beowulf 1 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Originally Posted By: thursday perhaps one more week I would say this weekend would be fine to hit Zao up. It is snowing quite heavily here in Shonai, so I imagine Zao will be getting some of that love about now. We have had about 30cm's in the last 12 hours and I live on the beach! It has taken a while, but the season has finally started! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 do the monsters suddenly form overnight or do they take weeks to hatch? Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I was thinking the same just was looking here http://www.snowjapan.com/e/spotlight/yamagata-zao-onsen.html Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 this is a marvelous shot Link to post Share on other sites
BigBoned 0 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Looks like a great place does this Zao. Link to post Share on other sites
BigBoned 0 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Cool name too. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 Everyone may think we got lots and lots of snow yesterday from the news, but we didn't. Too cold? Other areas of Yamagata did get a lot, but perhaps 10cm at the most here on the mountain. Resort remains only very small part open. Link to post Share on other sites
HoTRoD 2 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Thanks for the pics. With that news on the tv last night I was expecting Zao to be off the charts this morning. Funny how it works out. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 perhaps it went some other place. Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Originally Posted By: thursday this is a marvelous shot In between the Snow Monsters on the top right of the photo...that is what I am looking forward to this winter. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 well, that's interesting. Good to know and live from Zao. Still 10cm is cool and looks like you got some getting out there ! Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Seems more of Zao opening up. Ah, I remember it there. Great place. Link to post Share on other sites
charlotte 0 Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Does Zao get many good clear days generally? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Originally Posted By: charlotte Does Zao get many good clear days generally? You'd hope not! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 It was very changeable when I was there. I would have been gutted if we didn't have nice weather at least part of the time. Definitely a place to get the timing right, think I said that before somewhere! Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Originally Posted By: charlotte Does Zao get many good clear days generally? Certainly not too many days like the photo above. I have been to Zao about fifteen times over the last three years and I have only seen it like the photo above twice. I find the weather changes quite quickly on Zao, so you have to keep your wits about you, eg, in the morning the weather is fine and then suddenly by mid-afternoon it is -15. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 The weather on the mountain is very changeable, you can experience all sorts just within a short period of time. Unfortunately not everyone will get to see the beauty of the area and you should really think yourself lucky when you get one of the lovely blue sky days. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Was very worried and looking nervously at the weather forecasts when we went. Would have been gutted if it was constant whiteout. Link to post Share on other sites
snowsurf 0 Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Thinking of heading up to Zao for 4-5 days boarding. Does anyone know if they charge for parking near the lifts? A Japanese friend told us that last year it was 1000yen per day to park up there! I have been to loads of resorts around Japan and never had to pay anything to park. Being a tight git from Yorkshire I consider free mountain parking to be one of the joys of geting out of the city! An extra 5k yen added on the the costs of going boarding, just for parking would be the nail in the coffin for me. Link to post Share on other sites
i 0 Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I think you will find that it is 1000 yen on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays. Weekdays are free. I think most resorts used to charge 1000 yen a day even on weekdays. Gradually it because free on weekdays and now many are free each day. But the norm used to be 1000 yen. Link to post Share on other sites
snowsurf 0 Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Thanks I, that is good to know. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 That 1000 yen used to really be annoying. Still is when they have it. But it did used to be the norm even on weekdays. I see Naeba is now free every day other than new year period. Good thing. Link to post Share on other sites
snowsurf 0 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Hey Big Wil, have you been up there this year yet? can anyone shed any light on free places to park? In a strange way i would rather pay an extra 1200yen for a lift ticket than pay to park the car miles from anywhere! It must be my Yorkshire blood! Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 This year?! No. The parking places are free weekdays. What else do you want to know? Car parks aren't all that big there if I remember correctly but it's only a small village I'm sure you'll find 'em! Link to post Share on other sites
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