About three hours north of Tokyo, via Japan Rail's Yamagata Shinkansen, is Zao Onsen in Yamagata prefecture, one of Japan's largest ski resorts. Here winter sports are king, thanks to the area's excellent powder conditions and wide range of courses covering a large area. However, what sets this ski resort apart from others in the world, are the natural hot spring onsen baths and the mysterious, natural Juhyo or "Snow Monster" ice sculptures.
Because of Zao's unique weather conditions, trees be
