Mt. Zaō (蔵王山)

Mt. Zaō (蔵王山, 1,841 m at Mt. Kumano) is an active volcano straddling Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures and is counted among the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan. It is not a single peak but the collective name for the Zaō Range, comprising Mt. Kumano, Mt. Katta, Mt. Jizō, and others. The emerald-green crater lake Okama (Five-Colour Pond) and winter Juhyō (Snow Monsters) are world-famous. The Zaō Ropeway lifts hikers to 1,661 m at Jizō Sancho Station in one ride, making it possible to reach Mt. Kumano in about 2 hours even for beginners. Alpine flora including komakusa and hakusan-chidori bloom in summer.

From JR Yamagata Station Platform 1, the Yamakō Bus Z90 line reaches Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal in about 45 minutes, then a 15-minute walk to the Zaō Ropeway’s Sanroku Station. The seasonal Z91 line (Zaō Karita Sanchō Line) goes directly to a stop just below Mt. Katta.

*Timetable last checked: unverified

How to access the trailheads

1. [Outbound] Yamagata Station → Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal (Yamakō Bus Z90)
2. [Outbound] Zaō Onsen → Jizō Sancho Station (Zaō Ropeway)
3. [Outbound] Yamagata Station → Zaō Karita Sanchō (Yamakō Bus Z91, summer only)
4. [Return] Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal → Yamagata Station (Yamakō Bus Z90)

Course Times (Ropeway-aided Mt. Kumano out-and-back, approx. 3 hours)

Jizō Sancho Station (1,661 m) → (0:30) → Mt. Jizō (1,736 m) → (0:20) → Wasa-goya remains → (0:30) → Mt. Kumano (1,841 m) → return on same trail (descent approx. 1 h)

(Alternative) Mt. Karita summit → (0:50) → Okama Lookout → (1:00) → Mt. Kumano → (1:00) → Jizō Sancho Station (traverse, approx. 3 h)

1. [Outbound] Yamagata Station → Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal (Yamakō Bus Z90)

From JR Yamagata Station Platform 1, board Yamakō Bus’s Z90 line (bound for Zaō Onsen) and alight at the terminus, Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal. Travel time approx. 45 minutes. From the terminal, walk about 15 minutes to the Zaō Ropeway Sanroku Station, or 5 minutes to the Zaō Central Ropeway Onsen Station.

Operating period: Year-round (Aug 13–16 and Dec 29–Jan 3 operate on Sat/Sun/Holiday schedule)
Travel time: approx. 45 min (Yamagata Stn → Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal)
Fare: Yamagata Stn → Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal adult one-way approx. ¥1,000 (round-trip discount available)
Discount packages: At the Yamagata Station bus info counter (open 7–19), bus + ropeway package tickets (valid Jun 3 – Nov 5): Zaō Central Ropeway round-trip ¥3,600 / Zaō Ropeway (Sanroku ↔ Jizō Sancho) round-trip ¥5,000 (children half).
Note: August 15 is the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival period — confirm any traffic restrictions in advance.

Reference: Yamakō Bus Z90 Yamagata Stn ↔ Zaō Onsen

Bus TimetableYamagata Station Platform 1 → Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal (Yamakō Bus Z90)

Reference: [Yamakō Bus (official PDF)]

2. [Outbound] Zaō Onsen → Jizō Sancho Station (Zaō Ropeway)

A 15-minute walk from the Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal brings you to the Zaō Ropeway Sanroku Station (855 m). Change at Juhyō Kōgen Station (1,331 m) and continue to Jizō Sancho Station (1,661 m). Total time approx. 17 minutes. The summit station offers panoramic terraces, alpine plant trails, and is the starting point for hikes to Mt. Jizō and Mt. Kumano.

Operating period: Year-round (annual maintenance closures, usually early September)
Travel time: Sanroku Line approx. 7 min | Sanchō Line approx. 10 min
Fare: Sanroku ↔ Jizō Sancho one-way ¥2,000 + ¥2,000 / round-trip ¥4,000 (adult). Package with bus: ¥5,000 (adult) round-trip.

Reference: Zaō Ropeway (official)

RopewaySanroku Station ↔ Jizō Sancho Station

Summer hours (April–November): typically 8:30–17:00, every 15–20 min. Winter hours (December–March): 8:30–16:45. Maintenance closures vary (e.g. early September). Confirm exact last-service times with the operator’s website or by phone (+81-23-694-9518).

3. [Outbound] Yamagata Station → Zaō Karita Sanchō (Yamakō Bus Z91, summer only)

The summer-only Z91 “Zaō Karita Sanchō Line” runs from Yamagata Station via Zaō Onsen directly to Zaō Karita Sanchō (1,706 m), just below Okama. From the stop, the Okama lookout is a few minutes away, Mt. Katta summit (1,758 m) about 20 min, and Mt. Kumano about 1 hour.

Operating period: Jun 3 – Jul 31 (Sat/Sun/Holidays) and Aug 1 – Oct 22 (2025 actual; confirm 2026)
Travel time: Yamagata Stn → Zaō Karita Sanchō approx. 1 h 40 min (via Zaō Onsen)
Fare: Yamagata Stn → Zaō Karita Sanchō adult one-way approx. ¥2,000 (confirm with operator)

Reference: Yamakō Bus Z90 / Z91 Karita Sanchō Line

Bus TimetableYamagata Station → Zaō Karita Sanchō (Yamakō Bus Z91, summer-only)

※ One round-trip per day. Return: Zaō Karita Sanchō 14:00 dep. → Yamagata Stn approx. 15:40. Confirm exact times with the operator.

Reference: [Yamakō Bus (official PDF)]

4. [Return] Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal → Yamagata Station (Yamakō Bus Z90)

After hiking, return to Yamagata Station via Yamakō Bus Z90 from the Zaō Onsen Bus Terminal.

Operating period: Year-round
Travel time: approx. 45 min
Fare: same as outbound

Bus TimetableZaō Onsen Bus Terminal → Yamagata Station (Yamakō Bus Z90)

Reference: [Yamakō Bus (official PDF)]

Featured image: Qwert1234 / Public Domain