📷 Zao
Asia
Zao
Limited
→stable
Scroll for happiness
Last Snowfall
Mar 21
8d agoPast 24 Hours
0cm
Past 48 Hours
0cm
Past 10 Days
1.3cm
14-Day Forecast
0.8cm
Snow Depth
--
Resort Guide
Zao Onsen Ski Resort is located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, and is renowned for its expansive ski area, abundant natural hot springs, and the unique “snow monsters” (juhyo) formed by frost-covered trees. The resort features a variety of runs suitable for all levels, extensive lift access, and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Visitors can enjoy both skiing and relaxing in traditional onsen baths, making Zao a distinctive destination that blends winter sports with authentic Japanese cultural experiences.
Gallery
Click to expand • 2 total photos
Resort Info
Top Après Ski
Jupeer Zao – A popular après-ski bar located near the Zao Onsen ski area, Jupeer is renowned for its cozy atmosphere, local sake selection, and welcoming vibe, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind after a day on the slopes.
Early season conditions - great for first turns of the year.
Currently, Zao is experiencing mainly clear skies with a temperature of -6°C and no new snow in the past week. The season total stands at 257cm, but with a limited snow score of 12/100, conditions may not be ideal for skiing right now. Expect a modest 1-3cm of snow over the next two weeks, so plan accordingly.
AI-generated summaryDepth
Snow depth information is not available at this time.
Recent
No new snow has fallen in the past week.
Forecast
The 14-day outlook suggests an average of 3cm of snow, with the ECMWF model predicting 1cm.
Historic
This season's total of 257cm is notable, but without a comparison to the 5-year and 30-year averages, it's hard to gauge its historical significance.
Data updated Sun, Mar 29, 07:48 PM UTC
Snow Summary
Updated Mar 29, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Historical data from Open-Meteo archive • Forecast from ECMWF IFS model
Current Conditions
Reported Sun, Mar 29, 07:48 PM UTC
Base
780m
Temp
0.1°C
Wind
6.4km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
2.4cm
Mid-Mountain
1221m
Temp
-2.8°C
Wind
7km/h
Snow Depth
~72cm
Est.
14-Day Forecast
2.5cm
Summit
1661m
Temp
-5.6°C
Wind
6.4km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
3.2cm
Local Reports
0 reportsDaily Snowfall Forecast by Model
Shows daily snowfall predictions from 7 weather models. Black line = SnowSure™ weighted average.
14-Day Snow Forecast by Model
Summit elevation (1661m)
10-Day Forecast
Mon
30
🌧️
8.9°
-6.2°
Tue
31
🌧️
3.5°
0.4°
Wed
1
🌧️
3.3°
-1.6°
Thu
2
🌧️
-1.8°
-4.7°
Fri
3
☁️
6.2°
-6.9°
Sat
4
🌧️
1.4°
-3.8°
Sun
5
🌧️
9.8°
-2°
Mon
6
🌧️
8.8°
0.7°
Tue
7
🌧️
5.1°
-4.2°
Wed
8
🌤️
3°
-5.9°
Summit elevation (1661m) • ECMWF model
Season vs Historic
Updated Sun, Mar 29, 07:48 PM UTC
256.5cm
Season Total
This Season to Date
-17%
vs 5-Year Avg
310.2cm avg by now
+27%
vs 30-Year Avg
201.5cm avg by now
310.2cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
Over the past five years, snowfall has remained consistent with the 30-year average at 291 cm, indicating long-term stability. However, the most recent season's snowfall is 15% below the 5-year average, suggesting a notable short-term decrease. Despite this dip, the current season is 32% above the 30-year historic average, highlighting significant year-to-year variability and the presence of occasional high-snowfall years.
Best Months to Visit
January
Peak Powder
February
Peak Powder
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical powder season patterns for this region.