Zao Onsen 7 Days: 3 Days of Skiing, Juhyo Ropeway & Ginzan Onsen

A 7-day itinerary for Japan with 22 stops, from Arrive at Sendai Airport, transfer to Zao Onsen to Head to Sendai Airport and fly home.

A 7-day winter itinerary based at Zao Onsen: the first four nights at Zao Onsen, with three days of skiing and one ride on the Juhyo ropeway, then on to Yamagata City and Yamadera, the last night at Ginzan Onsen, and on day 7 returning via Sendai. The best time to see the snow monsters (juhyo) is roughly late January to late February; in December the snow monsters aren't fully formed yet, so it's best to plan your departure date for this window. The Zao Onsen ski resort's operating dates for the 2026–27 season had not been announced by the official side as of October 2026; third-party info estimates opening on December 12 and running until early May (depending on snowmelt), so please check the resort's official announcements before you leave. Ropeway operating hours, fares, and night-illumination dates for the snow monsters are third-party compilations as of October 2026 and may change.

Day 1

  1. Arrive at Sendai Airport, transfer to Zao Onsen
  2. Sankyo Bus Zao Onsen Bus Terminal · Zao Onsen Bus Terminal · Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan
  3. 18:00 · Zao Onsen Kawarayu Communal Bath · Kawarayu · 43-3 Zaōonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan

Day 2

  1. 09:00 · Zao Onsen Ski Resort: Skiing Day 1 · Zao Onsen Ski Resort · Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan
  2. 17:30 · Zao Onsen Kamiyu Communal Bath · Zao Onsen Kamiyu Public Bathhouse · 30-2 Zaōonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan

Day 3

  1. 08:30 · Zao Ropeway Sanroku Station: Take the First Ropeway of the Day · Zao Ropeway Sanroku Station · 229-3 Zaōonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan
  2. 09:30 · Zao Ropeway Jizo Summit Station: Get Up Close to the Snow Monsters · Jizo Sancho Station · Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan
  3. 11:30 · Zao Ropeway Juhyo Kogen Station: Skiing Among the Snow Monsters · Zao Ropeway Juhyo Kogen Station · Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan
  4. 18:00 · Snow Monster Night Illumination (optional, on open days only) · Zao Ropeway Sanroku Station · 229-3 Zaōonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan

Day 4

  1. 09:00 · Zao Onsen Ski Resort: Skiing Day 3 · Zao Onsen Ski Resort · Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan
  2. 17:30 · Zao Onsen Shimoyu Communal Bath · Shimoyu Public Bathhouse · 30-2 Zaōonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan

Day 5

  1. 08:30 · Check out, travel from Zao Onsen via Yamagata to Yamadera
  2. 11:00 · Rissharaji Temple (Yamadera) · Risshaku-ji Temple (Yamadera) · 4456-1 Yamadera, Yamagata, 999-3301, Japan
  3. 14:00 · Sakaeya Branch (Yamagata Hiyashi Ramen) · 栄屋 分店 · 2-chōme-2-54 Kitayamagata, Yamagata, 990-0822, Japan
  4. 18:00 · Dinner near Yamagata Station: Yamagata Beef or Soba (free choice)

Day 6

  1. 09:30 · From Yamagata to Ginzan Onsen
  2. 14:00 · Ginzan Onsen Communal Bath Shirogane-yu · Ginzan Onsen Public Bath Shiroganeyu · 433 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan
  3. 17:00 · Ginzan Onsen Street at Night (in front of Notoriya Ryokan) · Notoya Ryokan · 446 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan

Day 7

  1. 08:00 · Morning Walk and Check-out at Ginzan Onsen
  2. 10:00 · From Ginzan Onsen to Sendai
  3. 13:00 · Sendai Station Gyutan Street · Gyutan Do-ri (Beef Tongue Street) · Japan, 〒980-0021 Miyagi, Sendai, Aoba Ward, Chūō, 1-chōme−1−１ JR仙台駅 3階
  4. Head to Sendai Airport and fly home

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