[2025 Zao Attraction] Travel Guide for Frost-covered Trees in Zaō Mountains (Updated May)

People say to go to Tibet to see the blue sky + tree ice It depends on character 🙂↔️ Because it is often foggy or melted snow 🙂↕️ We have really done a lot in our last and this life There is such good weather In my place by car, the road at the Upper Zango Cable Car Station has some many bends, about 1.5hour from Sendai. It was a sunny day and it didn't snow, so it was safe Because too many people suspend ticket sales at 8:30 my place just arrived at 8:00 We also packed the whole cable car 🥹 before leaving I promise that I will continue to do more good Help many elderly people cross the road Continue to be so good to patients and respond to requests😂 📍Tibetan King Tree Ice #globaltravel

Zao Onsen Ski Resort in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, is renowned for its unique winter phenomenon—the "snow monsters." From December to March, strong winds freeze mist onto the Aomori fir trees at the summit of Mount Zao, creating a stunning array of snow-covered sculptures. This icy wonderland attracts countless skiing enthusiasts and photographers, making it a must-visit destination in Tohoku during winter! ⛄🌲 The Awe-Inspiring Snow Monsters The best spot to view Zao's snow monsters is at the Hell Valley Station of the Zao Ropeway. A round-trip ride (3,500 yen) takes you to the summit, where you can witness the transformation of small snow clusters into massive snow monsters. The snow-covered plateau at the summit glistens under the sunlight, resembling a kingdom of ice and snow. On select nights, the snow monsters are illuminated (check dates with Zao Onsen Tourism Association), adding a magical and romantic touch to the scenery. Be sure to wear warm clothing and anti-slip shoes, as temperatures at the summit can drop to -10°C! ❄️ Skiing and Hot Springs Zao Onsen Ski Resort features 14 slopes suitable for beginners to advanced skiers. After skiing, don't miss the sulfur hot springs at the foot of the mountain. The Zao Onsen Large Outdoor Bath (700 yen for adults) offers a relaxing soak amidst snowy landscapes. Nearby restaurants, such as the Summit Restaurant, serve steaming bowls of Yamagata beef rice, perfect for warming up! ♨️🍲 Photography Tips 1. Snow Monster Plateau: Capture the expansive snow monster formations, incorporating skiers or the ropeway for added dynamism. 2. Night Illumination: Photograph the snow monsters under colorful lights at night; long exposure shots create a dreamy effect. 3. Ropeway Views: Snap the gradual transformation of snow monsters from the ropeway window, showcasing nature's marvels. Practical Information • Location: Zao Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan • Transportation: Take a bus from JR Yamagata Station to Zao Onsen Station (about 40 minutes, 1,000 yen), then walk to the ropeway station • Ropeway Fee: 3,500 yen round-trip for adults; separate tickets for night illumination • Best Time: February, when the snow monsters are at their peak and snow conditions are optimal • Recommended Duration: 4-6 hours (including ropeway ride, sightseeing, and skiing) • Tips: The summit is windy; bring goggles and a scarf, and check the weather forecast to avoid snowstorms Why Visit Zao Snow Monsters? Zao's snow monsters are a masterpiece of nature, showcasing different charms under sunlight and illumination. Skiing and sightseeing during the day, soaking in hot springs and enjoying night views in the evening—this is the perfect winter getaway. Whether you're a photography enthusiast or a snow adventure seeker, Zao's snow monsters promise unforgettable winter memories. Come and capture your own silver-white wonderland! 📸❄️

📍Itinerary Introduction 🚩Travel route You must see the frost trees when you go to Mount Zao, so you can’t skip the second cable car ride, because you can only see the frost trees when you reach the top of the mountain from the second cable car station, the Plateau Juhyo Station. 🏖️Check-in attractions Zao Ice Tree 🚇Transportation Take the bus from the No. 1 bus stop outside JR Yamagata Station. It takes about 40 minutes to reach the final stop: Zao Onsen Bus Terminal. The fare is 1,200 yen. After getting off the bus, walk for about 10 minutes to reach Zao Ropeway Station. You need to take two cable cars to go up the mountain. The round trip four-way cable car costs a total of 4,200 yen. 📷Shadow Phase The Peak 🍜Special Food 🏠Accommodation recommendations Richmond Hotel Yamagata Ekimae: The hotel service is very good, the breakfast is very rich with tempura, the restaurant is also open outside of breakfast hours, and provides free drinks and ice cream. 💡Notes: The Zao Cable Car may stop operating due to weather conditions, such as strong winds, so be sure to check the official website before departure to confirm whether the cable car is operating normally on that day.

