Tangram Ski Circus

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Tangram Ski Circus

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Tangram

Tangram3.5/55
Tangram3.5 out of 5 based on 5 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    80%
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Tangram Japan

Tangram Ski Circus is a ski resort that is interconnected with Madarao Ski Resort. Like a Tangram puzzle, you may be puzzled as to what a “ski circus” is. Thankfully the resort is slowly shedding the Tangram Ski Circus nomenclature and rebranding itself to Tangram Madarao Tokyu Resort.

Unlike the massive Ski Circus Salbaach in Austria, which is named because the 70 modern lifts are arranged around the valley like a circus ring, Tangram is just a tiny ski area with a handful of dated lifts. Thankfully it’s interconnected with the Madarao Ski Resort to provide more terrain.

Pros and Cons of Tangram Ski Resort

Pros 
  • Tangram Ski Circus is a great adjunct to Madarao and the two ski resorts combined are a decent size (by Japanese standards).
  • The Tangram terrain is well suited to confident beginners to mid level intermediate riders.
  • The Tangram ski resort is not usually crowded.
  • Tangram Madarao Ski Resort has a couple of gladed tree zones which are good for advanced riders.
  • Even though it’s not a high elevation ski resort, the Tangram snow quality is often excellent thanks to its northerly aspect.
  • The ski area affords great views of Mt Myoko and Lake Nojiri on fine days.
  • Like Madarao, Tangram Ski Resort is close to various other Nagano and Niigata ski resorts, so it can make a good base to explore the area.
  • A Tangram ski holiday can be very affordable.
  • Tangram is family friendly, particularly for those with small children.
Cons
  • As a stand-alone ski resort, it’s small.
  • Nightlife is quite limited and there is a very small choice of restaurants for dinner.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
  • Westerners have been buying up property in Tangram so there are lodges to support those that want to only speak English. Conversely, some inns and the Tangram hotels have a retained a mostly Japanese flavour and English isn’t spoken by all staff.

Tangram Ski and Snowboard Terrain

The ski resort sits on the northwestern flank of Mt Madarao which is not a particularly high mountain, so there’s no big top (nor are there any clowns!) at the Tangram Ski Circus. It’s a small ski resort, with 520 vertical metres (800 – 1,320 metres), 14 trails, and 5 lifts (2 quad chairs, 3 double chairs). Tangram Madarao Resort has a small novice area and various trails for confident beginners. There are a couple of short red (intermediate) courses, and a handful of short black runs that won’t entertain advanced riders for very long.

Tangram Ski Resort continues to let go of its formerly conservative approach to tree skiing. There are some small areas for designated tree skiing, and whilst other treed areas are officially not permitted, the patrollers have grown weary of policing this.

Tangram is inter-connected with the Madarao Ski Resort towards the top of the mountain, and a handful of extra yen will score you a dual resort lift pass.

Where is Tangram Japan?

The Tangram Ski Resort is located on the border of the Nagano and Niigata Prefectures, 5.5km from Madarao via road and 14km southeast of Akakura Onsen (the main village of the Myoko Kogen ski resorts). See the Tangram travel page for more information on location, getting there, and nearby ski resorts.

Tangram Accommodation

There is no real village at Tangram, with the main base area consisting of the large ski-in ski-out Hotel Tangram and Hotel Harvest. Hotel Tangram provides western style hotel rooms, a restaurant, an indoor swimming pool, and indoor and outdoor onsen baths. The accommodation is generally inexpensive (except holiday weekends), although meals at the hotel can be rather costly.

Tangram also has a “pension village” that is about 1.5km from Hotel Tangram where there are a few hotels, pensions and western-run lodges. These sit near the #6 chair lift and are either ski-in ski-out or just a short walk to the slopes. A couple of the lodges have restaurants and quiet bars, otherwise you’ll need to dine-in at your accommodation.

