A Gorgeous Traditional Japanese Village
About less than an hour away from the capital of Yamagata Prefecture by bus, Zao Onsen is a ski resort and hot spring town with a long history. While the most popular season to come visit is undoubtedly in the winter to take full advantage of the quality of snow, there’s still so many things to do and see regardless of the season.
Once you’ve tired yourself out, wind down in one of the many onsen (hot springs) that give the town its name. Supposedly discovered in 110 A.D., Zao’s hot springs are the oldest in the Tohoku region. There are three public bathhouses and each hotel has its own fully fitted onsen too. However, it’s the three open-air onsen you should make time for. Sitting in a hot bath while looking out into the forest at any time of the year is an unforgettable experience. The Dai Rotenburo (Big Outdoor Spring) sits deep in a mountain ravine. With views that overlook the surrounding snow-coated mountains and forests, it makes stripping off in front of strangers totally worth it. Plus, this particular onsen is one of our Top 30 Tattoo-friendly onsen in Japan.
Winter attractions include the Zao Onsen Ski Resort and the legendary hoar frosts known as Snow Monsters. Visitors can take a cable car to enjoy views of the hoar frosts from the top of the ski area in February. The area is illuminated at night when the view of sparkling hoar frosts is particularly wonderful. Enjoy an active day out in the snow, marvel at the illuminated hoar frosts in the evening and cap the night off with a relaxing hot spring bath at Zao Onsen.
If you miss the winter season, Zao Onsen is a hiker’s paradise during the rest of the year. Mountain guides can be hired to show you around or simply choose one of its many courses and explore by yourself. Most routes lead to the enormous Okama crater, or the Five Color Lake, in the middle of volcanic Mount Zao. Take the Zao Echo Line trail to Kattadake, from where you can get a view of the crater from a picture-perfect distance. Zao is a magical place, filled with natural elegance no matter the season.
Once you’ve tired yourself out, wind down in one of the many onsen (hot springs) that give the town its name. Supposedly discovered in 110 A.D., Zao’s hot springs are the oldest in the Tohoku region. There are three public bathhouses and each hotel has its own fully fitted onsen too. However, it’s the three open-air onsen you should make time for. Sitting in a hot bath while looking out into the forest at any time of the year is an unforgettable experience. The Dai Rotenburo (Big Outdoor Spring) sits deep in a mountain ravine. With views that overlook the surrounding snow-coated mountains and forests, it makes stripping off in front of strangers totally worth it. Plus, this particular onsen is one of our Top 30 Tattoo-friendly onsen in Japan.
Winter attractions include the Zao Onsen Ski Resort and the legendary hoar frosts known as Snow Monsters. Visitors can take a cable car to enjoy views of the hoar frosts from the top of the ski area in February. The area is illuminated at night when the view of sparkling hoar frosts is particularly wonderful. Enjoy an active day out in the snow, marvel at the illuminated hoar frosts in the evening and cap the night off with a relaxing hot spring bath at Zao Onsen.
If you miss the winter season, Zao Onsen is a hiker’s paradise during the rest of the year. Mountain guides can be hired to show you around or simply choose one of its many courses and explore by yourself. Most routes lead to the enormous Okama crater, or the Five Color Lake, in the middle of volcanic Mount Zao. Take the Zao Echo Line trail to Kattadake, from where you can get a view of the crater from a picture-perfect distance. Zao is a magical place, filled with natural elegance no matter the season.
