Mount Zao and the Zao hot springs ski resort

When traveling in the Yamagata prefecture make sure you don`t miss mount Zao and it`s famous hot spring and ski resort. Located at the foot of Yamagata's Mt. Zao, the Zao Hot Spring was found 1900 years ago and is considered as one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts.

Said to have been discovered in 110 AD, the Zao Hot Springs are famous as the oldest of the three great hot springs of Japan’s Northeastern Tohoku region. This hot spring is known for its high acidity, and it is called both “The Princess Hot Spring” and “The Fountain of Beauty” due to its reputation for healing both skin conditions and gastrointestinal disorders. The Zao Hot Springs Resort area is lined with hot spring bathhouses that have been bustling for centuries and rustic traditional Japanese inns (ryokan) filled with fellow travelers. This atmospheric locale is the perfect place to take a stroll while shopping for souvenirs and gifts for your friends.

The famous Zao Open Air Hot Spring (rottenburo) is just a short distance away from the Hot Springs Resort area. There, you can enjoy the liberating sensation of open air bathing surrounded by the beauty of nature. This Open Air Hot Spring is popular with tourists and locals alike!

Of course this is the ideal place to come to during the winter season. Imagine hopping into one of these amazing hotsprings after bombing down the ski hill.


Zao Hot Springs Ski Resort


The diverse array of courses at the Zao Hot Springs Ski Resort can be enjoyed by anyone, from beginners to experts, making it a great vacation spot for the whole family. Mt. Zao is well known for its high quality snow, which draws droves of excited skiers year after year.
The breathtaking natural wonder of ice monsters standing against a backdrop of pale white snow is a symbol of Mt. Zao. This phenomenon, seen in the photo below, is the result of Maries’ Fir trees that become covered in fine snow and ice until they appear to become ice monsters. It is a natural work of art that is made possible by Yamagata’s unique winter climate. Skiing between these ice monsters in the afternoon followed by an evening viewing a dreamlike landscape of beautifully lit ice monsters is a sublime experience exclusive to Mt. Zao.

The skiing and hot springs areas are located in such close proximity to each other that you can ski or snow board down the slopes and end up right in the middle of the Zao Hot Springs Resort. When you’re worn out after a day of fun in the snow, take a relaxing soak in a hot spring followed by a delicious meal, and let all your worries fade away. In recent years, the number of skiers and snow boarders from outside Japan has been increasing, and there are multilingual signs and maps throughout this ski resort.

This is definitely a great place for any snow boarders or skiers but for those who can`t can enjoy the amazing scenery and breath taking hot springs. Also make sure to see the Zao Okama Crater Lake.

This natural lake formed in the crater of a volcano is the symbol of Mt. Zao. It is 27 meters deep and 1,000 meters in perimeter, and it is sometimes called the Five Color Lake due to the way its water changes colors from day to day. There are a number of mountaineering routes from the foot of the mountain to the crater, which are active with excited trekkers enjoying the journey up Mt. Zao in the spring and summer. This area is also known for the growth of the incredibly rare Japanese Bleeding Heart, a flower that only grows in extremely high altitudes.

I truly hope you all get the chance to visit Zao mountain in Yamagata, while traveling through the Tohoku region of Japan. From skiing or boarding to some of the best hot springs Japan has to offer, make sure to make this part of your Tohoku trip.