[2025 Yamagata ] Travel Guide for Peaks of the Zaos (Updated Apr)

📍> The Zao Range (ざおうれんぽう) is majestic, spanning Yamagata and Miyagi counties, with the main peak Kumano-dake (elevation 1,841 meters) located on the Yamagata side. Beautiful scenery can be seen all year round, especially the autumn red leaves on the mountain top and the 'Zao Ice Tree' of Zao Mountain in northeastern Yamagata, which is one of the absolute winter views in Japan. . 💠During the entire ski season, the 'Ice Tree Group' appearing on the upper part of the ski resort is very spectacular. In addition to being able to ski on the 'Ice Tree Primitive Snow Road' during the day and admire the ice trees on both sides of the ski trail, there is also an ice tree light show at night. Under the colorful lights, the ice trees look spectacular and mysterious. With 26 snow trails and 41 ropeways, no matter how big the scale is, it's impossible to ski all in one day, so it's recommended to stay at least one night. . 💠How to get there: Snow friends, you can choose Air China's direct flight to Sendai, with one flight each on Wednesday and Sunday, with a stopover in Shanghai. The direct flight on Wednesday and Sunday, the departure time from Beijing is 7:20, and the departure time after stopping in Shanghai is 10:40. Arrive at Sendai Airport at 14:25 Japanese time. . The general route is: take the 'Sendai Airport Line' from Sendai Airport, and arrive at 'Sendai Station' 25 minutes later; change to the 'JR Senzan Line' at 'Sendai Station', and arrive at 'Yamagata Station' about 1 hour and 15 minutes later. . 💠From Sendai Airport to Yamagata Station, there is another mode of transportation, called the express bus, with a one-way fare of 1,500 yen, half price for children under 12, and it takes 80 minutes to reach Yamagata Station. However, if you take a plane from Beijing with a stopover in Shanghai, you won't be able to catch the departure time of the express bus. Unless some snow friends fly to Sendai Airport from an airport in Japan, see if the arrival time can catch up with one of the four express buses a day. Snow friends, please check the arrival time on the day and decide whether to choose the express bus. . 💠Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo After snow friends land at Tokyo Haneda or Narita Airport, take a car to 'Tokyo Station' and take the Tohoku Shinkansen, a one-stop service to 'Yamagata Station', and then take a bus from 'Yamagata Station' to the ski resort. The one-way fare for the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Yamagata Station: 11,680 yen (about 680 RMB) The Shinkansen journey time: 2 hours 41 minutes When you arrive at 'Yamagata Station', refer to the above 'Yamagata Station → Zao Onsen' bus timetable and take the bus to go. .

#japan #japantrip #yamagata #yamagatawonders Yamagata Prefecture is a captivating region in Japan known for its stunning natural landscapes, rich history, and deep cultural traditions. Famous for its mountains, Yamagata is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering skiing in the winter and hiking in the warmer months. Mount Zao, with its iconic "snow monsters" (ice-covered trees), is a major draw for visitors, as well as its relaxing hot springs (onsen) after a day of exploring. The prefecture is also renowned for its agricultural produce, particularly cherries, often called the “king of fruits” in Japan, and high-quality rice, which is used to make some of the best sake in the country. Additionally, Yamagata is home to the centuries-old Yamadera Temple, a peaceful mountain retreat with incredible views after climbing its 1,000 stone steps. What makes Yamagata special to me is its blend of natural beauty and tranquility with a strong sense of tradition. Whether it’s through its temples, festivals, or hot springs, Yamagata offers a peaceful, yet enriching experience, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in both nature and culture.

