Zao Onsen Ski Resort

Official name 蔵王温泉スキー場

Yamagata · 780–1,661 m · 26 runs · 33 lifts

2026-27 season: Dec 12 (planned) – May 5 (planned)
Spring skiing: Upper slopes until May 5 at the latest (final season from April 1)
Summit: Today clear -1–1°C / Tomorrow clear -1–9°C
Snow depth 0 cm | New snow, next 12h 0 cm · 24h 0 cm · 48h 0 cm · 7 days 5 cm · 14 days 7 cm
Snow report (official) → Lift status (official) →

Zao Onsen Ski Resort trail map

Zao Onsen Ski Resort English · 2025-26 map — English · 2025-26 map

Zao Onsen Ski Resort spreads across the western flank of the Zao range in Yamagata and is famous worldwide for its juhyo, the rime-coated 'snow monsters' that form on the trees near the summit. Ropeways lift skiers into the juhyo field, from where a run of about 10 km winds down past the frozen trees to the village. Fourteen slopes and twelve courses fan out over roughly 880 m of vertical, from gentle cruising on the Ohira course and Uwanodai to the 38-degree Yokokura Wall and the FIS-approved Hahnenkamm course, so every level is covered. The old hot-spring town sits at the foot of the slopes, which makes an after-ski soak easy, and Uwanodai offers night skiing. The season starts in mid-December and the upper slopes often stay open into early May. Buses from Yamagata Station take about 40 minutes.

Zao Onsen Ski Resort weather at the top (1,661 m, hourly, 14 days)

Sunrise today 06:05, sunset 16:38

		Tue, 11/3					Wed, 11/4										Thu, 11/5								Fri, 11/6								Sat, 11/7								Sun, 11/8								Mon, 11/9						Tue, 11/10				Wed, 11/11				Thu, 11/12				Fri, 11/13				Sat, 11/14				Sun, 11/15				Mon, 11/16				Tue, 11/17
Japan time		15	17	19	21	23	1	3	5	7	9	11	13	15	18	21	0	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	0	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	0	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	0	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	0	3	6	9	15	21	3	9	15	21	3	9	15	21	3	9	15	21	3	9	15	21	3	9	15	21	3	9	15	21	3	9	15	21	3	9	15

Temperature	°C	5°	1°	-1°	-1°	0°	-1°	-1°	-1°	1°	6°	7°	9°	7°	2°	2°	3°	4°	6°	6°	7°	8°	7°	7°	7°	6°	7°	9°	10°	9°	6°	4°	2°	0°	-1°	-1°	-1°	-1°	-3°	-2°	-2°	-2°	-2°	-1°	1°	1°	-2°	-3°	-2°	-2°	-3°	1°	1°	-3°	-4°	1°	1°	-1°	0°	0°	2°	-3°	-2°	1°	2°	-1°	1°	0°	0°	-3°	-4°	1°	4°	-1°	0°	8°	9°	5°	4°	8°	4°	-3°	-5°	-1°	2°
Precipitation	mm																	1.5	9	8	2.9	0.8			0.7			0.4	0.6		0.4	0.6	0.7	0.7	1.2	1.9	1.7	1.1	0.8	0.7	0.4	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3		0.1			0.2	0.5								6	1.6					1.0	0.2	0.7	1.0	0.2									2.4	7	0.8	3.5	2.2
New snow	cm																																			1.0	1.0	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.2	0.2	0.2	<.1			<.1			0.2	0.4								1.2	0.7
Snow depth	cm	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	<1	<1	<1	<1	2	2	2	<1	<1	<1	<1	<1	0	0	0	<1	<1	0	0	0	0	0	0	<1	<1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Wind	m/s	4	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	3	4	5	7	4	4	5	5	4	4	5	5	5	6	6	6	6	6	7	7	3	2	2	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	3	2	3	4	5	2	2	2	3	2	1	4	6	3	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	4	5	3	2	1
Wind gusts	m/s	18	14	10	9	9	8	8	8	8	8	8	6	6	8	10	12	12	11	8	9	6	6	6	9	11	14	17	20	23	23	18	18	19	19	21	26	28	23	23	23	23	23	22	22	23	21	13	10	10	9	8	10	9	8	7	10	13	13	15	20	17	11	9	11	11	10	14	20	19	12	10	8	5	7	8	6	9	9	11	17	22	18	13	8
Wind dir.		↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓

