Asia
Zao Resort Guide
Closed for the season
Best months to book: January, February, March · last season + 30-yr record
Scroll for happiness
Closed for the season — closed April 26
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
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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
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Zao
Lifts
35
Skiable area
1135.7 ac
Longest run
10 km / 6.2 mi
Resort Info
Season dates
Future dates are operator estimates and may change.
Ski passes
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
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.
Season vs Historic
Updated Tue, Sep 22, 08:05 AM UTC
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Season Total
This Season to Date
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vs 5-Year Avg
Off-season · 291cm full-season avg
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vs 30-Year Avg
Off-season · 208cm full-season avg
291cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
The last completed season totaled ~232.8 cm. That's 20% below the 5-year average (291 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 12% above the 30-year average (208 cm).
Zao Season Snowfall
Loading the ledger…
Zao Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 218cm with an average of 94 snowfall days per season. The recent decade runs 45% above this average (316cm over the last ten tracked seasons). The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 10cm | 6 days | 1cm | 5cm | 4cm |
| December | 45cm | 20 days | 12cm | 27cm | 8cm |
| January | 67cm | 26 days | 44cm | 64cm | 15cm |
| February | 45cm | 21 days | 64cm | 75cm | 10cm |
| March | 39cm | 16 days | 54cm | 72cm | 11cm |
| April | 12cm | 5 days | 13cm | 38cm | 7cm |
| May | 0cm | 0 days | 0cm | 6cm | 1cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
SnowSure Score by Month
Season 2025-26
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No full season on record
26 days scored, from 20 Mar
23
Best Day
20 Mar
0
Excellent+ Days
Scored 50 or above
1
Powder Days
6cm+ fresh snow
Highest-scoring days
March 2026
- 2320 Mar
- 2321 Mar3cm
- 1922 Mar
April 2026
- 203 Apr7cm
- 182 Apr6cm
- 158 Apr1cm
March scored highest for Zao in 2025-26. Based on 26 days the resort was verified open. One season of scores describes what happened, not what to expect.
Season at a Glance
Next season(2026-27)
Opens Dec 5, 2026
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
Best Months to Visit
January
Peak Powder
February
Peak Powder
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical powder season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Zao
- Where is Zao?
- Zao is a ski resort in Japan.
- How high is Zao?
- Zao runs from a base elevation of 780 m (2,559 ft) to a summit of 1,661 m (5,449 ft), giving a vertical drop of 881 m (2,890 ft).
- How big is Zao?
- Zao has 1,136 acres (460 hectares) of skiable terrain, 25 marked runs and 35 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Zao?
- Zao is on the Ikon Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- When is ski season at Zao?
- Zao typically operates from December to April. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
- How much snow does Zao get in a typical season?
- Zao averages 472 inches / 1200 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