9 Most Beautiful Winter Destinations in Japan☃️ . This winter season...makes me miss Japan even more. Thinking of the cold weather, snow falling until the roads are white. Or the mountains covered in snow to White hot spring towns, vast ski resorts Or watch the beautiful ice festival.. And warm your body by soaking in an onsen Or sipping the fragrant soup from a big bowl of ramen, ouch! . Japan's winter season is from December to February. I must say that the atmosphere is very good, different from our home. I recommend that you try to go to Japan in the winter at least once! So, Nong Maru has put together 9 winter destinations for you.. After watching, you can make a plan and wait for the country to open. . 9 Locations: • Zao Snow Monsters, Yamagata • Shirakawa-go, Gifu • Kenrokuen, Ishikawa • Ginzan Onsen, Yamagata • Jigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano • Misotsuchi Icicles, Saitama • Nabana no Sato Illuminations, Mie • Shiretoko National Park, Hokkaido • Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Toyama

#GlobalTravel Every winter, the unique climate will cover thousands of trees with snow, forming a magnificent view of snow monsters on the Zao Mountains❄️❤️ ✂︎ First, take the JR to Yamagata Station (ง'̀-'́)ง. After exiting the gate, head towards the east exit of Yamagata Station to find the bus terminal. At the information center at the bus terminal, you can buy a round-trip ticket for the Zao Juhyo! The package is about HK$300, including round-trip bus tickets to Zao and round-trip cable car tickets to the top of the mountain. The staff will also give you a timetable and you can take the bus according to the time (≖ᴗ≖) ✂︎ It’s worth noting that it’s really cold and windy on the top of the mountain, so remember to wear warm and windproof clothing! Very important to say! Because there are no sheltering buildings on the top of the mountain, if you don’t wear enough clothes, you can’t stay outdoors for a long time (´Ａ｀.) ✂︎ Also, also! Everyone remember to check the weather conditions. If the weather is bad, you can only see a white haze. If you go on a sunny day, you will definitely be able to see the snow monster! In fact, Zao is also a ski and hot spring resort. I will definitely come again next time I have the chance! (=´ω`=) #JapanAttractions #JapanTravel #YamagataPrefecture #ZaoHydro

Actually, we went there at the end of February, which was past the best time to see the frost trees. In addition, with global warming, the frost trees can actually last shorter than before. Before we set off, we learned that there was a big storm two weeks ago, so all the frost trees that were originally covered with frost were blown off. It is possible that we will not see the frost trees that look like snow monsters, but bare branches. But we were still lucky. There was heavy snow for several consecutive nights two or three days before we arrived. So we can still see the appearance of snow monsters. 😅 Of course, it is still a little different from the frost trees in their prime, but I think it is already great. The temperature on this day was minus eight degrees Celsius. In terms of dry and cold conditions, I think the temperature is still acceptable (I am a person who is not afraid of cold). But I suggest that you wear gloves. I may have worn ordinary gloves. In fact, my fingers were so cold that they were a little stinging. If you want to see the beautiful frost trees, you must go in a very suitable season, and the temperature will be relatively lower, so don’t forget to keep warm if you are going there.

#2024TravelWish The Zao Mountain Range, located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, is famous for its fascinating volcanoes. In winter, this place becomes a paradise for ski enthusiasts, attracting many tourists with its magnificent ice and tree scenery. In summer, it becomes an ideal place for hiking and mountaineering, providing excellent opportunities to enjoy the lake 🌊 and green mountain scenery. The Zao Mountain Range is a dream destination for both outdoor enthusiasts and nature explorers.

Zao Onsen, located in the mountains on the border of Yamagata Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture, is not only a ski and hot spring resort, but also a great place to enjoy the red leaves and frost on the trees. Among the three major frost trees in Tohoku, the Yamagata Zao frost trees in the Zao Mountains are definitely the most famous one. It is also the most popular attraction that you cannot miss when traveling to Tohoku in winter. However, our main purpose this time is to see the red leaves, and the red maple leaves all over the mountain are also worth visiting. The autumn leaf season in Zao is from mid to late October. You can refer to the autumn leaf forecast website and Yamagata Prefecture tourism information. Take the Zao Cable Car Mountain Line and you will reach the Jizo Mountain Summit Station in about 17 minutes. Here you can see the Zao Jizo Bodhisattva. There are also many hiking trails, and you can hike to Okama. Almost the entire mountain along the way was red, yellow and green, which was very spectacular. There were some restaurants, souvenir shops, and ski equipment rental shops on both sides of the hot spring street, but most of them were closed and it was very deserted. Transportation: Take the express bus from Sendai city to Yamagata Station, and then take the route bus from Yamagata Station to Zao Onsen. I want to go to Italy in 2024! #2024travelwish #JapanandKoreacityattractions #Overseastravel #Japantravel #Japanattractions #JapanTohoku #JapanTohokutourism #JapanMapleViewing #YamagataPrefecture #JapanZao #JapanZaoOnsen

