Zao Snow Monsters 2015

Warm winter fails to resist the monsters' winter parade

Justin Velgus Feb 27, 2016 - 2 min read

Some travelers use snow shoes to move around

Going up the cramped lift, hungry monsters eye passengers from below

At the summit, the strange shapes are all around

Zao ski resort offers fun runs with some wide slopes

A Jizo statue buried up to its chest in the snowfall. Return during summer to see it in full

Posing for pictures at the top of the mountain

Snow monsters are right along the ski course

The ski course down is clearly marked by yellow numbered signs. Or just follow the ski lif cables down

In the belly of the beast. I found a snow monster that was hollow inside

Light and dark changes every minute as clouds, wind, and cold rule the very top of the mountain

Great views, even without the snow monsters

Each and every winter a rare weather phenomenon creates the perfect conditions for ice and snow covered trees on the Yamagata Prefecture side of Mt. Zao. The unwordly towering shapes are known as the legendary "snow monsters", or occassionally "ice monsters". 2015 is an unusally warm winter, but the massive ski resort with 15 different slopes and 12 courses is still going strong despite locals claiming half the amount of snowfall compared to last year. Snow monsters can be usually viewed from late December to the beginning of March. These pictures are from mid-February on a warm winter.

Visitors wishing to see the snow monsters may take a series of two lifts to the top of the mountain. Return is either by lift, ski or snowboard! Riding through the mosters' lair is a popular activitiy for both locals and tourists. An illumination event and night cruiser snow truck are also special ways to enjoy the magic. There are many restaurants, hotels, and hot springs in the area. More information on the official website here.

A trip to the snow monsters is an unforgettable experience well worth a special trip to the area for locals and overseas visitors alike.

More info

Find out more about Zao Onsen Ski Resort.

Justin Velgus @justin.velgus

Justin Velgus (ジャスティンベルガス) is the Miyagi Prefecture expert for Japan Travel and a long-term contributor since 2012 with a focus on the Tohoku region. Justin has written extensively for JT, and other publications such as VisitMiyagi and Sake Today, amassing over 350 published articles...