Mt. Zao Snow Monster Private Tour

Start your morning with breakfast at your hotel. Check out and leave your bags at the hotel. Meet your guide at your hotel lobby and take a private charter taxi to Zao Onsen. Ride the Zao ropeway up and admire the winter view of Mt. Zao. Have the opportunity to see the sea of snow monsters from above. When on the summit, see the fabulous snow monsters up close in the freezing temperatures, or gaze upon them through the windows in the warmth of the rest area building with a warm drink. Upon returning to the first ropeway station, have lunch with your guide- choose from reservation-only sushi, or try out Genghis Khan, a grilled mutton dish typically prepared with various vegetables on a convex metal skillet or other grill. It is said that this dish originated from the Zao Onsen area. If not, other options not needing reservations are also available, from Japanese-western food, ramen and cafe food. 

Following lunch, embark on a stroll through Zao Onsen, perfect for photos with its traditional Japanese architecture throughout the town. You can also partake in some shopping in the local stores as well as see the public bathhouses and foot baths around the town. After your stroll, arrive at a sake museum where you can learn about Japanese sake with your guide’s assistance, before tasting sake complimentary to your tastes. 

The hot spring water of this town was said to be discovered in 110 AD, helping people for hundreds of years to relieve fatigue. It is said that the waters have the ability to improve the skin and heal wounds because of its acid, aluminum, chloride, and sulfide components, thus making it known as the ‘Springs of Beauty’. As an additional option for this tour, you can choose to have a soak in one of the hot springs of Zao Onsen according to your preferences, with a rundown explanation from your guide to ensure a smooth bathing experience. 

After enjoying Zao onsen, travel back to Yamagata station with your via guide private charter taxi. Upon arrival, upon parting with your guide our tour ends, and you continue on with your travels.