Zao Onsen Ski Resort

Note: The owner or a representative of this business has not yet completed the verification process

4.4

( 8 reviews )

Hotels, Bus Rental

Closed 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM See Hours

Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan +81 2369-496-17

Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort is a renowned brand in the world of winter sports and leisure. Nestled in the picturesque mountains of Yamagata, Japan, the resort offers an unforgettable skiing experience for enthusiasts of all skill levels. With its well-groomed slopes and breathtaking alpine scenery, Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort attracts visitors from around the globe who seek to immerse themselves in the thrill and beauty of the winter wonderland. Adventurers can indulge in various snow activities, from skiing and snowboarding to snowshoeing and sledding. The resort boasts a wide array of amenities, including state-of-the-art ski lifts and equipment rentals, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for all guests. After a day on the slopes, visitors can relax and rejuvenate at the resort's traditional hot springs, renowned for their therapeutic properties. Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort prides itself on its commitment to providing exceptional service and creating lasting memories for its guests. Whether you are a seasoned skier or a first-time visitor, this distinguished brand promises an unparalleled winter vacation filled with excitement, adventure, and tranquility.

Amenities and More

Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Amenities
- Toilets
- Restaurant
Children
- Good for kids

Reviews

4.4/5

8 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Nerys chirino

March 22, 2024

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.

Carla nicole

March 22, 2024

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. 🤣

Kbjk

March 22, 2024

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.

Sweet november

March 22, 2024

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.

Allen deng

March 22, 2024

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).

Dennis murray

March 22, 2024

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

Brandon garcía

March 22, 2024

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!

Crystalzback

March 22, 2024

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!