Zao Onsen Ski Resort live cams

Juhyo Kogen Station (Sancho Line boarding) →

Zao Onsen Ski Resort lift tickets and prices

2026-27 prices

1-day ticket: Adult ¥4,800–¥9,000 · Child ¥2,400–¥4,500 · Senior ¥7,200 (regular) / ¥8,100 (peak) / ¥6,300 (spring)
Half day: ¥6,600 (regular) / ¥7,400 (peak) / ¥5,700 (spring)
Night: ¥3,000
Season pass: ¥98,000 · early-bird ¥88,000

Early-bird tickets

Early-bird season pass (first-time buyers), adult · ¥88,000 · on sale until Nov 17

Discounts

Kids' Ski Day: junior high and under day ticket ¥1,000 (1/16, 17, 23, 24; 2/11, 23; 3/6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28)
Yamagata resident discount day ticket ¥7,000 (regular)
High school and senior (60+) day ticket ¥7,200 (regular)

Show all (8)

Group (20+) discount available
Season pass repeater discount adult ¥78,000 (announced by direct mail)
Season pass: senior/student ¥91,000, high school ¥58,000, child ¥50,000
Night ticket child ¥1,500
Kids Snow Park free

Official lift ticket page →

Opening hours

Lifts: 8:30–17:00
Night skiing: 17:00–21:00 · Daily (Uwanodai slope) · Dec 19 to Feb 28, Mar 6 and Mar 7

Official hours page →

Getting to Zao Onsen Ski Resort and parking

Car: Tohoku-Chuo Expressway, Yamagata-Kaminoyama IC (Prefectural Road 21), 20 min
Parking: 1,900 spaces · P2, P4, P5 and P7: 1,000 yen per car on Sat, Sun and holidays from 19 December 2026 to 14 March 2027 and over New Year, 28 December – 3 January (free on weekdays); P1, P3, P6 and P8: free all season

Train

Shinkansen Tokyo → Yamagata Station JR Yamagata Shinkansen / JR Senzan Line · About 2 hr 30 min · About 1 hr 15 min from Sendai on the JR Senzan Line. From Sendai Airport, about 35 min to Sendai Station on the Sendai Airport Line → Yamako Bus (for Zao Onsen), about 40 min to Zao Onsen Bus Terminal

From the airport

Yamagata Airport → Zao Onsen Bus Terminal / Zao Chuo Ropeway Onsen Station / Zao Ropeway Sanroku Station Tendo Taxi (Oishii Yamagata Airport Sightseeing Liner) · About 60 min · Shared taxi. Reservation required (by 17:00 two days before). Departs 15 min after each flight arrives. One way adult 4,500 yen, child 2,250 yen. Choose one of the three stops
Sendai Airport → Zao Onsen (Tsuruya Hotel / Shirakaba Shoten) Sendai Bus (Yamagata Zao-go) · About 1 hr 45 min · 2025-26 season (13 Dec 2025 - 31 Mar 2026) · Reservation required (by 18:00 seven days before; runs only when booked). Departs Sendai Airport stop 2 at 10:20, 12:15, 15:40. One way adult 2,500 yen, child 2,000 yen (cash)

Bus

Sendai Station East Exit → Zao Onsen Bus Terminal Yamako Bus / Miyagi Kotsu (Sendai - Yamagata Zao Line) · About 1 hr 25 min · 2025-26 season (20 Dec 2025 - 15 Mar 2026) · Reservation required. One way adult 2,500 yen. Departs Sendai Station East Exit stop 76 at 8:00 and 9:00 (10:00 run on weekends and holidays 1/10-3/1 only)
Bandai City Bus Center → Yamagata Station (bus stop) Niigata Kotsu / Yamako Bus (Niigata - Yamagata Line) · About 3 hr 40 min · Also boards at Niigata Station → Yamako Bus (for Zao Onsen), about 40 min to Zao Onsen Bus Terminal

Official access page → Timetable → Directions (Google Maps) →

Zao Onsen Ski Resort runs and lifts

Lifts

Show all

Runs