Paws Up For Snow Monsters

“What do you want? Cause you’ve been keeping me awake. Are you here to distract me, so I make a big mistake?” In search of the fifth element in the Enchanted Forest, Elsa sang “Into the Unknown” to become braver. “Are you out there? Can you show me?” In this case, should the visitors follow suit during the encounter of snow monsters in the uninterrupted Mount Zao? 

With a combination of Siberian winds and heavy snowfall, the juhyo (樹氷) was created between December and February annually. The accumulation of frost on these fir trees takes on fantastical shapes, like an army of giant and gnarly snow beasts prowling the mountain. What does not kill you makes you stronger. The monsters actually attract loads of tourists from around the world.

Taking the Zao Ropeway (蔵王ロープウェイ) offers you the panorama view of the Mount Zao. It takes around 20 minutes: 7 minutes from Zao Sanroku Station (地蔵山麓駅) to Juhyo-Kogen Station (樹氷高原駅); and 10 minutes from the latter one to the the Jizo Sancho Station (地蔵山頂駅). During the Zao Juhyo Festival, the light-up event turns the beasts even more mysterious.

Straddling the border of Yamagata Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture, Mount Zao is currently one of the premier winter sports areas in Northern Japan. Home to 24 varied runs, the Zao Onsen Ski Resort welcomes skiers and snowboarders of all levels. In order not to encounter the beasts, some skiers glide down the slopes carrying torches as they slalom between the snow monsters.

Zao Onsen (蔵王温泉) is another contributing factors makes the mountain so distinctive. This stratovolcano range has not erupted since 1940, yet the millennia of volcanic activity has given Zao a collection of onsen. Not only can the skier and snowboarders soothe aching muscles in the hot spring resort, the public bathhouse is also an affordable option with highly acidic water.

Hidden Gems: Ginzan Onsen (銀山溫泉), Yamagata

As a former silver mine under the direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the 15th century, the site transformed from the “Nobesawa Ginzan” to the “Ginzan Onsen” when hot springs were discovered. Blanketed in white snow and illuminated by the soft glow of gaslights, the traditional inns left the visitors a long-lasting impression which resembles the animation Spirited Away.

Hidden Gems: Bunshokan (文辦館), Yamagata

Started from the Meiji period, the feudal system was replaced by the prefecture systems (廃藩置県), resulting in a new centralized government. As the Yamagata Prefecture established in 1876, the minister Mishima Michitsune ordered the construction of Bunshokan as a prefectural government building. This English neo-Renaissance architecture was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.