Guide to ski resorts in Yamagata, Japan’s snowiest prefecture

In the heart of Japan’s Yukiguni region, Yamagata Prefecture is famous for the onslaught of snow it endures each winter. In the world’s snowiest country, Yamagata is Japan’s snowiest prefecture, which can present all kinds of challenges for locals. For skiers, on the other hand, the unique geography of Yamagata is responsible for some of the best powder skiing in the country.

Zao Onsen Ski Resort

Zao Onsen, famous for its “snow monsters”, is one of Japan’s premier ski (and onsen) destinations. A true heavyweight, it ranks as Yamagata’s biggest and most popular resort thanks to its size (50 km of marked trails), elevation (780 – 1661 m) and infrastructure (38 lifts).

Zao is particularly well suited to intermediate skiers; however, it’s big enough that all levels and abilities are catered for. The resort features plenty of long, mellow reds including the Juhyogen Course, which, at 10 km in length, qualifies as one of Japan’s longest ski runs. This particular run begins at 1661 m, passing through Zao’s famous ski monster area before winding up at Zao Onsen Village.

Skiers will no doubt appreciate the mass quantities of snow that Zao is famous for (12 m per season). However, bear in mind that these impressive powder stats are the byproduct of some occasionally challenging weather conditions, particularly at the summit where strong winds and cold temperatures are necessary for the formation of Zao’s snow monsters.

As the name suggests, Zao Onsen is more than just a ski destination, doubling as a popular hot spring retreat. The sulfuric baths in this region, known for their “rotten egg” smell, are said to relieve a host of medical conditions including psoriasis, eczema and arthritis.

Tengendai

Roughly 70 km south of Zao Onsen, the smaller Tengendai Kogen Ski Resort is another of Yamagata’s better resorts, though it barely registers a blip on the tourist radar. Tengendai is situated on Mt. Nishi-Azuma (2035 m) and features 10 km of marked trails, a 900 m vertical drop and 4 lifts including the 40-person Tengendai Ropeway, which transports skiers to 1350 m.

The only trail directly below the ropeway is a long, meandering cat track connecting the resort’s main ski area to the base station; however, more enterprising skiers will find plenty of potential tree lines to negotiate. The upper section of the resort, serviced by 3 successive pair lifts, features a handful of beginner-intermediate pistes and two ‘powder zones’, which, while short, provide some more varied terrain.

Tengendai’s major point of difference is its elevation, which, at 1820 m, makes it one of the highest ski areas in Japan’s Tohoku region. This allows for both a long ski season (November – May) and some pretty impressive snowfall stats. The resort also benefits from its proximity to Shirabu Onsen, a rustic hot spring village less than 1 km from the ropeway base.

Kurobushi Kogen Snow Park Jangle Jungle

Kurobushi Kogen Snow Park Jangle Jungle, known simply as “Jangle Jungle”, is a modern, family-friendly resort popular for its wide slopes, park features and late-night skiing. The resort, 50 km north of Zao Onsen, is a 30-minute shuttle ride from Sakurambo-Higashine Station on the Ou Main Line and Yamagata Shinkansen routes.

Jangle Jungle is well suited to families, not least because children under 12 ride the lifts for free. Its beginner-friendly ski area encompasses 10 km of marked trails, a 330 m vertical drop, 2 high-speed quads, and a smaller pair lift that overlooks the lower bunny slopes. Newbies can safely ride any of these lifts knowing that a long green run to the bottom is on offer.

The resort is small even by Japanese standards, but its slopes, which feature mogul fields, designated tree runs, cross courses and terrain parks, should provide enough variety to satisfy all members of the family. The kids’ park, which includes a toboggan run, sees that even the very youngest are catered for.

Facilities (ticket office, rentals, changing rooms, kids’ room, shops, restaurants etc) are all housed under the roof of Jangle Plaza, which is accessed via an escalator from the carpark.

Zao Liza World

Zao Liza World, on the outskirts of Kaminoyama City, is another small, family-friendly resort in the same vein as Jangle Jungle. It is significantly smaller than nearby Zao Onsen but enjoys the same pristine quality snow thanks to its elevation (1060 – 1446 m).

Spanning just 3 km, the ski area is easily negotiated, and nervous first-timers will enjoy the wide, spacious slopes on offer. The resort is serviced by 3 chairlifts including 2 pairs and a high-speed quad, which need to be taken in succession to reach the Juhyogen “Snow Monster” region at the top of the mountain (1446 m).

Sledding and tube riding (free of charge) are on offer to kids, while cross country skiing and snowshoe (wakanjiki) trekking are also available. The bigger and better known Zao Onsen is close enough (15 km) that it can be tackled as a day trip, or vice versa.

Resort facilities, all of which are new and well maintained, include Liza Restaurant, a 300-seat cafeteria that has developed quite a reputation for its stone kiln-baked pizza, even now offering pizza making workshops.

Gassan Ski Resort

Yamagata’s overabundance of snow is no more evident than at Gassan Ski Resort on the southern slopes of Mt. Ubagatake. With a top elevation of 1600 m, Gassan experiences such heavy snowfall that it remains closed throughout the winter season, only opening in late spring when the weather has mellowed sufficiently.

This pint-sized “resort” operates with just 3 lifts, a double chairlift and and a pair of T-bars, but it’s the novelty of skiing during summer that is the appeal for most. Officially, Gassan’s 4 ‘courses’ span 10 km, but some of this terrain is only accessible via foot. Otherwise, Mt. Gassan’s substantial backcountry can be tackled during colder months (early January – late March) but only as part of a guided cat tour.