Madarao's delicious restaurants

Madarao has more than 25 restaurants in the village and many more in surrounding areas that we often take guest to. There is an eclectic mix of Japanese and Western food and a wide range of price points with a yummy cheap bowl of noodles just ¥1000 or less and fine dining as well. At Snowball Chalet we make bookings for you so you don't need to worry if you don't speak Japanese. We make your holiday so easy and delicious too.

Snowball Dining Room is a beautiful experience for the guests of Snowball and Madarao

Snowball Dining Room

Spend a cozy evening at Snowball Dining, where we keep it simple yet special. Relax by the fireplace and enjoy our Japanese tapas menu, with each dish thoughtfully prepared to be yummy. Pair your food with a selection of drinks, from our signature cocktails and quality Japanese whiskies to great wines and award winning sakes.

The atmosphere is all about unwinding, in a warm setting with our favorite records spinning to set the mood. For external guests it's reservation-o...

The bar at Mister Daruma

Mister Daruma

Mister Daruma. Mister Daruma is a relaxed environment with hearty Japanese inspired tapas dishes. Great for families and friends alike, there will be vinyl spinning on the decks, amazing local and international craft beers and an amazing selection of Japanese whiskies. Prices range from ¥2500 - ¥3500 plus drinks per person dependant on how hungry...

Just one of the many delicious courses at Hatano in Iiyama Japan

Hatano Iiyama

We run a tour to Hatano and it is a must for every guest who really cares about experiencing the best of Japanese cuisine. It is a truly special culinary experience.  Hatano's mission is to offer healthy experiences, utilizing the abundant and nutritious ingredients from the surrounding mountainous region.

"In appreciation of our guests who have journeyed far, we proudly use ingredients from Shinshu. For our local visitors, we present seasonally sourced and traditional foods that e...

Perfect duck with Japanese seasonal vegetables.

Waremokou

Waremokou is our favourite restaurant in Japan. It is a masterpiece of creative Japanese dining. It is in Iiyama so we run a tour for a 9 course degustation with unlimited drinks. Be prepared to be surprised. It is an adventure for the taste buds and you will definitely experience foods you have never had before. The menu changes nightly so you never know what you will get. This definitely suits the more adventurous people who visit. We need at least 6 guests to go on the tour but we can norm...

Delicious Sukiyaki or Japanese hotpot.

Maroudo

Maroudo This restaurant is an excellent traditional Japanese sukiyaki, hot pot experience. The lovely people from the restaurant will drive over and come to collect you and then drop you and you back after your meal. We need to cancel a reservation at Maroudo 24 hours before the reservation so please make sure you let us know if you don’t want to...

Delicious Vietnamese with local Japanese produce

Red Tricycle

Looking for the ultimate hangout after a day in the snow? Red Tricycle by The Brueys, a vibrant Vietnamese restaurant led by the incredible Chef Ngoc Chau Casteneda, is just the place! 

With bold flavors, colorful dishes, and music that’s always on point, you’ll love the funky, laid-back vibe. Sip on our signature cocktails, hand-picked wines, sake, or grab a beer on tap. It’s the perfect place to kick back, have a blast, and make unforgettable memories!

Okonomiyaki at Drop Off Bar Madarao right in the heart of the village a hop skip and a jump away from Snowball Chalet

Drop Off Bar

Drop Off Bar is a little bar that serves beer, spirits and other drinks. Drop Off Bar is right in the heart of the restaurant district in Madarao Mountain Resort and is a good place to go for a relaxed drink or three.

Delicious Ramen at Annex Aburaya

Annex Aburaya

Yummy yummy ramen, don bowls, bento boxes and more. Annex Aburaya is one of the best regarded lodges in Madarao and their guests love the food. A great place to have an authentic Japanese experience from a lovely Madarao family.

The bbq at Donguri Tei. Delicious fresh produce on Japanese coals.

Donguri Tei

Donguri Tei This restaurant is a Japanese BBQ restaurant. Grill your own wagyu, chicken pork and veges over the binchotan charcoals. Dip into the BBQ sauce and be transported to a land of delicious hearty flavour. They can cater for vegetarians if need be so everyone can enjoy the experience. The lovely people from the restaurant will drive over ...

