
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 doIf you want to take a rest day while in Zao Onsen here are some ideas to keep you busy. -
How to get to
Zao OnsenYou 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
Record-breaking Snowfall Covers Northern Japan
Yet another snowfall record to add to this season! A few inches of snow can bring cities to a standstill, imagine what happens when more than 4 feet of snow falls in just 12 hours! That’s exactly what hit Obihiro, a city on the [...]
Grasshopper’s Japan 2024-2025 Snow Season Outlook, Mid-Season Update
Mountainwatch | The Grasshopper After a record-breaking December with some spots breaking 68-year-old records and some very deep days in Japan we now find ourselves at the end of January. The past 10 days have been relatively dr [...]
Once-in-20-Years Snowfall Sets the Stage for Niseko’s 2025 Season
Niseko’s Just Getting Started! As we gear up to welcome 2025, Niseko is already celebrating with one of its best early-season snow starts in years! By December 17th, the area had recorded an incredible 142cm of snow—its [...]
Hakuba Snowfall at a 10-Year High, Christmas Storm to Bring Even More Snow!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… …for shredders across Japan, as ski resorts nationwide are off to an absolute flyer! While Niseko continues to make headlines with their heaviest snowfall in decades, Honshuâ [...]
La Niña Serves Up Early, Plentiful Fresh Powder To Japan!
La Niña is already delivering the goods with colder temperatures and consistent snowfall – the taps are on full blast with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. As we head into the season, the numbers are already looking [...]
Grasshopper’s 2024-2025 Japan Snow Season Outlook – Potential La Niña Could Deliver the Goods
Drew Jolowizc, deep turns in the Nozawa during the La Nina winter in January 2023. Photo; Dylan Robinson Mountainwatch | The Grasshopper With the Australian snow season not as memorable as we might’ve hoped we now turn our gaz [...]