Active Life Madarao
Location: Iiyama 11492-175, Iiyama, jp
Star Rating: 3 Stars
Property Type: Hotels
About this Property
Ski-in Ski-out Access:
Renovated in 2016, Active Life Madarao boasts ski-to-door access from Madarao Kogen Ski Resort, just a 3-minute walk away. Perfect for ski enthusiasts looking for convenience and adventure.
Comfortable Accommodation:
The spacious western-style rooms with wooden floors and modern amenities provide a cozy retreat after a day on the slopes. Relax in the hot spring bath on-site for the ultimate rejuvenation.
Convenient Facilities:
Enjoy the convenience of ski pass purchases, on-site dining with local craft beers, and the option for ski rental services. Everything you need for a seamless and enjoyable stay is right at your fingertips.
Book your stay at Active Life Madarao now for an unforgettable ski vacation experience.
Important Information
Please note that adult rates are applicable to children 6 years and older. Please contact the property for more details.
Guests must check in by 8:00 PM to eat dinner at this property. Guests who check in after this time may not be served dinner, and no refund will be given.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests must check in by 21:00 to eat dinner at this property. Guests checking in after this time may not be served dinner, and no refund will be given.
Policies
Check-in: 03:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Amenities & Facilities
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Restaurant
- Family rooms
- Luggage storage
- Safety deposit box
- Ski storage
- Non-smoking throughout
- Staff adhere to local safety protocols
- Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
- First aid kit available
- Smoke alarms
- Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
- Process in place to check health of guests
- Access to health care professionals
- Face masks for guests available
- 24-hour security
- Thermometers for guests provided by property
- Pub crawls
- Happy hour
- Ski storage
- Billiards or pool table
- Free wired internet
- Ski equipment rentals on site
- Ski lessons on site
- Internet access
- Games
- Snow sports gear
Rooms Available
-
Standard Room with Private Bathroom
This double room features a Western-style bed and a private shower and toilet. The room is 20 square yards.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Hair dryer
- Refrigerator
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Bidet
- Linen
- Clothes rack
- Toilet paper
- Trash cans
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
-
Family Room with Private Bathroom
This family room features a Western-style bed and a private bathroom. The room is 34 square yards.
Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Hair dryer
- Refrigerator
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Bidet
- Linen
- Clothes rack
- Toilet paper
- Sofa bed
- Trash cans
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
-
Deluxe Room with Private Bathroom
This double room features a Western-style bed and a private bathroom. The room is 28 square yards.
Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Hair dryer
- Refrigerator
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Bidet
- Linen
- Clothes rack
- Toilet paper
- Sofa bed
- Trash cans
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
Guest Reviews
- Mabel (3/5): Love Lisa. She was always helpful. - It was conveniently located to the ski slope, rental shops and a limited number of restaurants. Breakfast quality ( though coffee was good), cleanliness. They overlooked to clean our rooms.
- Neslie (10/5): -
- Sihyu (10/5): - Very kind and lovely owner
- sharon (10/5): - 早餐好吃,服務熱情親切
- Samantha (10/5): Comfortable stay with lovely room and extremely helpful staff . I loved the coffee machine . - It had a fun comfortable lodge type of vibe with cheerful fairy lights in the foyer
- Matt (9/5): -
- Rebecca (10/5): We would definitely recommend this accomodation to anyone, particularly those with kids. - The staff were amazing. From the moment we arrived, Lisa and her team looked after our every need. The venue has just what you would expect from a ski lodge but the vibe created by the staff makes it so relaxed and it was perfect for our family of four. The indoor/outdoor onsen was a bonus at the end of a long ski day! Can't think of anything!
- JEAN CLAUDE (9/5): -
- Francesca (10/5): Perfect for ski trip - Can walk to the ski slopes, friendly staff, good if you don’t want the typical hotel stay as this is more of a lodge experience. Almost feels as if you’re in a massive house.
Breakfast included was very good, nice to wake up and have everything you need downstairs orange juice, tea coffee, eggs, toast etc.
The snowboard rental hire is close to the slopes and there are several options. i noticed the shower wouldn’t get hot but more so lukewarm. Would be good to have very hot shower after being out in snow. It does heat up abit but takes a while. I do recall there was an issue with hot water that was being fixed at the time so don’t think this is a usual occurrence.
Our experience at active rental hire was disappointing. We waited at the front counter for 35mins for the girl to say they aren’t doing anymore fittings and they are closing. We got there around 4:50pm-5pm. It would have been helpful and professional if the girl advised us once we walked in that they wont be doing anymore fittings after the customer they were speaking to before us. They advertise that they close at 6:00pm daily. It doesn’t take longer than 5-10mins to get snow boots and board….. will not being go there again for rental gear. Don’t like wasting my time especially on holiday.