Excellent weather If you think you can't drive in Japan by yourself, joining a tour group is the best option Take a bus with a tour group to see the frost trees Along the way, the guide told us about the melting of the frost trees. I don't really hope to see it. I didn't expect to take the cable car all the way up the mountain. The frost on the trees is still there. The weather is so good that you can see the frost on the trees very clearly. The scenery is so beautiful. #NewCharmTravel

I was lucky to see the Zao tree ice with blue sky and white clouds on this trip I checked the weather forecast several times before departure and finally decided to adjust to the day with the best chance of sunny weather! I have to say that seeing the frost trees requires not only luck but also physical strength😆 Because I didn't book the cable car priority ticket in advance I stood for about three hours that day before I could get on the cable car! (In addition, the ticket sales place is divided into manual and machine, you can buy tickets from both sides~ The manual one only accepts cash and there are very few people queuing) During the second section of the cable car, I saw the beautiful frost trees. Because once you get to the top of the mountain, a blizzard hits and visibility is extremely low I am also glad that I took some photos on the cable car just now🥺 If you want to see the frost trees next year, I suggest you wear warmer socks and clothes, especially when your feet are standing for a long time, they are really cold (the toes feel like they are about to get frostbitten) #Snow scene #Zao tree frost #Zao

I had planned to visit Tohoku to see the Zao Snow Monsters a year ago. I saw some spectacular photos online and was very excited before the trip. Unfortunately, we didn't get to ride the Zao Ropeway, only the Central Ropeway. We still saw the snow monsters, but they weren't as impressive. Luckily, the weather was great that day and there weren't too many people, so we could take lots of photos!

Compared to the nostalgia of #银山温泉, #扎王树冰 is a more worthwhile view. During the two-stage cable car ride, we gradually saw the trees covered with snow, and finally turned into #アイスモンスター ice monsters. The weather on the mountain changes very quickly. The visibility was good when we climbed the mountain that day, but when we reached the top it started snowing and the visibility dropped. I heard from tourists who went there the next day that visibility was poor and they could only take photos at the top of the mountain. Are you also tempted by this journey that completely relies on your luck? 📍Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hbc9Lf31EXqQCZNX6 #Good Places to Go in January 2025

As soon as the winter vacation started, I rushed to Japan. The whole Sendai street was filled with long coats in the style of Winter Sonata. Then, early this morning, before dawn, my brother Geng and I were fully equipped with mountaineering equipment, ready to face the extreme cold of the Zao frost trees. The magical thing is that I didn’t seem to feel cold, but it seemed a little cold. I felt the coldness inside the frost trees was very comfortable. Although I waited in line for more than two hours, I really thought it was worth it. Legend has it that these frost trees are also called tree monsters. There are men, women, and children. Then, the higher we go, the more frost trees there are. The whole process of taking the cable car was not dull at all. I also saw many skiers trying to dodge the frost trees (too strong). I really think it is worth coming... Then there is a Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva on top. The snow is so heavy that only his head and a little bit of his body are left. Today is really fun... I realized what I always wanted to see, the Zao frost trees... And I always felt that the touch of the snow is very similar to the feeling of Chaozhou hot and cold ice.

