Strange indeed！ Winter's Snow Monsters in the Mountains – A Japan Exclusive

By / Edited and Reported by the Editorial Team of MOOK Scenic Spots Lifestyle Network

Deep in the mountains, a pure white and mysterious world devoid of life seems frozen in time, exuding a desolate beauty of the extreme wilderness. People often weave wild and imaginative tales based on the eerie appearance of such landscapes — for example, the Yeti of Mount Everest or the legendary Yuki-onna (snow woman) of Japan — all hidden within this silver-white world. But whether they truly exist is something few can substantiate, leaving their presence confined to mere words and stories.

Located in Yamagata Prefecture, Zao is famed not only for its hot springs but also for the terrifying snow monsters that cover its slopes. The Zao Onsen Ski Resort is one of Japan’s six major ski resorts, offering the unique pleasure of both skiing and hot spring bathing. Around one million visitors come here to ski and play each year.

Every winter, sea winds carrying large amounts of moisture sweep in from the Sea of Japan. Dew forms on fir trees and freezes in the cold, encapsulating entire trees in ice. These uniquely shaped ice-covered trees become the snow monsters that stand along the mountainsides of Zao. As light shifts, the silhouettes of the snow monsters create an eerie and haunting atmosphere, making them a distinctive winter spectacle of Zao. Among them,the Zao Quasi-National Park, located on the border between Yamagata and Miyagi Prefectures, is the most iconic and popular spot in Northeastern Japan to view these ice-covered trees.