[2025 Yamagata Attraction] Travel Guide for Frost Covered Trees of Zao (Updated Sep)

Have you ever been to Zao's frost-covered trees? The Aomori Todomatsu trees are covered with ice and snow caused by cloud particles carried by the seasonal winds and become snow monsters❄️ Growth stage ⇨ January Peak stage ⇨ February Decline/collapse stage ⇨ March It's rare nationwide. It's also popular as a tourist destination because you can see it without climbing a mountain Come and see this work of art that can only be seen in good weather! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~❄️~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rime trees at Zao 📍Zao mountain range, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, near the summit of Jizo-dake Zao Ropeway 📍229-3 Zao Onsen, Yamagata City ⏰Foothills line 8:30-17:00 / Summit line 8:45-16:45 🚃JR Yamagata Station ⇨About 40 minutes by local bus. After getting off, it is about a 15-minute walk to Zao Ropeway Sanroku Station (Sanroku Station ⇨ Juhyo Kogen Station ⇨ Jizo Sancho Station) 💰Bus fare and ropeway fare purchased at Yamagata Station included/Adult 5,700 yen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~❄️~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *This information is current, so please check it out before you go! Photo date: 2024/2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~❄~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Right now! This moment! Enjoy the Maya trip to the fullest ✔︎A place I'm glad I went and experienced firsthand ✔︎I hope this helps you save it or go out ♫ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~❄~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #Snowscape2024 #Snow #Zao #SnowMonster #YamagataTourism #BreathtakingSights #Snowscapes #PhotogenicSpots

Looking for a jaw-dropping winter escape? ❄️ Yamagata’s Zao area packs legendary snowscapes and Insta-ready ice monsters! Zao Ropeway Zao Sanroku Station (229-3 Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301) Start here for the ropeway up—super smooth, way more scenic than hiking in deep snow! Buy your tickets from the machine early (morning slots mean fewer crowds). Must-See Places in Yamagata Zao: Zaojizoson (Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan) - Open all day, year round Make this your spiritual start point. The snowy silence makes it truly special. Look out for the famous Jizo statue nestled under all that powder! Frost Covered Trees of Zao (Near Jizo Mountain, Yamagata 990-2301) Don’t leave Zao without witnessing the “snow monsters” – trees layered in frost so heavy they become surreal sculptures. It’s pure magic for photographers and snow-lovers! Go in the late afternoon for epic lighting. Travel Tips: Spent a night after Yamagata Onsen visit, to hit Zao the next day earlier. Best being self drive but there are Trains from Yamagata Station head straight to Zao Onsen. Use local buses for easy Zao transfers (grab a day pass to save yen). Dress *seriously* warm: Layers, waterproof boots, and hand warmers are a must! Try “Zao soba” noodles at a local onsen eatery for max comfort food vibes. Best season for snow monsters: late Jan-Feb (watch weather for visibility!). Cash is king in small villages, so hit the ATM downtown first. #mytraveldiary #travel #selfdrive #itinerary #tohoku #japan

#tokyospots Looking to escape Tokyo for a day and immerse yourself in snow-capped mountains, unique “snow monsters,” and rejuvenating hot springs? A trip to Zao Onsen and Mt. Zao offers a perfect blend of nature, culture, and relaxation — all within a few hours from the city. ⸻ 🎯 Highlights • 🦊 Zao Fox Village — Interact with friendly foxes in a safe and open environment. Learn about their behavior and enjoy the serene countryside. • ❄️ Snow Monsters (Juhyo) — Witness the unique phenomenon where trees become encrusted with snow and ice, creating eerie, snow-covered figures. This spectacle is most prominent in mid-winter. • 🏞️ Zao Ropeway — Take a scenic ride up Mt. Zao to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area and the snow monsters. • ♨️ Zao Onsen — Soak in the hot springs of Zao Onsen, known for their healing properties and high sulfur content. ⸻ 🗺️ Getting There • 🚆 By Train: Take the JR Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Yamagata Station. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours. • 🚌 By Bus: From Yamagata Station, take a local bus to Zao Onsen. The bus ride takes about 40 minutes and costs around ¥1,000. • 🚶 On Foot: Once at Zao Onsen, the village and surrounding areas are best explored on foot. ⸻ 🌟 Tips for Visitors • ⏰ Arrive Early: To make the most of your day, consider departing Tokyo early in the morning. • 👟 Wear Comfortable Shoes: The area can be snowy and slippery; sturdy footwear is recommended. • 📸 Bring a Camera: The snow monsters and mountain views offer fantastic photo opportunities. • 💴 Cash is King: Some establishments may not accept credit cards; it’s advisable to carry cash. ⸻ 💬 Final Thought A day trip to Zao Onsen and Mt. Zao offers a magical escape from Tokyo, combining natural beauty, unique phenomena, and cultural experiences. Whether you’re interacting with foxes, marveling at the snow monsters, or relaxing in a hot spring, it’s a journey that promises unforgettable memories.

