Yamagata’s Spectacular Winter Scenery: A Complete Travel Guide to Zao Snow Monsters

Juhyo forms when the following three conditions are met.

Only when these three conditions come together can juhyo—an artwork of ice and snow—form.

The closest airport to Zao Onsen is Yamagata Airport.
There are only domestic scheduled flights, but from Haneda Airport (Tokyo), Itami Airport (Osaka), and Komaki Airport (Nagoya) to Yamagata Airport, it takes Approx. 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes each.
From Yamagata Airport to Zao Onsen, if you take a local bus and transfer at Yamagata Station, it takes Approx. 1 hour 50 minutes.
By the way, the “Juhyo Viewing Ride Ticket” sold annually by “Yamako Bus” is not scheduled to be sold for the 2025–2026 season.
If you want a more efficient option, the “Oishii Yamagata Airport Sightseeing Liner” (Yamagata Airport departure, Zao Onsen Bus Terminal arrival) is recommended.
It’s reservation-only, but you can reach Zao Onsen in Approx. 1 hour.

From Zao Onsen at the foot of the mountain to the juhyo fields, we recommend taking the ropeway while enjoying the natural scenery.
From Zao Sanroku Station, it takes Approx. 7 minutes on the Sanroku Line, then 10 minutes on the Sancho Line to Jizo Sancho Station, reaching the summit area of Yamagata Zao.

The Zao Ropeway connects three stations: “Zao Sanroku Station,” “Juhyo Kogen Station,” and “Jizo Sancho Station,” located from the base up the mountain.
If you want to fully enjoy the scenery of Yamagata Zao, be sure to ride the Zao Ropeway.
The 360-degree silver-white world seen from the slowly moving ropeway is so surreal it feels like stepping into another world.

In Yamagata Zao, Zao Juhyo is illuminated for a limited time.
The juhyo lit by colorful lights in the darkness feels unreal.
You can enjoy a dreamlike, fantastical scene.
We also recommend joining the “Juhyo Illusion Corridor Tour,” where you ride the heated snowcat “Night Cruiser” to see the illuminated Zao Juhyo up close.

Yamagata Zao is home to the “Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort,” where you can do something you can’t do anywhere else: ski through the snow monsters.
The resort has 26 courses across a vast area, so you won’t be able to cover it all in one day—staying for 2 to 3 nights or more is recommended.
With powder snow as well, whether you love skiing or have never tried it, if you’re sightseeing in Yamagata Zao, we hope you’ll make time to visit.

If you want to see the snow monsters up close and at your own pace, we recommend the observation area in front of “Jizo Sancho Station” on the Zao Ropeway summit line.
As soon as you step off the ropeway, the snow monsters spread out in front of you—an impact very different from seeing them from above.
Also, typically from late December through late February, the juhyo in front of Jizo Sancho Station is illuminated after sunset on certain days, offering a fantastical view.
Note that a safety rope is set up in front of the juhyo, so please do not enter inside the rope.

In addition to the observation area in front of Jizo Sancho Station, be sure to stop by the Summit Terrace (rooftop observation deck) as well.
From the open-air deck, you can take in a sweeping 360° view of the snow monsters.
In the daytime, you can admire them along with distant mountains and drifting clouds, and at night, enjoy the combination of illuminated juhyo and a starry sky.

If you’re not a fan of the cold, we recommend viewing from Restaurant “Sanchō” inside Jizo Sancho Station.
Along the wall side of the dining area are large windows, so you can enjoy the snow monsters while staying seated.
Hours are 8:45am–4:00pm (Last food order at 3:00pm), but during the juhyo illumination period, they extend hours until 8:30pm (Last food order at 8:10pm).
That means you can also take your time enjoying the illuminated juhyo from inside the restaurant.
During the day, they also offer meals such as curry rice, rice bowls, and ramen.
Savor warm food and drinks in a heated space while taking in the magical snow monsters.

As mentioned above, juhyo forms only when various conditions come together.
For that reason, even in the typical peak season, there are years when you can’t see much juhyo.
The Zao Ropeway provides updates in its “Information,” so be sure to check before you leave.

In the areas where you can see juhyo, many days hover around -10°C, and when the wind blows, it feels even colder.
Snow and ice can stick to you and make your clothes wet, so windproof and waterproof measures are essential—not just warmth.
Especially if you’re viewing the nighttime illumination, please dress appropriately for the cold.
Also, since footing can be slippery, it’s a good idea to bring non-slip snow boots.
For juhyo viewing, we recommend preparing clothing and gear like the following.

The Zao Ropeway can get crowded depending on the time and date. In some cases, you may wait 1 to 3 hours just to board the first ropeway.
The return trip can also be crowded, and it’s not uncommon for things to take longer than expected.
So, plan a schedule with extra time built in, assuming crowds.
If you want to avoid crowds, keep these points in mind.

Also, even if it’s sunny, the weather can suddenly worsen, and the ropeway may be suspended due to strong winds.
In addition to checking the forecast in advance, keep checking the ropeway operation status on the official website while you’re there.
Depending on crowd levels, ticket sales may also be suspended.
It’s reassuring to think through an alternative plan in advance so you can adjust your schedule depending on the weather and crowds.

A long-established ryokan founded in 1716. As if telling its own history, the purely traditional Japanese-style building features Japanese beauty throughout the property.
One of its highlights is the hot spring. With three private sources from Zao Onsen—Yamagata’s oldest hot spring—you can enjoy 100% free-flowing water straight from the source.
Experience it in an open-air bath with the sound of the river, or a traditional craftsperson-made open-air barrel bath.
There are eight types of rooms, including classic tatami rooms that evoke a sense of travel, as well as Japanese-style rooms with beds and other options.

The Zao Mountain Range—famous for Zao Juhyo and also selected as one of the “100 Famous Japanese Mountains”—was celebrated in poetry by local tanka poet Mokichi Saito (1882-1953), who was active from the Taisho to Showa eras.
At the foot of those mountains, one inn in Zao Onsen known as a place connected to Mokichi is “Waka no Yado Wakamatsuya.”
Wakamatsuya’s hot spring is a private source with a flow rate of 72 liters per minute. You can enjoy the highly regarded “beauty bath” waters as free-flowing hot spring water in an open-air bath carved from an 18-ton boulder, as well as private family baths.

Perched on a hill in Zao Onsen, “Zao Kokusai Hotel” is a long-established property where you can fully enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Zao Mountains and renowned hot springs.
The spacious open-air bath fed by milky-white sulfur water, the warm wood-accented interiors, and cuisine that showcases seasonal Yamagata ingredients all continue to captivate visitors.
Surrounded by nature in every season, you can enjoy a truly relaxing, restorative stay.
For dinner, you can savor local seasonal flavors, including Yamagata beef.
This is an inn where you can enjoy a premium time of relaxation embraced by nature.