Zao Onsen is a gorgeous traditional Japanese village located in the north of Honshu, the main island of Japan. Zao is an onsen resort, meaning there are natural hot springs running through the village, including public bathhouses and in-house onsens. The ski resort is large, with a selection of runs for all abilities however the on-piste terrain is predominately for beginners to intermediate skiers and snowboarders. One of the unique attractions of Zao is the famous “Snow Monsters” that form on the trees during the winter, they’re a must see! Zao can be easily accessed on the Shinkansen from Tokyo and then a bus to the resort. The town also features a variety of restaurants to settle your appetite after a day on the slopes, however nightlife is limited like a lot of traditional resorts. For more information on Zao Onsen click here.
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Zao Onsen Accommodation
Zao Onsen offers beautiful and traditional Japanese accommodation options. Check out our top recommendations here. -
Zao Onsen
things to do
If you want to take a rest day while in Zao Onsen here are some ideas to keep you busy. -
How to get to
Zao Onsen
You have a few different options for getting to Zao Onsen from Tokyo and other cities. Check out which option is best for you. -
Zao Onsen Trail Maps
Find out what the resort of Zao Onsen has to offer with our resort guide and trail map.
Featured Zao Onsen Articles
Tohoku – Exploring Honshu’s Northern Region
Drew Jolowizc deep in the trees at Ani, one of the Tohoku’s powder-filled resorts. Photo: Dylan Robinson Sponsored content Mountainwatch | Jimmy Williams Tohoku is the northern most region of Japan’s main island, Honshu, con [...]
2023-2024 Japanese Snow Season Outlook – Grasshopper’s December Update
Bluebird pow day in Niseko last winter. Will we see similar days this season? Photo: Niseko United Mountainwatch | The Grasshopper The past month has been an unsettled one in Japan, where an anomalous southwest flow has brought [...]
Mountainwatch Guide to Myoko – Japan’s Powder Capital and Second Stop on The Golden Snowmads Tour
Myoko is regarded as the powder capital of Japan for good reason – 15 metres average annual snowfall means there are a lot days like this. Photo: Grant Gunderson Mountainwatch | Joe Stanco After visiting Minakami and Tenjinda [...]
First Snow Has Fallen and Resorts are Open!
As the mountains across the Northern Hemisphere are starting to disappear under a blanket of snow, ski enthusiasts around the world are starting to dust off their gear, in preparation for those first powder turns! In Japan, Niseko [...]
2023-2024 Japanese Snow Season Outlook – Grasshopper’s November Update
Niseko and Mt Yotei after this week’s snowfalls cleared. Photo: 360niseko Mountainwatch | The Grasshopper First North America, then Europe, and now Japan is on the map after the first proper snowstorm of the season came through [...]
2023-2024 Japanese Snow Season Outlook – What We Can Expect in an El Nino Year
Drew Jolowicz finding deep powder at Appi Kogen, northern Honshu, in Feb 2020 a season that experienced a moderate to strong El Niño. Photo: Dylan Robinson Mountainwatch | The Grasshopper Here we go folks, another Japanese snow [...]
