Verified [Verified] denotes information that has been published with confirmation of its owing parties.
The "Snow Monster," as it is also called, is a spectacular sight unlike any other in the world.
Zao in Yamagata Prefecture is one of the largest mountain resorts in the Tohoku region.
In winter, Zao is a mecca for winter sports, and many tourists come to enjoy the "juhyo," or tree ice formed by snow and ice on the trees.
Juhyō is formed when ice and snow repeatedly land on the leaves and branches of the Aomori Todomatsu (Abies mariesii) trees that live nearby.
It is a rare sight that can be seen only in some mountain areas of the O-u Mountains, as it forms only when special conditions such as temperature, wind direction, and snowfall are met. They are called "snow monsters" because of their beautiful yet monstrous appearance.
The best time to view the rime is usually from late December to early March, with the peak season from late January to mid-February.
The best viewing spot is the juhyo field that stretches from the midsection of the Zao Ropeway to the Jizo Sancho Station.
If you take the ropeway, you can enjoy an aerial view of the juhyo field below.
Near the Jizo Sancho station, visitors can experience the powerful scene up close. There is also the summit terrace where you can enjoy a 360° panoramic view and a restaurant where you can enjoy the view indoors. Visitors can also enjoy the unique experience of skiing or snowboarding alongside the juhyo. Check out the limited-time-only illumination events.
Zao Ropeway has been recognized as a "Lovers' Sanctuary," and Zao Onsen, a natural hot spring with free-flowing spring water, so take your time to enjoy sightseeing in Zao in winter.
A rare landscape in the world
Juhyo, also known as the "Snow Monster."
The view from the ropeway is breathtaking.
You can even see them up close.
Light-up events are held
Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.
Q
Are there services in foreign languages? (If so, please provide the supported languages.)
No, but tablet-based assistance is available.
Q
Is it possible to re-enter the premises?
Re-entry is not allowed.
Q
Is free WiFi available in the facility?
Limited availability in certain areas.
Q
Are coin lockers available?
Yes, they are located on the first floor of the Sanroku station.
Some reviews are AI-translated.
This is one of the places I recommend visiting at least once in your lifetime!
At first, I had only seen photos online and wasn't that interested in Zao's juhyo, but after seeing them in person, I was completely amazed by nature's incredible handiwork.
While doing research before the trip, I read online that juhyo form when winter snow and ice freeze onto trees and continue to accumulate, eventually transforming conifer forests high in the mountains into a fantastical landscape resembling snow monsters. Such a spectacular sight requires very unique climatic and natural conditions, so there are actually very few places in the world where juhyo can be seen. Luckily, Japan, which is very close to Taiwan, happens to have one. Before I left, everyone who had been there told me, “Make sure to dress warmly! Otherwise, your fingers and toes might just fall off along the way.”
(In the end, my fingers and toes didn't fall off, but one of my eyeglass lenses did. Fortunately, a kind woman helped me find it. I'm not sure if it was because of the cold, but it was very difficult to get the lens back into the frame. Once we got down the mountain, though, it wasn't a problem. If you wear glasses, I suggest switching to contacts to reduce fogging and the risk of losing your glasses.)
We went in February, right when the juhyo are at their most spectacular (though if you're unlucky enough to encounter a blizzard, visibility will be much lower). Fortunately, the blizzard we encountered wasn't too severe. Although it was unbelievably cold, we could still clearly see the snow monsters before us.
You really need to dress warmly! A waterproof jacket and snow boots are essential, and I also strongly recommend waterproof gloves. I even put foot warmers under my feet.)
Before leaving, we booked the ropeway and the nighttime snowcat tour, “Juhyo Fantasy Corridor.” I highly, highly recommend this tour! The snowcat was a little crowded, and the ride was quite bumpy, but the scenery along the way was so fantastical that it's hard to describe. Every snow monster had a completely different shape. As I looked at them, I thought—the snow monsters are just like us: every person is a one-of-a-kind presence in this world.
The snowcat takes everyone to a designated spot (I'm not sure if it's where the lighting looks best, but I thought it was the most beautiful), and then you get off and have about ten minutes of free time (maybe they don't let you stay out long because they're afraid everyone will freeze to death), allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the dreamlike snowy scenery. If you're not afraid of the cold, you can also try rolling around in the snow. The snow is icy cold and feels soft and fluffy, and because the temperature is so low, it doesn't melt easily. Even after rolling around in it, your clothes are still dry when you get up!
This trip to see the Zao juhyo completely changed my original impression that they “looked just okay in photos.” Some scenery really has to be seen with your own eyes before you can understand just how incredible nature can be.
The Zao rime ice was so beautiful, it felt like stepping into a kingdom of snow and ice! We were super lucky this time and caught a clear blue sky. The whole stretch of frost-covered trees sparkled in the sunlight, and every view looked like a postcard.
I heard that not long after we went back down, the weather turned into a blizzard and the ropeway was affected too. We were so close to not making it up the mountain. Our luck was seriously off the charts!
If you have the chance to visit Japan in winter, definitely add the Zao rime ice to your itinerary. Seeing it in person makes you want to keep pressing the shutter nonstop. Totally worth it.
Finally made it up to Zao to see the snow monsters. Honestly, this was a totally spontaneous trip—didn’t overthink it at all. Just picked a date and went.
There wasn’t a single moment where I doubted the plan. Every day we took it at a steady pace and trekked deep into the snow. I’ve traveled to Japan well over 100 times, but this time I was freezing from day one all the way to the last day. Soaking in an onsen every night though… what more could you ask for?
The weather up on Zao was unbelievably good, and I was beyond excited the whole way—like a country bumpkin seeing everything for the first time. Gotta say, I dressed smart and stayed perfectly comfortable. Would I go up again? Yes!
The second I took my gloves off, I regretted it within 3 seconds. But I still had to get photos—there’s no way you can see scenery like this in Taiwan. You’ve gotta come at least once in your life.
Seeing it in person is seriously mind-blowing—way more impressive than the photos. Just a massive stretch of pure white, like you’re on an ice-and-snow planet.