Yamagata + Akita ~ 2025 Spring Snow Because of the fear of cold and self-driving, I rarely choose to go to Japan in winter by car ~ so this time is going in April ~ April's mountain form is beautiful ~ Fox Village ~~ The chubby fox is lazy ~~ Lazy like a cat ~~ Tibetan King Snow Mountain ~ still have snowflakes ~ ~ still see tree ice ~ like skiing must go ~ Ginzan Onsen in spring ~ ~ is much inferior to Ginzan Onsen in winter, which is why there are a little fewer tourists ~ If you want to see the Taisho style, you can choose to stay here for a night 🙂 Shirakami Mountain in Akita ~ should choose to go in the summer, so join the tour to walk down the mountain! Because the snow has not melted on this trip, the dam is still frozen! But there is another flavor, Japan's infrastructure is really breathtaking! To some extent, I think it’s more beautiful and magnificent than Tateyama Kurobe This time I was lucky enough to see Lake Tazawa in the fog and clear - there is a sense of mystery - if you like tranquility, you can cycle around the lake ~ #ski #Zao #Shirakami Mountain

#springwander Tree ice is something that can be made by repeatedly freezing and snowing on the leaves and branches of the Aomori Todo matsu (scientific name: Ooshirabiso) that live nearby. It is a precious scenery that can only be seen in some mountainous areas of the Ou Mountains because it is formed only when special conditions such as temperature, wind direction, and snowfall are met. Although it is beautiful, it is called "snow monster" because of its appearance that looks like a monster.

It was too cold!! But, snow monsters! I saw them for the first time! It's another name for frost-covered trees, snow monsters! 😍Snow monsters☃️! It seems that fog and clouds cooled by temperatures below freezing blow onto the trees and freeze! Of course it's cold🥶 When I got to the top of the ropeway, it was so cold! The floor was frozen and slippery and I couldn't move! 💦 As I slid down, the coldness eased up! lol But it was fantastic to see so many frost-covered trees right in front of me⛄️ I'd like to see them lit up someday!! By the way, the slopes and sightseeing are combined, so even people who don't ski can take the same ropeway to get up!

#0yentravelFebruary2025 Snow monsters, known as a seasonal feature of winter It is said to be so because the snow on the pine trees looks like a monster. The 360-degree frost-covered trees are a spectacular sight, and you are sure to be enchanted by their mysterious beauty. The night illumination is a sight you should see at least once in your life. The frost-covered trees themselves can only be seen in a limited number of spots, so please visit. Best season: January-February Access: You need to take the Zao Ropeway at Zao Onsen Ski Resort. About 4,000 yen round trip It starts to get crowded around noon and there is a waiting time for the ropeway, so it is best to visit early. #frost-covered trees #frost-covered trees of Zao #frost-covered trees of Zao #Yamagata #Zao Chuo Ropeway #snowscape #silverworld #snowmonster #nature

Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Yamagata Prefecture Red miso ramen from Yamagata Prefecture is also recommended 🍜 The recommended time is from the end of January to mid-February Outside of this time, there may be less snow, it may be melting, or the frost may not remain clean. Last year was a warm winter, and it seemed like a lot of snow had melted in March. There are slightly more skiers than snowboarders, but if you are a snowboarder who can ski to a certain extent, you can enjoy this mountain without any difficulty. The snow monsters are also shrinking year by year due to the effects of pests and global warming. We recommend visiting at least once while you can still see the beautiful frost trees! #winterplay #wintertrip #hotsprings #Zao