The ski rental place directly beside madarao hotel was extremely efficient and was in and out in 5mins. So would recommend to go there not the active life rental place. I do understand the lodge is separate to the rental hire place but just wanted to mention this.
- Wang Ting (10/5): - The hosts (both Lisa(s)) were incredibly warm and welcoming I wish I could stay longer
- Beatriz (10/5): We couldn’t have asked for a better experience! - I honestly can’t put into words how incredible Lisa, her husband and staff are. She went above and beyond to make our stay easy, memorable, and stress-free, helping with tours, food, and guidance every step of the way. Her care and attention made all the difference! Simply outstanding in every sense!!! ☃️🇯🇵🥰
- Hugh (10/5): Lisa was Fantastic and it’s a charming lodge. - Excellent management and overall experience
- John (9/5): It’s a Lodge, so it’s not a super luxury experience, but is super comfortable. The personal and friendly atmosphere, the - Active Life is such a welcoming Lodge. Lisa (manager) treats you like a long lost friend. All the staff are very friendly and helpful. The location is one of the best on the mountain - just a short (uphill) walk to the main lifts, and very close to selection of bars, cafes and the convenience store. The walk makes for a good warm up. The breakfast is really good - Western in focus, with cereals/toast/fruit/eggs any way you want them. A good hearty breakfast. We had a dinner in the Lodge one night which was also very good. One of the best shabbu-shabu’s I have had at a very good price. There is a games room, and an open area with yoga mats. I find it really good to do a stretching regimen before hitting the slopes and this area makes that easy. We were upgraded to a larger room which was excellent. Very comfy western bed, and a great nights sleep every night. Much as I like the japan experience with futons, I sleep better in a bed. The ski locker room is a bit disorganised - no room specific ski locker. Guests tend to dump their stuff all over the place.
- Diana Franchesca (9/5): I’m looking forward to staying here again! Such a great place, especially if you’re on a ski trip. - The location is walking distance to the ski resort, which made everything so easy. The room was also very spacious, and they even have an onsen with a beautiful view, which was perfect after a long day of skiing. They also have ski gear storage, which made it super convenient after a day on the slopes. We also really enjoyed the food — we tried their beef shabu-shabu, karaage, pizza, and pasta, and loved all of it.
The staff were all so accommodating, especially Lisa. She’s amazing — she helped us book a taxi, allowed us to check in early, and was always so warm and hardworking. She was there when I woke up and still working when we were about to sleep. She truly made sure everyone felt comfortable and taken care of.
Would 100% stay here again next winter.❄️
- Tim (10/5): -
- NIKKOLAI MARTIN (10/5): - Active Life Madarao is an excellent value-for-money stay with a very convenient location near the ski resort and right beside the bus stop, making travel to nearby areas easy. The hotel has a cozy, home-like atmosphere with practical facilities for skiers, and the king-sized bed was surprisingly large and very comfortable, allowing us to rest well and feel fully recharged for the next day. What truly made our stay special was the exceptional hospitality, Lisa and the staff were incredibly warm, attentive, and genuinely went above and beyond, and this alone is the reason we would happily book here again in the future. Nothing major, some aspects are more basic compared to larger hotels, but everything was comfortable and well maintained.
- NORITAKA (7/5): -
- Wachiraya (9/5): -
- Martin (10/5): Madaraos best family stay - Love Active Life its a fun family friendly venue with the best hostess your ever going to find Lisa does an awesome job, third time weve been always have fun
- Nadia (10/5): - Everything is within walkable distance. Lifts were just a brisk walk away. Lisa was lovely & very knowledgeable.
- paula (10/5): - Staff, food, game room, bedrooms, outdoor hot tub, and amenities are over the top amazing and comfortable. Everyone was so kind and went above and beyond making our 4 night stay an epic ski week experience of a lifetime. We made new friends and had everything, and more even, than we needed. If we ever make it back to the area we would definitely stay here again.
- David (10/5): Great place to stay in Madarao - Excellent base for a Madarao ski trip. Room was spacious enough for all our gear and had a very comfy bed. Staff were all brilliant and went out of their way to help us when we messed up our logistics. Outdoor Onsen was a major plus and excellent after a day on the hill. Loved Madarao too. Great ski hill and loads of fun places for the evening.
- Anthony (8/5): - This is our second trip at the property, We found the staff help full and very accommodating. The property could do with a few upgrades, but generally its has all the facilities needed for a great snow holiday.
- Verified traveler (10/5): Wonderfull family vacation with great hosts! - Our 3 night felt we had been there weeks. The staff, especially Lisa the manager and her husband Stuart, were so lovely and always available for any of our needs, they made us feel like family. Lisa had a saying that if a yes to your request wasn't available she would find a way around it to fulfill your request. The hotel was super clean and everything felt and looked new. The food was great and the service was impeccable. When we went to get our ski gear we noticed it was all brand new and some of the gear even had the tags in it. Loved the stay and would go there again. I Would 100% recommend staying there.