📍 Miyagi Zao Ice Tree Tour Togatta Onsen, Zao-cho, Karita-gun, Miyagi Prefecture Kuraishi-dake National Forest Ski Slope House 🅿️ Yes ✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲ ▶️ Zao's world-famous "Ice Trees" They are also called ice monsters because the snow on the trees looks like living things. A majestic work of art of nature created by the unique weather conditions of the Zao mountain range😍 ▶️ I wanted to see it with my own eyes, so I joined a snowmobile tour However, unfortunately, there was a heavy snowstorm that day. Even on a day like this, the tour went ahead. ▶️We got off at a few places along the way to take photos, but we couldn't do it because of the snowstorm. We took about 10 minutes to take photos at a place where we could get off. We could only see it up close, but it was nice to see the impressive frost-covered trees. ▶️I'd like to go see them again on a nice day. ●The frost-covered trees are... ①A place where Aomori Todomatsu (Japanese larches) grow naturally ②A place where snow falls moderately ③It must be on the western slope of a mountain ④A winter-type atmospheric pressure arrangement with strong western winds When these four conditions are met, the world's rare natural beauty, "frost-covered trees," is born. #Miyagi #Zao #frost-covered trees #frost-covered trees at Zao #Ice Monster #0 yen trip January 2025

Zao Ice Tree Today we departed from Sendai and first arrived at JR Yamagata Station. Then we took the Yamako Bus to Zao Onsen Station and walked for about 15 minutes to the cable car boarding area (Zao Route 4). When we arrived at the cable car station, the queue had already stretched to the parking lot. We kept going and stopping, and finally got on the cable car after 2 hours. Looking out from the cable car, the snow-capped mountains and numerous icicles standing in groups formed a beautiful scenery; after arriving at the Jizo summit station and walking up the stairs to the outdoor observation deck, the cold and strong wind blew the snow directly in my face. Although my fingers were frozen stiff and I couldn't feel it, the scenery and experience here are definitely worth it! 😍

The most beautiful time for the Zao tree frost is mid-January, but we went there at the end of December. Maybe it was colder this year, so the Zao tree frost was already formed and very beautiful. You don’t have to queue up for the sightseeing car, but it’s really cold at the top of the mountain, so you have to wrap yourself up.

#GlobalTravel If you come to Japan in winter, it is highly recommended to transfer from Tokyo to Yamagata Station in Tohoku, Japan, or Sendai Station, which is famous for its beef tongue, to see the magnificent scenery of nature. Juhyo refers to the strange sight of trees on the mountain covered with thick snow, turning them into giant snow monsters. It really depends on luck to see the Zao ice trees under the blue sky and white clouds. After all, the weather on the snow-capped mountains is unpredictable, and you can only enjoy the scenery when visibility is high. In terms of transportation, there are direct buses from Yamagata Station or Sendai Station to Zao Onsen Station, and then take the cable car to the top of the mountain to see the legendary ice trees up close. You must pay attention to safety when visiting, especially in bad weather, as you can easily slip on the snow if you are not careful. 📍Address: Zangwang

Go to Yamagata must-visit places to see,,,Sashio tree ice,, Yamagata jr station in front of the same day bus tour package,,, note to take the tour up the mountain many people queue,, on weekdays wait more than an hour to take the tour car. . Wear more thick jackets,, the summit has a chance of heavy snowstorms, low temperatures,, watch the evening lights to pay attention to the time, Friday to Sunday will have evening lights

The most famous attraction of Zao in northeastern Japan is taking a cable car to the top of the mountain to see the frozen trees, which are called Juhyo. To see Juhyo, you have to take a cable car up the mountain. From "Zao Route", you have to take two cable cars: "Zao Foot Station" → "Juhyo Plateau Station" → "Zao Summit Station" Whether you can see the frost trees also depends on the weather conditions. When we took the cable car to the top of the mountain, it was a snowstorm and visibility was very poor. It was all white and super cold! The formation of tree frost is mainly due to colder weather and wind, so if the snow conditions are poor in a warm winter, the tree frost will not be so spectacular and obvious. Another indicator is the landmark Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statue on the top of the mountain. By looking at the area covered by heavy snow, you can know the amount of snow that year. There is a mountaintop restaurant where you can have a meal and take a break. Once you’ve warmed up, you can continue playing in the snow outdoors. However, the wind is so strong and cold that you really can’t stay there for too long! ZUAO LOPU 〒990-2301 229-3 Zoou Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture #Japan #Tohoku #Zao #Tree frost #Mountaintop #Cable car #Self-driving #Snow driving #familytravel #Good place for parents and children