This a great ski resort, especially for beginners and sightseeing. There are some advanced hills, but not many so this isn't the place to come for big thrills. The beginner slopes are great for learning though! There's a lot of long, simple runs. Also, a lift ticket isn't much more expensive than a ropeway ticket so if you want to see the snow monsters you might as well go skiing too. Only real complaint is some awkward flat/uphill spots here and there that required me to take off my skis and walk a couple times.

The best ski resort we’ve ever been to in Japan. Superb snow quality that is comparable to Niseko but WAYYYYYYYY less people. Also less touristy than Niseko and Hakuba. 3 hours JR from Tokyo to Yamagata and 40 minutes bus from Yamagata to Zao. The mountain is huge despite all the entrances are relatively close. A lot of courses for all skill levels. No driving is required as everywhere is walkable in this little snow town. Choose an onsen ryokan to stay at, onsen here is legit and helps with the soreness after an entire day of workout. Love the snow monsters at the peak. Don’t think I’ll ever go back to Niseko again. 🤣

Exceptionally beautiful ski/board course. The trees look magical covered in snow. Has several beginner areas. The panoramic route through the snow monsters is amazing. Although there are a lot of flat areas in between. Free shuttle Buses run between the gondolas till evening. Gondolas stop operating a bit early so plan otherwise. You can take a gondola to the top with a separate ticket as well. Illumination was cancelled the night i went due to bad weather.

Really lovely ski resort. If you want to get up to the top quicker and you’re skiing, take smaller lifts as high as you can get and then take the big gondola that goes all the way to the top. (It’s worth the wait) It’s a tourist destination as well due to the frozen jizo statue and the snow monsters, so lots of people crowd the big gondolas 🚡 which can be frustrating if you are going to ski. More tourist destination than ski hill (which is good and bad in some ways) I think that this is a great place to go ski once or so for the experience, but it’s definitely not the place if you want to get as many runs as possible in. Snow quality is pretty good but the main draw is definitely the views!

Offers many courses (routes) for all levels! Spent 4 days here (first time) learning snowboarding and it was simply amazing. Came in 19 Jan to 23 Jan (2023); with 2 out 4 days encountering bluebird snow. Many different types of slopes (green, red and blacks). Very wide slopes on most greens (no. 5 - uwantodai) and (no. 20 slope) were our favourite at the start to learning. After successfully learning toe and heel; the ohira course was the next best; with little flats and mostly green, and a few reds. Fell in love with the scenery and views all over the mountain while learning snowboarding. Simply amazing place (especially so for beginners).

Skiing / snowboarding conditions were sublime in late February – we did not know such excellent snow existed. The slopes were not at all crowded on a week-day and the food at the bottom of the lifts is excellent, as are rental facilities at the bottom of lift 4. The weather was tough on both days though – with chilly winds and in places poor visibility. Snow monsters were partially visible. The town has several public bath options in case you don’t have one in your hotel. The road clearing in town was good despite heavy snowfall.

Zao Onsen is no doubt one of the best ski resorts that I have been too in Japan! We came here in January and the “snow monsters” were formed. Let aside the long waiting line to get on the cable car to the top, everything else was great. On sunny day, the view from the top is magnificent and you can go 8km straight down the hill following 樹氷原コース!

I went end of March and the weather was perfect! but the snow was a little bit harder this time of year. Getting around the mountain is very easy with the Sky Lift cable cart systems and variety of slopes to go down. It's very tourist friendly and getting to the mountain was very easy by bus from Yamagata station. Cost about 1000yen for a round trip on the coach bus.

Zaō Onsen is a famous hot spring area on Mount Zaō in the northern part of Honshū, the main island of Japan. Records of the onsen date back as far as 110 AD. A wounded warrior is said to have drawn an arrow out of his body and cleaned the wound at a spring only to find that the injury healed miraculously quickly and well. It is known locally as "Springs of Beauty."

A beautiful little town and so affordable. My new favorite winter getaway in Japan.

My first snowboarding experience! Never did i see soo much snow in my life. Started off with green slopes (and stayed there lol) but did take the ropeway to see the snow monsters. An absolutely surrealistic experience. It’s too beautiful to express in words. A mus visit place. Took a bus from Yamagata - Zao onsen and it cost around ¥1000. Paid ¥3000 for a roundtrip ropeway (first day) ¥3200 ski lift (second day). Rental snowboard, shoes, etc ¥2200 (the shop next to lawson)

16 Feb 2024 - Long ride to the top of the mountain only to see "stick monsters" so it is very disappointing. However, the strong wind at the top of the mountain is an interesting experience.

Good for skiing with lots of slopes and good quality of snow. As there are many flat places between slopes compared to the other ski resorts in Japan, it might not be suitable for snow boarding. Be careful for one of the cable cars as it has been occupied by normal tourists and need to wait for long time to go up for skiing. Unfortunately the snow monsters around the top of the mountain had been collapsed due to strong wind when I went there. Good luck.

One of my favorite ski resorts in Japan. So many slopes to choose from and great tree runs for starters. Although we missed the many snow monsters since it has wilted into snow skeletons, it was still great experience. I hope to come back again next season with fresh powder. The town was amazing as well with lots of great local people.

Zao Monsters viewing: - very weather specific! - if raining or not cold enough or too windy the access to the summit where the zao monsters are at will be closed. - didn’t get to see it during my trip - the rope-way access to the summit took 50 mins to the first stop and 1.5 hours at the mid point to the summit. - the cables were frozen over and the ropeway was delayed. - the timing reflected on the signs weren’t accurate. - hard to see as we were catching a Shinkansen back to Tokyo. - the timing of the bus to Yamagata feels out of sync from the Shinkansen - this results in long waiting times in between and you having to leave zao 2 hours earlier than your shinkansen training timing. - planning certainly required and also a longer stay. - the resort town is otherwise quiet with nothing much else for non-skiers. - the slopes and power snow looks great for skiers/snowboarding!

The most attractive ski resorts in the Tohoku district! famous for ‘snow monster’/Dec 2021

It’s really nice place to do snowboarding. Even you don’t like to do snow sports, there is a incredible view of juhyo which means snow monster. But please be carful the weather, it could terrible bad. The robway to the top might be stopped.

This is gem for skiing and snowboarding lovers . It is huge, suitable for all levels. Snow quality is as good as in Niseko. The town is bit quiet, but with lots of nice onsens. Try to choose hotels with food plans, there are some restaurants in the onsen area, but not so many. No night life for sure😅.

Super large!! There was a kind ojisan who taught skiing my sister fell down again and again😚

Beautiful Big ski resort with lots of slope, it’s quiet even for a weekend when we were there. I felt a bit sad for this place as it has so much potential. We appreciate the quietness but may not be good for businesses there. I wonder where are all the Aussie, why are they not coming here? The lifts are old and slow but it’s still serve us well, we took our time to enjoy this place.

Great range of slopes and plenty of ski hire and instructors around for beginners