Winter-exclusive Ice Monster Feast at Zaō – A Breathtaking Spectacle

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 
The silver-white winter always adds a touch of magic to the landscape. Every year, Yamagata Prefecture in Japan, famous for its hot springs and skiing, gets blanketed in snow. Here, you can enjoy the dual thrill of cold and heat, and alongside the icy chill, the unique rime ice formations are truly breathtaking.

The unique rime ice formations occur when supercooled water droplets in the bitter cold collide with tree branches and leaves and freeze on impact. As snow falls onto these frozen sections, the ice and snow stick together and solidify. This process repeats continuously, resulting in layers of white ice. Zaō Ski Resort in Yamagata Prefecture, which naturally grows coniferous trees, has terrain and climatic conditions that are highly conducive to rime formation. In the wind-whipped area of Zaō, the rime grows against the wind, forming distinctive tips known as “shrimp tails.” Additionally, massive and numerous rime formations are sometimes referred to as “Ice Monsters.” Zaō, originally developed as a ski area, is also a renowned destination where you can see rime ice without having to hike in winter.

There are three popular ways to enjoy the rime ice scenery: via cable car, skiing, or snowmobiling. Among these, taking a cable car to view the Zaō tree ice is especially popular. While gently swaying in the cable car, you can gaze at the majestic rime formations, which are even illuminated at night, allowing you to clearly take in the spectacular sight of massive ice monsters standing tall on the mountainside. Moreover, skiing or snowboarding while admiring the rime ice is a unique experience you can only enjoy in Zaō, a resort also famed as a ski destination.