Ryokan in Zao Onsen
蔵王温泉A hot-spring town on the Yamagata side of Mount Zao, with some of the most acidic water in Japan and one of the country's biggest ski resorts above it. From Tokyo it is about 2.5 hours by Yamagata Shinkansen to Yamagata, then 40 minutes by bus.
Zao Onsen through the year
Spring春
March to May
From late May into early July the pensions of the Zao highlands open their flower gardens to visitors.
Summer夏
June to August
When the snow has gone, walkers come for the Okama, a crater lake near the summit.
Autumn秋
September to November
The leaves start to turn in late September and are usually at their best in early October.
Winter冬
December to March
From late January to late February frost and snow build up on the fir trees into the 'snow monsters' (juhyo) of the ski slopes.
The ryokan
Listed stays
20 approved listings · 20 total in Zao Onsen
Photo credits
Miltos Gikas, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr; f_a_r_e_w_e_l_l, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr; 三沢 克年, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr; nekotank, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr