Skiing at Zao is truly breathtaking.

Skiing at Zao turned out to be so smooth, so beautiful, and so much fun! Initially, I chose Zao from among many ski resorts not because of the skiing or the chance to admire the stunning Zao snow monsters, but because I decided to travel too late. Many ski resorts were either fully booked or too expensive. Even at Zao, I couldn’t book a hotel in the Zao Onsen area and ended up staying at a hotel above Yamagata Station instead (super convenient and great value for money). Located in the Tohoku region, Zao Ski Resort features 15 areas, 37 lifts, and 26 slopes. Each lift and slope is unique and has its own charm. Most of the slopes are quite spacious and smooth, especially in the higher areas where there are fewer people. As someone with only two days of skiing experience, I didn’t think I’d be capable of "skiing" while exploring the mountains. However, Zao’s slopes are so expansive that if you can handle the green runs, the red runs aren’t too challenging either (assuming you’re someone who exercises regularly 😂). This time, I managed to ski down both green and red runs smoothly. Just a note—I did hire a coach on the first day to refresh my skiing skills. Zao is incredibly beautiful! Skiing and exploring the mountains never felt tiring; my heart was filled with excitement. Being able to witness such stunning scenery made it all worthwhile. I skied for three days, catching the 6:50 mountain shuttle bus every morning. I started skiing at 8:30 AM and continued until 6:00 PM, with only brief breaks in between. With such gorgeous views, I couldn’t bear to waste any time 😊😊😊😊 By the way, don’t miss visiting Sanmoro Hut to experience the cozy atmosphere of burning wood 🪵😂😂😂