Tangram Accommodation Listings

Other options are to stay in Madarao accommodation (Madarao is inter-connected with Tangram) or nearby in Myoko Kogen accommodation. The towns of Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen near the snow monkeys could also be used as a base to visit Tangram.

Ski Resort Facilities

The base area of Tangram Madarao Resort has a large cafeteria, a lounge, ski and snowboard rentals, a small ski shop selling accessories, and a large souvenir store.

Tangram is rather family friendly, with child care facilities, a kids’ park, and a few kids’ activities such as snowmobiling or snow rafting. Ski and snowboard lessons with an English speaking instructor are available for kids and adults in a private format, and these are reasonably priced for private lessons.
Tours That May Include Tangram

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

The Legendary Roadie
HOSTED & GUIDED ROAD TRIP
11 Days | 10 Nights | 8 Days Skiing
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Experience Japan powder like no other on this legendary road trip where you will visit up to 8 resorts in 3 prefectures; Nagano, Gunma & Niigata! Join a tour as a solo traveler, couple or small group. Max 6 spots per tour so get in quickly!
Price p/p From price based on twin-share, standard package at Lodge Aibiya.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 3,343
View Details
 
Japow Freedom Tour
CAMPER VAN TOUR
8 Nights | 7 Days Guiding
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Explore in a camper van with the support of your guide & get the maximum exponent of freedom to be in the right place at the right time. The itinerary is completely flexible depending on snow forecasts and your guide can show you the best Japow spots in lift-assisted freeriding zones
Price p/p Based on a group tour for 2024 with a group of 4 people
USD 3,229
View Details
 
Pow Pow Japan Tour
HOSTED GROUP PACKAGE PRIVATE TOUR
Cultural Ski & Snowboard Adventure
Ability: Beginner to Expert
Ski Japan's famous powder in conjunction with a rich cultural experience on this hosted tour. The tour is hosted by a local Japanese person who speaks fluent English; whilst the focus of the tours is primarily snow sports, you will experience the culture, food & festivities beyond the normal ski/snowboard adventure.
Price p/p From price based on 8-day sample itinerary, twin-share room (group of 6).
Base/invoice currency is in Japanese Yen inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,526
View Details
 
See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Tangram here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Nagano Powder Chaser
HOSTED & GUIDED SKI & CULTURE PACKAGES
3, 4, 5 & 6 Nights | 2, 3, 4 & 5 Days Skiing/Boarding
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Advanced
Don't let a lack of time, budget or resort knowledge hold you back from a ski/snowboard trip in Nagano this winter. Experience many of Nagano's best ski areas with guides who have an intimate knowledge; based in the culturally rich town of Yudanaka. Tours can be CUSTOMISED for 3 nights or more. Share
Price p/p From price based on 3-night stay with 2 days skiing/boarding) in a twin share Japanese room with private bathroom.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,065
View Details
 5% Off tours between 13th and 31st March 2024
Nagano Ski/Board Progression
SKI / SNOWBOARD GUIDED INSTRUCTION
10 Days | 9 Nights | 8 Skiing | Up to 8 Ski Areas
Ability: Intermediate to Strong Intermediate
Learn to ski and ride deep powder with more confidence or improve your on-piste technique whilst checking out some of Nagano's fabulous ski areas away from the masses of foreigners. In addition to the skiing and snowboarding, experience an area rich in culture and history.
Price p/p From price based on per person twin-share room with shared bathroom.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 3,008
View Details
 
Nagano Powder Zone
SKI & SNOWBOARD GUIDED TOUR
8 Days | 7 Night | 6 Skiing | Up to 6 Ski Areas
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Advanced
Ideal for budget conscious intermediate to advanced skiers & riders who want maximum pow! Based in the traditional town of Yudanaka, which is relatively free of western influence, you will be ensured of an authentic Japanese ski or snowboard experience.
Price p/p From price based on twin share room with private bathroom.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,405
View Details
 
See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Tangram here
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