Madarao By Train
One of the easiest ways of getting to Chalet Madarao is to us the Japanese train system. Catch the Shinknsen to Iiyama. From there it is a short taxi or bus ride to Chalet Madarao. But if you let us know which train you are on, if possible, we will pick you up from the station. This needs to be arranged in advance.
From Narita there are 2 choices:
Catch the JR N'ex to Tokyo and change there to the Shinkansen to Iiyama.
Alternatively you can catch one of the Keisei trains to Ueno and change to the Shinkensen on the JR line there.
We think changing trains at Ueno is easier than changing at Tokyo even though you are changing train companies. This means that you need to buy 2 different tickets and you need to change from the Keisei Ueno station to the JR Ueno station. But the 2 stations are very close and it is far less confusing than trying to find you way around Tokyo station.
However if you want to take advantage of the JR East 5 day pass you should catch the N'Ex to Tokyo and change there. JR East 5 day flexi pass costs 20,000 yen (Click HERE for details) and gives you travel on the JR East rail system for 5 consecutive days. The return trip from Narita to Iiyama costs almost that much so if you want to do some other sight seeing it is a cost effective option. A great, cost effective day off is to get up early, go somewhere on the train and come back late. Even a day trip to Tokyo is practicable.
From Haneda the best option is to catch the monorail to Hamamatsucho, change to the Yamanote line to get to Tokyo and then change to the Shinkansen lines.
At Haneda buy just a monarail ticket.
At Hamamatsucho you can buy the shinkansen ticket. The ticket machines have an English option. You want to buy a ticket to Iiyama.
We suggest you investigate the train timetables beforehand. The critical times are the shinkansen times as both the monorail and the local trians run regularly. Then you will know the times for the appropriate shinkansen and whether or not you need to rush to catch the train. Remember trains in Japan run on time so if you are late you will miss your train!
Madarao By Bus
Busses are available from Haneda airport to the Madarao Kogen Hotel.
The Myoko Shuttle's bus leaves Narita at 10:30am and 6:00pm and leaves Haneda at 8:00am, 11:30am, and 7:00pm. The 8am and 10:30am/11:30am busses arrive at 1:35pm and 4:50pm respectively. The 6:00pm/7:00pm bus arrives at 00:30am, and is not suitable for our check in times.
You can book a seat on a Myoko Shuttle's bus HERE.
Madarao By Hire Car
Once you've hired your car there are two main options to get here.
1. You can follow the Chuo Expressway (E20), which goes between Tokyo and Nagoya, via Nagano. Follow Chuo Expressway (E20) until the Okaya Junction, making sure to turn left onto the Nagano Expressway (E19). After Nagano this joins onto the Joshin-etsu Expressway (E18) at the Koshoku Junction. Follow the Joshin-etsu Expressway until the Toyota-Iiyama Interchange exit and then follow your GPS to Madarao (it's a twisty backroad with several right turns at various intersections and no left turns).
2. Follow the Kanetsu Highway (E17) until the Fujioka Junction, where you turn left, and then follow the Joshin-etsu Expressway (E18) until the Toyota-iiyama Interchange exit. After this follow your GPS to Madarao.