Hello, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan during the autumn season, which is called chasing the yellow and red from the south to the south. Today, I would like to recommend Zao ropeway, which we visited during the winter, with white snow and snow monsters. The time I went was October 28, 2023. The leaves were not as colorful as in the picture. Some of them have fallen off. Overall, the colors are still yellow and red for you to enjoy. #TravelJapanOnYour Own #ChangingLeaves

The crater in Zao Province is beautiful, the atmosphere is good, the air is fresh, suitable for tracking. If you want to travel conveniently, it is recommended to rent a car yourself. But if you use the bus service, there will be one trip per day. If you walk too much, you may not get off in time for the bus. If you rent a car, there is convenient parking. There is a place to sit and eat. There is a service point selling food and souvenirs. #Zao #TravelJapan

In recent years, Japan's winter tourism has been a big push to visit the Northeastern wonder "Zao Juhyo". Take a cable car on the mountains with biting cold snow to enjoy the different styles of Juhyo statues. No matter how many snow scenes you have seen, you will still be amazed by this natural wonder. The cycle of Zao Juice is divided into four stages. Every year from November to December, the coniferous trees on Zao Mountain will begin to freeze. In January, due to strong cold winds, the Juice and Snow gradually grow and transform into various unique shapes. 2 The moon is the most spectacular and grotesque ice tree in Shubing that attracts people’s attention. #New Year’s Good Place#Japan Free Travel #Yamagata Prefecture#Zao Shubing

Its not easy to go to Tibet once, especially when you are still on duty and cant take time off. From late night in Tokyo, you will arrive at the Zao in the morning, and you will wake up to another world outside the window. It is not easy to go to the Tibetan king. It is not easy to see the hoarfrost. Because of the terrain, the chances of seeing the blue sky and white clouds in Zaowang Town are very small. The unique weather and geographical environment creates spectacular hoarfrost. hoarfrost means that the trees are covered in snow and ice, forming a spectacular "snow monster" view. Many of them look very funny like little monsters. If you don't ski, there is also a cable car that is designed for tourists to enjoy the hoarfrost. If you are a skier, you can take the cable car to the top of the mountain and slide down to see the scenery. It is a pity that our luck is still slightly poor on the day. The night after the blizzard is still cloudy on the second day. The sun is only exposed for a while. I hope that I will have the opportunity to see the blue sky and white clouds of the Zao.

Because of the volcanic activity, there are many hot springs in the mountains of the Tibetan King. The oldest one is the Xianshang Hot Spring, which was first discovered in 1428 and has been in existence for hundreds of years. It is said that it was famous for the bathing of the first ancestor of the Sendai ancestral yida dynasty and its first film, Cang Jinggang. . Although the first hot spring township is very small, there are only three or four hot spring hotels, but these hot spring hotels are very powerful. The Tang Master I stayed in was the old shop hot spring hotel that opened the door from the time when the hot spring soup was opened. The right side is the old building of Tangzhu One hot spring hotel for more than 600 years, which has been included in the Japanese tangible cultural property. . The charm of the "Tang Master" hot spring hotel is that any item you see may be hundreds of years old or worthy of art. The 600-year-old building itself is a place full of stories, and it is worthwhile for every visitor to explore its history. The ancient aisle seems to take us through the time hundreds of years ago. The hotels sleek rooms are quaint and elegant, with soft wood tones to create a sense of warmth and a touch of style. The most famous of the "one of the soup masters" is Tang Zhiquan, which is famous for its therapeutic effect. In addition to the "medicine soup", it is famous for its open-air hot springs in the forest view. You can enjoy the view of the surrounding forest while enjoying the hot springs.