Apr 7, 2013 - 1 min read

Yamagata in Winter

Making the most of the snow

By Amber Mezbourian

Community writer

By November, the mountains are covered with snow, reminding people that it's only a matter of time before winter properly arrives! This is Mount Chokai, Yamagata's highest mountain.

Traditionally, people would wear these wara (straw) boots during the winter. Nowadays, most people prefer something a little sturdier!

A half-buried red torii shows the depth of the snowfall here.

Winter sports are extremely popular in Yamagata, and there are numerous resorts, both large and small, across the prefecture.

Zao is Yamagata's largest resort, with 34 lifts, and runs suitable for both beginners and advanced skiers / snowboarders.

The end of a long day's snowboarding.

Juhyou, or snow monsters, are a famous natural phenomenon found at the summit of Mount Zao. They are actually trees, but in the winter the snow and ice transforms them into mysterious shapes.

During the February full moon, you can walk down from the summit of Zao, amongst the snow monsters. On a clear night, it's an amazing experience, with the lights of Yamagata City spread out below.

Mount Gassan is one of the sacred Dewa Sanzan, and receives up to 8 metres of snow in some places. In fact, the chairlifts here only open in mid-April, and it's possible to ski or snowboard until July!

Hijiori is one of the oldest hot spring towns in Yamagata, and gets up to 4 metres of snow. In winter, it really feels like the middle of nowhere. Slip into a hot onsen and your troubles will melt away.

Yamadera is a famous mountain temple in Yamagata. It's usually busy, but in winter it's likely you'll have it all to yourself.

The view from the summit of Yamadera is beautiful in the snow.

On a clear day, the winter scenery in Yamagata is incredibly peaceful.

Yamagata is a prefecture with very extreme seasons: in summer, temperatures regularly soar above 30°C, whilst in winter it receives some of the highest snowfall in Japan. The change in scenery is dramatic, and it really does feel like a different place once the snow arrives. However, with winter comes the opportunity to experience a different side to life here. With snow festivals, winter sports and plentiful onsen, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

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Amber Mezbourian

By Amber Mezbourian

Community writer

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Elena Lisina

Elena Lisina 6 years ago

Unbelievable! Yamadera looks beautiful with snow, but it may be hard to climb to te top in winter time.

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Kim Bergström

Kim Bergström 6 years ago

So much snow! I know the feeling, living in Niigata right now - but it looks like Yamagata gets even heavier snowfall than we do here.

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