Zao Onsen's snow monsters—known as juhyo—form when supercooled moisture from the crater lake freezes onto Aomori fir trees, encasing them in thick armour of ice and snow. The resulting otherworldly sculptures can reach several metres in height and stretch across the upper slopes of Mt. Zao. Evening illumination events, typically held on selected weekends in late January and February, bathe the pale monoliths in coloured spotlights, turning the mountainside into a surreal outdoor gallery. Visitors reach the illuminated zone via the Zao Ropeway and can combine the experience with a soak in the milky-green onsen below.
- Type
- Experience
- Category
- Snow/Winter
- Season
- Winter
- Month
- Late January – February
- Region
- Tohoku
- Prefecture
- Yamagata
- City
- Zao Onsen
Highlights
- ◆Iconic ice-encrusted fir trees unique to Zao's volcanic microclimate
- ◆Dramatic coloured illuminations on selected winter evenings
- ◆Access via Zao Ropeway with panoramic night views
- ◆Combine with Zao Onsen's famous sulphuric hot springs
- ◆Best viewing late January through late February