JP · Yamagata Prefecture · 38.14°N 140.44°E

zao

Ski among frosted 'snow monster' trees, then thaw out in a sulphur onsen.

Best time
The snow monsters are at their best from late January to February, with ski season from December to March. From late spring to autumn, the road to the Okama crater lake is open and the hills are good for walking.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Fly from KL to Tokyo, about 7 hours, and take the Yamagata Shinkansen to Yamagata in about 2.5–3 hours. Buses from Yamagata Station reach Zao Onsen in about 40 minutes. Yamagata is also about an hour by bus from Sendai.
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JP · Yamagata Prefecturezao38.14°N 140.44°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Ski among frosted 'snow monster' trees, then thaw out in a sulphur onsen.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingZaoJP, Yamagata Prefecture
KLzao
≈ 5,531 km from KL, as the crow flies
Hitome-senbon-zakura ("thousand cherry blossom trees at one glance") and Mount Zao seen with its inverted image on the Shiroishi River

Photo: ChampagneFight · Public domain

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A volcanic mountain range on the border of Yamagata and Miyagi, best known for its 'snow monsters': trees coated in ice and snow by the winter winds. Below the slopes, Zao Onsen is an old hot-spring town with strong, sharp-smelling sulphur water.

Makan

  1. Tama konnyakuRound konjac balls simmered in soy and served on a stick, a Yamagata snack.Map ↗
  2. ImoniA taro and meat stew, Yamagata's autumn tradition.Map ↗
  3. Yamagata cherriesYamagata grows most of Japan's cherries, in season from June to early July.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Zao RopewayRide up to the snow monster fields near the summit. On some winter evenings they're lit up after dark.Map ↗
  2. SkiingZao Onsen Ski Resort has long runs, including wide, gentle slopes for beginners.Map ↗
  3. The onsenSoak in Zao's acidic sulphur water at the small public bathhouses or open-air pools in town.Map ↗
  4. OkamaA turquoise lake inside a volcanic crater, reached by the Zao Echo Line road from about late April to early November.Map ↗
  5. Zao Fox VillageOn the Miyagi side, a park where you walk among free-roaming foxes.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Take off silver jewellery before you bathe. The sulphur water tarnishes it.
  • The snow monster fields are very cold and windy. Dress for well below freezing.
  • Many onsen and public baths don't allow visible tattoos. Check first, or look for a private bath.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.