MGallery Signs Two Mountain Resorts In Japan

Published on Oct 27, 2025, 2:37 pm CDT

3 min read

Key points

Accor's MGallery signs Madarao Kogen Hotel and Lime Resort Myoko in partnership with Patience Capital Group
Lime Resort Myoko targets a Winter 2026 opening with 38 rooms and onsen and fitness facilities
Madarao Kogen Hotel is slated to reopen in late 2027 with 80 rooms and a dining-led alpine concept
Properties sit about 30 minutes apart and will be connected by a dedicated shuttle
Region highlights include heavy snowfall, an 8.5-kilometer run at Myoko Suginohara, and tree-ski terrain at Madarao

Accor's boutique brand MGallery is expanding in Japan's snow country, signing Madarao Kogen Hotel in Nagano Prefecture and Lime Resort Myoko in Niigata Prefecture through a partnership with Patience Capital Group. Lime Resort Myoko is expected to open in Winter 2026 with 38 rooms, while Madarao Kogen Hotel will follow after a full transformation in late 2027 with 80 rooms. The two properties are about 30 minutes apart and will be linked by a dedicated shuttle, creating an easy, year-round circuit for skiing in winter and hiking, cycling, and forest bathing in the warmer months.

Accor's MGallery Collection In Japan

Accor confirmed that both resorts will join the MGallery Collection after refurbishments emphasizing local materials, energy-efficient systems, and a sense of place. At Madarao, plans call for multiple restaurants, a lobby lounge, an off-slope "Ski Diner" set at a run crossroads, a destination pool bar, meeting space, shops, rentals, and onsen baths. Lime Resort Myoko will focus on wellness, with onsen facilities, a fitness area, restaurants, and a lounge café and bar. The pair broadens the brand's footprint after the 2024 debut of Hôtel Sosei Sapporo - MGallery Collection.

Latest developments

The signing highlights the region's snow credentials. Mt. Myoko rises to 2,454 meters and the nearby Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort is known for deep powder, about 13.4 meters of average seasonal snowfall, a vertical drop of 1,124 meters, and one of Japan's longest groomed runs at 8.5 kilometers. Madarao Mountain Resort is celebrated for powder and tree-ski terrain, with official tree-skiing courses embedded in the trail layout.

Analysis

For travelers, the convenience story is compelling. The resorts sit roughly two hours by rail or three hours by road from Tokyo, then a short shuttle ride apart, allowing guests to split stays between two distinct mountains without car rental. Expect opening offers and soft-launch packages as each project nears completion, especially for midweek windows outside peak holiday periods. Advisors should flag variable lift operations during shoulder seasons, and, in winter, monitor snowfall and wind holds that can affect high-elevation lifts in Niigata and Nagano.

Brand strategy matters, too. MGallery curates smaller, story-driven hotels, which fits Japan's alpine towns where authenticity and access often beat sheer scale. With Accor adding luxury inventory in the country, readers comparing options may also note the capital's newest flagship from a sister brand, Fairmont, covered here earlier, which signals momentum for the group in Japan's premium tiers. See our related coverage: Fairmont Tokyo Opens, Fairmont Debut in Japan.

Background Japan's Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park blends high peaks, volcanic geology, and forests with accessible resorts. Winter brings some of the country's heaviest snow to Myoko, while summer and fall draw hikers to lakes, waterfalls, and shrine trails around Togakushi. This diversity underpins the four-season investment thesis behind the signings, which pair ski appeal with shoulder-season wellness and nature programming.

Final thoughts

MGallery's twin mountain signings set up a practical, shuttle-linked circuit for skiers and nature seekers within easy reach of Tokyo. With Lime Resort Myoko targeting Winter 2026 and Madarao Kogen Hotel following in late 2027, the brand adds two boutique bases to Japan's snow belt, reinforcing Accor's wider push in the country's premium and luxury segments.