Mount Zao

About

Mount Zao (蔵王山, Zaōsan) is a volcanic mountain range on the prefectural border between Yamagata and Miyagi Prefectures in the Tohoku Region. It is about an hour from the Yamagata city, the hot spring town of Zao Onsen offers some of the country’s most acidic thermal waters in addition to Skiing.

While the most popular season to come visit is undoubtedly in the winter to take full advantage of the quality of snow and very unique “snow monsters” (frozen trees). However in summer, the mountain attracts nature lovers and landscape photographer with its spectacular Okama Crater.

Mount Zao is an active volcano at a towering 1,841 meters, it is one of Tohoku’s tallest mountains. A stunning crater lake lies at its summit.

The mountain boasts a variety of outdoor activities and landscapes that change dramatically with the seasons.

In spring, cheerful yellow narcissus flowers bloom on the hillsides at Eboshi Resort.

In autumn, the foliage fills the landscape with fiery reds and yellows.

Like wise winter is the season for skiing, snowboarding, and visiting the mysterious snow monsters that dot the frosty mountainside.

As the winter gives way to spring, the Zao Echo Line highway reopens with towering walls of snow on either side.

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How to get there
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How To Get There

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By Train

From Tokyo to Mt. Zao:

Take the JR Yamagata Shinkansen to Yamagata (approx. 2.5 hours). From there you have to transfer to a bus heading to Zao Onsen (approx. 40 minutes).

From Tokyo via Sendai (Winter Only):

You can take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai (approx. 1.5~2 hours minutes). From there you need to transfer to a bus to Zao Onsen (1.5 hours). This bus only has one round trip a day and seat reservations are certainly required.

From Sendai:

From Sendai take the JR Senzan Line to Yamagata (1~1.5 hours) and transfer to a bus to Zao Onsen (40 minutes).

By Bus

From Tokyo to Mt. Zao:

In winter, there is one daily overnight bus from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station to Zao Onsen. The journey takes eight hours one way, round trip tickets are available. however return journey, from Zao Onsen to Shinjuku, the bus runs during the day time. Seat reservations are certainly mandatory.

From Sendai (Winter Only):

During the winter, there is one round trip per day between Sendai and Zao Onsen. The one-way journey takes 1.5 hours. Seat reservations are mandatory.