Yamagata’s famous winter scenery! A travel guide to fully enjoy the Zao Juhyo (Snow Monsters).

These three conditions are required for juhyo to form.
・The wind must be blowing in one direction only.
・Abies mariesii (Aomori Todomatsu, evergreen conifer) trees grow naturally.
・An appropriate amount of snowfall.
Juhyo, the natural ice and snow artwork, will form only when all of the above conditions are met.

It varies slightly by region, but the Juhyo season is roughly from late December to late March.
And the best time to see the massive, beautiful juhyo is from late January to late February.

The Juhyo season is quite short because when the temperature is too high, the snow melts and when it is too low, the snow does not stick to the trees.
If possible, you should plan your visit to see the juhyo around the weather and temperature.

The Zao mountains are parts of the Ou Mountains in the center of the Tohoku region, on the border of Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures.
The Zao mountains are a group of mountains, with Miyagi Prefecture's side being called Miyagi Zao, and Yamagata Prefecture's side being called Yamagata Zao.

Juhyo can be found in both Yamagata Zao and Miyagi Zao, but Yamagata Zao should be the better choice for tourists.
Yamagata Zao, including Juhyogen, is a ski resort, so visitors can enjoy both juhyo and winter sports.
Yamagata Zao is also the only location where the juhyo is illuminated at night.

If you want to fully appreciate the scenery of Yamagata Zao, the Zao Ropeway is a must-ride.
As the Zao Ropeway moves slowly, the 360-degree panoramic white and silver scenery gives visitors an illusion that they have wandered into another dimension.

In Yamagata Zao, the juhyo is illuminated during a specific period.
The illuminated juhyo in various colors in the dark looks extraordinary, and you may feel as if you are dreaming.

The “Night Cruiser,” a heated snow groomer, can take visitors up close to the illuminated juhyo, so be sure to include it in your itinerary.

There is the “Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort” in Yamagata Zao, which is the only place where skiers can enjoy skiing through the juhyo.
The “Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort” is vast, with 26 courses, so staying for a couple of nights is recommended to visit them all.
The powder snow is fun for both skiers and non-skiers, making the “Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort” a must-visit when in Yamagata Zao.

From Tokyo to Zao Onsen, Taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) and a bus is recommended.
Take the Yamagata Shinkansen to Yamagata Station for 2 hours and 30 minutes, then a bus to the Zao Onsen bus stop for 40 minutes.

Yamagata Airport is only 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes by air from Haneda Airport (Tokyo), Itami Airport (Osaka), or Komaki Airport (Nagoya).
From Yamagata Airport to Zao Onsen takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes by bus.
The adorable natural scenery of Yamagata from the bus must keep you occupied.
It also takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes from Sendai Airport to Zao Onsen by bus.

Zao Onsen Large Open-air bath features a huge open-air bath that can accommodate 200 people at once.
As it is surrounded by forests and a stream is nearby, visitors can admire nature while bathing.
This is a day spa that visitors can stop by without a reservation or bringing bath amenities, so it can be a good alternative to their lodging’s hot springs.

The plentiful natural hot spring water continues to flow, and the milky white water has a faint scent of sulfur.
Visitors can enjoy bathing at night while the surrounding trees are lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere.
The indoor bath made with Japanese cypress is also recommended for its relaxing aroma.

"Uta-no-yado Wakamatsuya" is famous for its hot spring, which was praised as a sacred spring by Mokichi Saito, a local great poet.
The highlight of this inn is the impressive, massive stone open-air bath, created by hollowing out an 18-ton piece of Zao Mesuki stone.
Guest rooms feature spectacular views of the Zao Mountains, making “Uta-no-yado Wakamatsuya” an ideal base for exploring Yamagata Zao.