Yamagata Prefecture local Pia Peterson urges us to take a trip to winter wonderland Mt. Zao.
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–Z ao – You Do It
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t. Zao in Yamagata Prefecture has a bevy of things to do year round. It’s a famous hiking spot, and is one of the Hyakumeizan (100 Famous Japanese mountains). Mt. Zao is also home to a volcanic crater lake often called the “Five Color Lake” or the “Jewel of the Mountains.”
the mountaintop gather snow. The weight of the ice and snow bow the trees over until they begin looking like a herd of great, loping beasts on the landscape.
However, Mt. Zao really comes into its own in winter. For one, visitors have an opportunity to see the famous Snow Monsters, or jyuhogen. As winter goes on, the trees on
These snowy beasts can be accessed by ski lift or, if you are into snowboarding or skiing, you can cut right through them on the 10km Jyuhogen Track.
nagazasshi | January/February 2016
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