow conditions, stopping in at Madarao for a few days. Kuma caught up with Jacque to talk about the […]
From drinks to bananas: introducing vending machines in Japan (5/3/2018) - Japanese vending machines are a wonder! Plenty of weird and wonderful things can be purchased on the go. One of the things you will notice as soon as you walk on the streets of Japan are the VENDING MACHINES! You must have noticed at least one drinks vending machine around each block, but did you […]
Sushi Kit Kats available again for a limited time (4/30/2018) - Japan is famous for some weird food! Sushi Kit Kats are back – check them out. Nestlé Japan is continually tantalising our tastebuds with new and exciting KitKat varieties, and one of the most exciting – and exclusive – of the bunch is the rare Sushi KitKat. Never available for sale, these little beauties started […]
Download The Eat Japan Guide (4/27/2018) - Download the Eat Japan Guide Download the magazine produced by Japan – Endless Discovery. A nice resource for foodies and tourists in a downloadable PDF format. Download the PDF Click Here Kuma Lodge and Madarao Mountain Resort Kuma is a boutique ski lodge, with ski-in, ski-out access to the slopes of Madarao, Japan. Madarao is […]
Download the Luxe Guide To Japan Magazine (4/27/2018) - Download the Luxe Guide To Japan Magazine Download the magazine produced in partnership with Qantas and Japan – Endless Discovery. A nice resource for tourists in a downloadable PDF format. Download the PDF Click Here Kuma Lodge and Madarao Mountain Resort Kuma is a boutique ski lodge, with ski-in, ski-out access to the slopes of […]
A Japanese White Christmas for the whole family – Madarao, Japan (4/25/2018) - 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, December 2017. Golden light after the powder storm that covered the mountain with 1.5m […]
Tokyo-Narita Japan Explorer – A Great Travel Resource (4/24/2018) - This website is a great resource when planning the logistics of your holiday in Japan. Flying into Tokyo offers two airport options – Narita and Haneda. Most international guests fly in to Narita International Aiport. This website is a handy travel guide to help tourists understand the available bus & train options to link to […]
Instagrammable Food Guide To Tokyo (4/24/2018) - One of our favourite parts about Japan is the food! Certain textures and flavours are unique to Japan – at Madarao you can enjoy a range of delicious traditional style Japanese meals after a big day on the slopes. Tokyo though is a foodie’s paradise! If you are spending a few days either side of […]
Smart space: the finest modern Japanese houses (4/23/2018) - In Japan, space is at a premium. Architecture is one of the areas to see creative solutions to Japan’s crowding – making the most of small spaces. From inventive interiors in central Tokyo to clever constructions in Kyoto, here we define the best modern Japanese houses designed by international and local architects. The Japanese house […]
Mt Buller Season Pass holders ski free at Madarao, Japan (4/12/2018) - Did you know if you hold a Mt Buller Season Pass then you can ski free for three days, and score 50% off lift passes for any other days of your trip! Mt Buller has had a long standing ‘sister resort’ relationship with Madarao, Japan – so the team at Kuma Lodge is also offering […]
2017/18 Season Highlights at Kuma Lodge Madarao (4/9/2018) - The 2017/18 Winter saw great snowfall across most of Japan – and a series of epic powder dumps through December, January and February. The Kuma Lodge guests had a great time enjoying the deep powder through the winter season, followed by some great bluebird conditions into the spring season! Check out some of the highlights […]
‘Absolute Powder Mecca’ – World Class Powder Snow at Madarao Mountain Resort (4/9/2018) - The powder snow at Madarao is undoubtedly world class. With a huge 60% of the mountain being ungroomed and heaps of tree runs officially sanctioned by the resort – there is no shortage of fresh tracks on a powder day. The team at Powderhounds frequently make the trip to enjoy the famous MadaPOW, saying “it […]