The Secret of Mount Zao: A Journey to Explore the Beautiful Scenery in a Complex Route!

The roads in Mt. Zao are very complex, with many flat roads. Almost everyone who gets off the cable car 🚡 will pick up a map and study the route carefully 🧐. If the weather is good, I suggest hiking directly to the highest peak, Mount Zao, to take photos. The scenery is absolutely beautiful! However, it is not recommended to queue up for the Zao Cable Car, as the queue will be very slow due to the large number of people. You can ski to the top of the mountain following the ropeway numbers shown in Figure 1. The trail between 16-17 is very difficult, 12-14 to 17 are even more difficult (don't ask me how I know), but this is the only way to slide back to Zao Station from Onsen Station/Kamidai Station without taking the car. I suggest getting off at the Bird's Nest Station of Cable Car No. 3, then skiing to Trail No. 12, then taking Cable Car No. 12 down the mountain and skiing to Trail No. 17, and finally taking Cable Car No. 17 up the mountain. After getting off the cable car, slide along Yokogura Road and be sure not to walk towards Kurohime. If you don’t follow this route, then do what I did… wandering through the forest with skis on your back on a snowy day 🤣.