- Myles (10/5): - Excellent stay, the manager and the team were wonderful, going beyond the usual and we really enjoyed our stay. We are so grateful to the management for helping us when our car got stuck a few km from the hotel.
The building is old but the location is good, being close to the top of a run down to the main lift area.
Rooms are nicely renovated, and the public areas have a lot of space with really good facilities, including a games room, ski rental place, several lounge areas and a large dining area.
There is also an onsen on site - remember to bring swimming things since it is mixed.
- Karen (10/5): - Lisa and Stewart were amazing hosts. Went above and beyond for all guests. Really nice atmosphere, friendly little bar onsite. Ski/Board lessons & hire onsite. Great location. Short 5 min walk to ski lift. Great little bar/s and restaurants close. Madarao is very quiet ski town. The Mountain can get busy during weekends/holiday's.
- David (10/5): Great - Stayed in a deluxe type room, very comfortable bed, really clean bath and new-looking appliances all around. The common areas were also very warm and comfy, and the staff nice and accommodating. Literally in front of the bus stop and 3 min. walk to the ski lifts. 10/10 would stay again.
They have a drink vending machine, but also having some snacks available for purchase at the hotel would have been great.
- LORENZO (4/5): - Very nice staff, but the place itself is dirty and stinks to humid all over the place. Also you need to pay extra for the onsen…
Won't repeat.
- Jeroen (10/5): - A real nice hotel, where customers are still taken for value. Easy access to the Madarao ski slopes (100 m walk). Decent breakfast made with care and possibility to have dinner as well. Attention to detail with bar, games area, children area and not to forget the possibility to rent the outdoor Onsen. With the snow on one side this was a real treat.
Not to forget the excellent service minded staff !!!
- Drew (8/5): - The room I had was great, and large, judging by my previous Japan trips. The staff were very good. The included breakfast was a great way to start the day. The bar and restaurant were fine. And the drying room was good also nicely heated. If I am back in Madarao I would have no problems staying here again.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - I loved all the amenities available to us here. The free yoga, free breakfast, hot Onsen. Bedding was super comfy and staff was always pleasant. The lifts are a short (but steep) walk away. Bus stop practically right outside.
- P&A (10/5): - It actually feels cozy wherever you go within the property, the room, the welcoming desk, the bar, the lounge, the stockroom etc.! Of course, it's only minutes walk from the very pretty ski area!
- Sue (4/5): Glorified back packers. - For the price we were very disappointed, the property is really a glorified back packers. The bedroom was a reasonable size if not on small size, the bed was very comfortable and the linen was very good. However the staff and the foyer let the property down. The staff appeared to have little hospitality training and while some were lovely to deal with others left a lot to desired. The bar, foyer and common areas need renovation.
- chiu kai (10/5): A relaxing Madarao stay! - Snow condition was excellent when we arrived at Iiyama station. Although a clear direction from bus stop to the hotel entrance was informed, we took a Jumbo taxi which only cost 2-3k JPY more than the bus ride for 4 persons, a snowboard bag and 4 luggage. The room is spacious in size, with new comfy beds and towels, and has the nicest view. Very good breakfast and dinner, kids play area, relaxing bar. My girls love the brownie at coffee corner. The most valuable asset of the hotel is the staff. They are very smart, hard working, extremely helpful and friendly. Thank you all very much for taking care of our stay. Cheers!
- Verified traveler (6/5): - Nice rooms but pics only show the nice half of the renovation
However there were not many nice looking places to stay so we settled with this one
Breakfast was ok
They ran out of the dinner special at 7pm...
- Verified traveler (4/5): - The only thing saving this hotel is the fact that they have Netflix. Out room was filthy, with old slippers from the last people that stayed in the room left under the bed (along with bottles and dust). Our room had no towels, which we only realised once we got out of the shower (and by then it was too late). The staff are mostly immature and young kids with no experience, and hog the hotel amentinities such as the spa, meaning you have to wait ages before you can get in. Really didn’t enjoy this place.
- David (8/5): - Very good location re skiing. Room very good. Staff were friendly and helpful but not all staff quite up to speed re service. A simple safety example - steps in snow at entrance were not cut (where there was slippery slope)
- Verified traveler (8/5): - Nice hotel in a good spot, less than 100m from the lifts, and close to a range of restaurants and bars. Rooms have been nicely renovated. Outdoor bath is nice, but wasn't always available for us due to some issues.
During our stay the staff were young, inexperienced and english speakers, which is fine for foreigners but may seem a little odd to Japanese folk. The staff were in general friendly and quite layed back, which again is fine in a ski resort, however I expected the management could have been a bit more professional.
I'm sure these minor shortcomings will be resolved over time.
Photos