Mount Zao is a 1,841-meter-high volcano between Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures in the northern Tohoku region. It is one of Tohoku's most famous attractions, offering spectacular views and unique attractions for all seasons of the year.
The most famous sights of the mountain include the extraordinary blue colored Okama crater and the mystical "" snow monsters "" - trees that form in mid-winter. These are located around the top of the Zao ski area and are usually most spectacular around mid-February. The multiple layers of snow and ice give the trees a monstrous shape. Access is made possible by a cable car and a gondola for skiers and non-skiers. In the evening the snow monsters around the summit are illuminated.