Visited last week. It was a nice weather with a little snow storm around noon. Overall: nice view, awesome experience. It's my first time snowboarding and I don't have anyone to teach me so I spent my time watching and observing others. Twas fun.
Sprawling, yet well organized ski resort that has legitimately some of the most beautiful views from atop. The variety of courses allows people of all skill levels to enjoy their time, and everything is pretty accessible and fairly priced.
The only drawback I experienced was the rental shops on-site and nearby all being sold out, so probably make reservations in advance if you need rental gear.
Zao Onsen Ski Resort is a great choice for first-time skiers. The slopes are wide and manageable, making it easy to learn and feel confident on the snow. The scenery is beautiful, especially the famous snow monsters, which make the experience extra special.
After skiing, relaxing in the onsen hot springs nearby is perfect for warming up and easing tired muscles. The atmosphere is calm and welcoming, not too crowded or overwhelming for beginners.
I am skiing for 50 years now. Have been to hundreds of places all over the world (mainly Alps, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France). But i have to admit, what i experienced those 10 days in Zao Onsen beats everything i know by a million miles.
Why is that? Well, it is a combination of:
1. Snow quality/quantity:
your are safe all season long. it always snows here. And the air is very dry. So the snow is pure powder. Conditions of the slopes are either perfectly prepared or powdery soft. No matter if you are all the way down or up the mountain.
2. Waiting times at the lifts:
Its safe to say, 95% of the time i have not waited one second on any lift. It does not matter if its a weekday or weekend. It was always empty. The only thing you should never use are the gondolas. they are for pedestrians and tourists who want to go to the peak and take selfies with the snow monsters (which in 95% of the time they wont see due to heavy fog and snow.)
3. Quantity and quality of slopes:
There are so many slopes to discover. You can ski up, down, left, right. 4 or 5 different valleys. All are connected. You find all kinds of slopes. perfect for everyone: easy, intermediate, pro or off course in the deep snow. You will not get bored in 10 days.
4. The MAGIC:
No other place on earth i have visited to far (and i have seen a lot) has this kind of magic when the sun comes out and the snow monsters present themselves all around you. It is just impossible to put this into words. Its magic magic magic.
The only down side is the weather if you are blue sky and sun skier. The ski instructors say: every season there are approx. 10 perfect days. The rest is cloudy or snowy. But still good to ski.
We stayed 10 days and we had 1 perfect day and 9 days with clouds and some days with snow. But again,..... it guarantees you perfect snow conditions all season long.
5. Pricing:
i was shocked to see prices far below Europe and nearly nothing compared to prices in over-crowded places like Hokkaido.
We paid for a 10 day pass for all slopes 300 euro per person. They also have special kids days where your kid can ski all day for 7 euro. Unbeatable.
6. Accessibility:
We arrived by airplane in Tokyo, took the Shinkansen train directly to Yamagata and got picked up at the train station from the hotel bus. Easy, fast and fun. (plan 5-6 hours for that ).
VERDICT:
A MUST FOR EVERY BUCKET LIST
ZAO ONSEN IS PURE MAGIC !
visited Zao Onsen Ski Resort and went all the way up to the top – it was freezing, but absolutely worth it. The wind was cold, snow all around, and everything was covered in a soft white mist that made the whole place feel almost magical. Even though I couldn’t stay outside for too long, the views and atmosphere were beautiful and unforgettable. If you don’t mind the cold, it’s definitely a spot you should experience at least once.