The delicious menu at Pension Pure is a great dining experience in Madarao

Pension Pure

Pension Pure is a lovely Japanese style pension who have opened their restaurant just for Snowball Chalet guests. They have a Japanese style or Western style menu that is lovingly prepared by the owners.

If you are lucky you will be served a delicious oden (traditional Japanese dish with slow cooked vegetables in a dashi stock), salmon sashimi with a delicate vinaigrette and a miyuki grilled pork.

No matter what food you order you will enjoy the kitch decorations and the warm ...

JPS's delicious hand made ravioli is simply stunning

JPS Kitchen - Tue and Sat only

A gorgeous mostly vegan and very organic with locallly selected produce and matched wines, sakes and cocktails degustation.

Chef Dutchie is a food obsessed master of cuisine will walk you through the magic of every dish.

Only open on Tuesday and Saturday and does book out so get in quick.

Yuki's BARu food is yummy and we can't wait to eat there again!

Yuki's Baru

Every Thursday night the JPS restaurant turns into Yuki's BARu. Yuki is a very talented chef and will prepare a Japanese Izakaya style, 5 course menu.

Yuki has been a Madarao local for years and had her own restaurant here which was one of our favourites. We are so excited that she is back cooking delicious food again.

5 course menu: ¥5,500

Drink pairing: ¥3,500 - Can recommend!

Kids 9 and under: ¥3,000 or a ¥1,000 1-course kids meal

Kids 10-13: ¥4,50...

Tapas style salad at Chill bar

Chill Cafe

Simple yummy tapas style food served at Chill. Lounge vibes. If you are lucky the family will jam. They are very talented.

Rudolf's amazing wood fired pizza oven.

Rudolf's

Rudolf's This is a fantastic Japanese/Italian restaurant run by a lovely Japanese family. Morito san cooks delicious Japanese fare, pizza and gratin for you whilst you marvel at the eclectic restaurant decorations. When Japanese people cook Italian food it just adds another layer of special.

Sushi at the Mountain Lodge Cafe

The Lodge Cafe

The Lodge Cafe is right next door to Snowball Chalet. Abe san the chef makes a super yummy selection of fresh simple food. The best thing on the menu are her perfect hand made gyoza. They are simply amazing. She also makes burgers, sushi, soba, agedashi tofu and an huge big beautiful salad. The Lodge Cafe has a good selection of sake and beer and the best dart board in town too for those who want to play darts after a big day on the slopes.

We can't book the Lodge Cafe until the day of ...

Burger at Unjaune burger restaurant in Madarao Kogen Japan

Unjaune

Unjaune is a burger restaurant that serves enormous burgers. They are fresh and good and people love them. If you need a fix of western food this is a great place to start. We normally share a burger between two people but if you need extra fuel for big days on the mountain grab one each.

Okonomiyaki on a hotplate

Sakura

Sakura is a favourite of the locals in the village for lunch. Sakura is owned and operated by a lovely Japanese couple from Hiroshima who make the most perfect okonomiyaki which is across between an omelette and a pancake although there is no real way to describe it. Everyone loves okonomiyaki and it should definitely be part of your food adventure in Madarao.

Eclectic mix of Jazz paraphanalia

Jazzy

Jazzy. Jazzy is like a step back in time to the heady days of Jazz influenced Madarao. You will see signed BB King, Chet Baker and Maceo Parker memorabilia. The owner cooks lovely Japanese style home cooking and just takes a few bookings a night. It is a privilege going here. The food is simple and not pretentious is hearty and delicious. Prices ...

A lovely vegetarian dish at Pinchi's place

Pinchi’s Place

Pinchi’s Place is about amazing food, delicious cocktails, and great company. Our menu consists of carefully curated small plates highlighting seasonal ingredients of our area. Our Chef in Residence, Dan Kanzler, has experience in multiple Michelin Starred restaurants across the US and acclaimed establishments in Europe.

The restaurant will come and pick you up (it is about a 10 minute drive from Madarao and 1 minute from Shiki at Tangram). And of course they will drop you home as w...