Zao Onsen
Ski resort · Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Zao Onsen is a ski resort in Yamagata Prefecture (Japan) with 39 km of runs and 35 lifts. You can ski between 791 m and 1,665 m above sea level: a vertical drop of 874 m. Its longest run is 太平コース (1.8 km) and the steepest, セーラーコース, Sailor Course, reaches 69% on its toughest stretch.
See Zao Onsen on the 3D map and snow forecast- Runs
- 39 km
- Lifts
- 35
- Elevation
- 791–1,665 m
- Vertical drop
- 874 m
Kilometres of runs by colour
- Green16 km
- Blue14 km
- Red7.1 km
- Black2.4 km
The steepest runs at Zao Onsen
Maximum slope: the steepest 50 m stretch of each run, measured by Cota.
- セーラーコース, Sailor Course Black69% · 35°
- 横倉の壁38° Black65% · 33°
- * Green52% · 27°
- ハーネンカムCコース Blue50% · 27°
- 連絡コース Green49% · 26°
The longest runs
- 太平コース Green1.8 km
- 黒姫スーパージャイアントコース Red1.2 km
- * Green1.0 km
- ザンゲ坂・樹氷原コース Red1.0 km
- 連絡コース Green1.0 km
Lifts
31 chairlifts · 2 gondolas · 2 cable cars.
When to go to Zao Onsen
For snow, February: that is usually when there is the most snow on the ground. The month with the most snowfall is January.
| Month | Snowfall | Snow on the ground |
|---|---|---|
| November | ||
| December | ||
| January | ||
| February | ||
| March | ||
| April |
1995–2024 average from ERA5-Land (Copernicus), a 9 km model, at 850 m (the resort's mean elevation is 1,228 m). The bars compare months with each other: a model's centimetres are not the resort's centimetres.
Official links
Resorts near Zao Onsen
- Miyagi Zao Sumikawasu Snow Park8 km · 8.6 km of runs
- Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort10 km · 13 km of runs
- Miyagi Zao Shiroishi14 km · 5.5 km of runs
- Kurobushi Kogen Snow Park Jangle Jungle33 km · 7.7 km of runs
- Spring Valley Izumi Kogen39 km · 6.3 km of runs
- Tengendai Kogen50 km · 7.3 km of runs
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Zao Onsen?
- In Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. The nearest resort is Miyagi Zao Sumikawasu Snow Park, 8 km away as the crow flies.
- How many kilometres of runs does Zao Onsen have?
- 39 km: 16 km of green runs, 14 km of blue runs, 7.1 km of red runs, 2.4 km of black runs.
- What is the elevation of Zao Onsen?
- You can ski between 791 m and 1,665 m: a vertical drop of 874 m.
- How many lifts does Zao Onsen have?
- 35: 31 chairlifts, 2 gondolas, 2 cable cars.
- What is the steepest run at Zao Onsen?
- セーラーコース, Sailor Course (black), at 69% (35°) on its toughest 50 m stretch, according to Cota's measurements.
- What is the best month to ski at Zao Onsen?
- For snow, February: that is usually when there is the most snow on the ground. The month with the most snowfall is January. Based on the 1995–2024 average from ERA5-Land (Copernicus).
- How much snow is there today at Zao Onsen?
- On Cota you can see the snow that fell in the last 7 days and the forecast for the next 7, and on the map, the hour-by-hour forecast at three elevations.