What to know
Mount Zao (蔵王山, Zaōsan) is a volcanic mountain range straddling the border between Yamagata and Miyagi Prefectures in the Tohoku Region. On the Yamagata side, the hot spring town of Zao Onsen features some of Japan's most acidic thermal waters.
In summer, nature lovers flock to the mountain for its spectacular Okama Crater, while winter transforms Zao Onsen into a premier ski resort and one of the few places in Japan to see "snow monsters" (frozen trees).
