Zao Onsen is a large-scale ski and snowboard resort located about 16km to the south east of central Yamagata city in Yamagata Prefecture. In terms of area for an individual ski resort, it is the largest in Japan. Zao Onsen is actually both the name of the traditional onsen hot spring village nestled high up above the city and also the ski and snowboard resort. Many of the base ski lifts and courses are within walking distance from the main village with a lot of ski-in ski-out accommodation available. Zao Onsen has a long history, first opening in 1925 with the first ski lift being installed in 1951.
Zao Onsen is one of the most well-known ski and onsen resorts in Japan and famous for the juhyo ‘snow monster’ formations that can be found on the trees on the mountain during the peak winter season. Juhyo can only be found on a limited number of mountains in Japan. This beautiful natural phenomenon makes for spectacular scenery and is one of the reasons why many people visit Zao Onsen each season. The Juhyo near the top of the Zao Ropeway are lit up in the evening during the peak season, with that Ropeway operating for sightseeing purposes (dates below).
Yamagata Prefecture is located in the south-west part of Tohoku with the west coast facing the Sea of Japan. The boundaries of Yamagata Prefecture are all mountainous with Niigata Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture to the south, Akita Prefecture to the north and Miyagi Prefecture to the east. The ski and snowboard ski hills in Yamagata range from very small one-lift local hills to the biggest individual ski resort in Japan (Zao Onsen) and are spread across the Prefecture.
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at Zao Onsen.
Equipment Rental
Ski Rental:
Available
Snowboard Rental:
Available
Ski and snowboard equipment rental is available. Ski and snowboard wear rental is also available.
Children's facilities
There are a number of places in base areas for sledging and general playing in the snow.
Park information
There are snowboard park areas on the Nakamori and Chuo areas of Zao Onsen.
Zao Onsen Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Early December until Early May
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Daytime
Weekends and holidays
Normally open from 8:30am until 5:00pm
Weekdays
Normally open from 8:30am until 5:00pm
'Nighta' (night skiing)
Weekends and holidays
Yes
Weekdays
Yes
Opening information
The lifts at Zao Onsen are normally open from 8:30am (ropeways from 8:15am) until 5:00pm during the daytime. Nighta, when open, is from 5:00pm until 9:00pm.
Nighta in the Uwanodai area is scheduled daily from 23rd December 2017 until 4th March 2018 and then Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9th March until 18th March.
Nighta in the Yokokura area is scheduled for New Year (23rd December until 8th January 2018); and then on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 12th January and 18th March 2018 and between 2nd-11th March 2018.
The Zao Ropeway opens in the evenings on the below dates for sightseeing purposes (not for skiing or boarding). There is an extra charge for this night time operation - 2,600 yen for adults and 1,300 yen for children (return):
December 2017: 23rd, 24th, 29th, 30th, 31st January 2018: 1st-7th, 13th-14th, 20th-21st, 27th-31st February 2018: every day March 2018: 1st-4th
Zao Onsen Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Elementary School age & under
Older Child
High School age
Senior
55 years & over
1 Day
5,000 yen
2,500 yen
4,400 yen
4,400 yen
2 Days
9,200 yen
4,600 yen
8,100 yen
8,100 yen
3 Days
12,900 yen
6,500 yen
11,400 yen
11,400 yen
4 Days
15,900 yen
8,000 yen
14,200 yen
14,200 yen
7 Days
21,600 yen
10,000 yen
2 Hours
2,700 yen
1,400 yen
3 Hours
3,300 yen
1,700 yen
4 Hours
4,000 yen
2,000 yen
5 Hours
4,500 yen
2,200 yen
Season 10 Hours
11,500 yen
Season 20 Hours
21,500 yen
Nighta (5pm-9pm)
2,000 yen
1,000 yen
Season Ticket
64,000 yen
30,000 yen
36,000 yen
59,000 yen
The hourly tickets are valid from the time of purchase and can also be used for nighta.
The Season 10 and 20 Hour tickets can be used in units of 1 hour over the season and can be used for nighta.
A 500 yen returnable deposit is required for lift tickets.
Early and late season ticket discounts are available.
Ski-kodomo-no-hi (Children's Day) is 16th and 17th December 2017; 6th, 7th, 20th January 2018; 3th, 4th, 17th, 18th February 2018; and 3rd March 2018. On those days, a 1 day ticket is 1,000 yen for children.
Getting to Zao Onsen
By public transport
Train
16.4km from Yamagata Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen line
13.6km from Zao Station on the Ou Honsen Line
16.4km from Yamagata Station on the Ou Honsen Line
Information
The main Yamagata Station, a stop on the Yamagata Shinkansen line, is about 18km from the resort and a 40-45 minute or so bus journey. Bus shuttle services are available from Yamagata Station and Sendai Station.
There is a bus service to Zao Onsen from Yamagata Station.
By Car
11.4km from the Yamagata Kaminoyama IC on the Tohoku Chuo Expressway
17.1km from the Yamagata Zao IC on the Yamagata Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 13 (11km away)
Nearest prefecture road: Prefecture Road 21
Direction
Zao Onsen resort is located to the south east of Yamagata City. Those travelling by car from the Sendai or Tokyo regions will likely arrive via the Tohoku Expressway and then onto the Yamagata Expressway, coming off at the Yamagata Zao IC which is just over 11km from the resort. There are a few roads going up from Yamagata to the ski resort - if you use the most direct from Yamagata Zao IC, a part of the road (Nishi Zao Kogen line) is a toll road. From Route 13 to the west the two roads going up the mountain are Prefecture Roads 21 and 14.
As the 2018-2019 winter season approaches, we will gradually be updating the information for every ski resort in Japan.
Many ski resorts in Japan do not update their own information until the autumn months and so our process of updating information will be ongoing until November.
Resorts usually open and close around the same time each season - if the 2017-2018 planned season dates are still displayed on this page, they can be used as a good indication of the season length.
For more details and explanations about the information presented on this page,
please read this.
It is very important to us that the information presented on SnowJapan is correct and up-to-date. Checks and updates are made throughout the year. If you find information that you feel needs checking and updating, please let us know by contacting us. We appreciate your support.
Ropeways
Gondolas
Quad lifts
Triple lifts
Pair lifts
Single lifts
Other
