Madarao-san is sitting on the west of Noziri-ko Lake in Nagano prefecture and is one of the Hokushin-go-gaku (five prominent mountains of North Nagano).Madarao-san with 1382 meters in height is the shortest of the five.

  During winter Madarao-san is covered with several meters of snow and becomes a winter playground. Its northern slopes have been developed for skiing, but south slopes are covered with a deciduous broadleaf forest including beech and mountain birch.

  I got off at Myoko-kogen Interchange of Zyoshinetu Expressway on July 7 in 2007 and headed for the Madarao highland.

  Before getting to the Mansaka Pass there was a great playground called "Tangram" with Hotel Tangram, a golf course and several ski lifts.

  A gondola lift has begun to run during summer season since three years ago. It offers hikers and families an easy one day hike. I got into the first gondola lift at 9 o'clock.

  It took me to the top station in 10 minutes. Here is around 1050 meters high already. I walk up a stone surfaced trail to a view point for ten minutes. Most of sightseers are satisfied to see a great view of Noziri-ko and Kurohime-yama beyond the lake.

  A climbing trail starts from here. Following a ski slope, the trail zigzags up steeply to a top of ski lift. There was a junction where there was another trail coming up along the ski lift. This is a part of Shinetsu trail and goes down to the Mansaka Pass.

  The trail leaves off the ski course and climbs gently through a natural forest dominated by beech trees. 15 minute climb brought me to the south peak with a sign poll. Another trail came up from a left ridge which leads to Madarao highland.

  The trail swings gently to the right and heads to the top. A 15 minute ridge walk through beech and birch forest brought me to the top. There was a triangular stone structure and a stone stature of Buda on the top. The top was surrounded with large beech trees and no view could be seen.

  Right trail led to the next peak of 1350 meters called Daimyozin-dake from where a panoramic view could be seen, especially Noziri-ko and another mountains was wonderful.

  After lunch, I went the same route back to the top station of gondola lift, because I bought a round trip ticket for 1000 yen. When I arrived at the bottom station of the gondola lift, it took about four hours.

  I recommend you to take a circular route, choosing the Shietsu trail at the second junction and down to the Mansaka pass from where a walking trail leads to Hotel Tandram.