Areas / Tohoku
Zao 蔵王
Famous for its snow monsters, Zao combines a big resort and a historic onsen town with touring onto the Zao volcano.
- Prefecture
- Yamagata / Miyagi
- Season
- Dec – Apr
- Level
- Intermediate+
- Nearest airport
- Yamagata (GAJ), about 40 min by car
- By rail
- Yamagata station (Yamagata Shinkansen), then bus
Resort accessSnow monstersVolcano touringTree skiing
Zao is best known for its juhyo, or snow monsters: fir trees plastered with rime ice until they become giant white figures. Below them sits Zao Onsen, one of Japan’s classic hot-spring ski towns.
Most visitors ski the resort. With a guide you can tour beyond it, toward the volcano’s summit area in stable weather and into quieter forest runs away from the crowds.
Why a guide: the upper mountain is exposed and gets strong winds. Choosing the right day and the right terrain is everything.
Highlights
- Japan's most famous juhyo snow monsters
- Zao Onsen, a historic sulphur hot-spring town
- Touring toward the Zao volcano and its crater lake area in good weather
- Easy access from Tokyo by Shinkansen
Main hazards
- Strong winds and whiteouts on the exposed upper mountain
- Icy, wind-scoured snow up high
- Volcano — check current volcanic alert levels
Conditions change daily. Check the latest avalanche and weather information, carry beacon, probe and shovel, and ski with a qualified guide if you don't know the area. See our safety guide.
Where to stay
Ski Zao with a certified local guide
Tell us your dates, group and ability. We match you with a certified guide who knows the terrain and today's snow, and send you a quote. Requesting is free and there's no obligation to book.
Request a guide