Zao Onsen Snow Monster Festival

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Snow Monster festival at the massive Zao Onsen Ski Resort! The festival features the snow monster illuminations, a fireworks show, ice sculptures and more.

Zao Onsen Snow Monster Festival

Snow Monster festival at the massive Zao Onsen Ski Resort! The festival features the snow monster illuminations, a fireworks show, ice sculptures and more.
Zao Onsen Snow Monster Festival

Zao Onsen Snow Monster Festival

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Overview

Zao Onsen is a huge ski resort featuring 4 gondolas, 41 lifts and a super long 10km course stretching from one side of the mountain to the other! There is a large variety of courses perfect for beginners, intermediates and experts. The location of the resort means that Zao receives massive snowfalls each year. The consistently great pow and the sheer size and number of courses of the resort make it a must visit.

Every winter, Siberian winds and heavy snowfall unique to this area, sees the Zao mounatin area covered in a sea of towering snow monsters. Hundreds of trees are glazed with snow and ice, morphing them into a sea of snow and ice towers resembling monsters. Skiing/snowabording through the  spectacular snow monsters adds another dimension of exciement to the day while non-skiiers can also access the monsters by a ropeway and a gondola.

This trip coincides with the annual Snow Monster Fesitval which features snow monster illuminations, a fireworks show, ice sculptures and more.

Our lodge for the trip is ski-in ski-out - right in front of the lifts! This trip is one of our most popular and books out well in advance every year. We are unable to add extra spaces so please book asap if you are keen to experience the Zao Onsen Snow Monsters. 

The Plan

14:00 ~ 19:00 :
Meet in Shinjuku. All aboard the TSC Bus! Watch movies, chat with old and new friends, and get excited! Stop to stretch and grab dinner along the way. Check in to hotel on arrival. Relax!

07:30 ~ 08:30 :
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant
08:30 ~ 16:30 :
Head out onto the slopes! Get out there early and Ski / Snowboard all day - bring your camera and get some snow monster photos!
16:30 ~ 18:00 :
Soak in the hotel or nearby onsens. Relax with a cold drink
18:00 ~ 19:00 :
Dinner in the hotel restaurant or nearby restaurant
19:00 :
Snow Monster Festival! Head out to the Snow Monster Night light-up (optional). Check out the ski/snowboard jump show and fireworks. Group party afterwards.

07:30 ~ 08:30 :
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant
08:30 ~ 15:00 :
Check out.Skiing / Snowboarding at Zao Onsen followed by a soak in the onsen
15:00 ~ 20:00 :
Board the bus for the trip back to Tokyo. Arrive back in Shinjuku with some great photos and memories - Remember to swap contact details with the people you met!!

Inclusions

  • Round trip private, charter bus: Shinjuku ~ Zao Onsen ~ Shinjuku
  • Two nights accommodation: ski-in ski-out hotel, 15 seconds from lifts and festival
  • Breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday Mornings
  • One lift pass for Saturday for use at all areas of Zao Onsen.
  • Free beginner ski or snowboard lessons on Saturday morning with qualified English speaking ski instructors
  • Zao Onsen Snow Monster Festival
  • Accident compensation insurance
  • Trip leaders for the whole weekend
  • Chance to hang out with a fun group of snow loving folks!
  • 10% sales tax

Available Rentals

Ski Set (Skis, Poles, Boots): ¥4000 per day
Ski Boots Only: ¥2000 per day
Skis & Poles Only: ¥3000 per day

Snowboard & Bindings Only: ¥3000 per day
Snowboard Set (Board, Boots, Bindings): ¥4000 per day
Snowboard Boots Only: ¥2000 per day

Wear Set (Jacket & Pants): ¥3500 per day
Snow Pants Only: ¥1500 per day
Snow Jacket Only: ¥2000 per day

Snow Goggles: ¥500 per day
Snow Gloves: ¥500 per day
Helmet, Goggles, Gloves Set: ¥2000 per day
Helmet: ¥1000 per day
Snow Goggles & Gloves: ¥1000 per day

Optional Extras

Free ski lessons (beginner): ¥0
Free snowboard lessons (beginner): ¥0

Lift pass for the final day: ¥6500

Dates & Availability

Depart End Space Price Booking
Jan 31st (Fri) Feb 2nd (Sun) Available ¥44,900 Reserve

Reviews

5.00

Great trip!

Erika / 21 Feb 2023
5.00

Excellent trip as per usual! The snow was great, I got to meet wonderful friends and we had lots of fun activities there.

Quang / 10 Feb 2023
5.00

An amazing trip where I met tons of new people and learned to snowboard! Cannot wait for the next trip!

Vipashyin / 08 Feb 2023
5.00

This is my first trip with tokyo snow club and I had a great experience. Something happened related room upon checked in but the TL keiji-san took care straight away. Beside that everything was well arranged. Can't wait for next trip

Andika / 08 Feb 2023
5.00

Zao Onsen is amazing! The view is incredible, going all the way to the top I was speechless. And as always, TSC know how to have a fun night after a day hitting the slopes.

Rogelio / 07 Feb 2023
5.00

One of the best trips this season. Awsome snow condition and warm people. I made a bunch of new friends this trip! The guides did a very good job organizing a trip that makes everybody feel included.

Ryoko / 17 Mar 2022
5.00

Best powder snow ever in two winter seasons! I have never seen this much fatty snow monsters. The view from the lift near the top was absolutely amazing. Leader has lots of information about the slopes and where to grab a delicious lunch and dinner. (Yum yum) Zao onsengai is an another world. I felt like I was in “Sen to Chihiro” movie. I’m already looking forward to coming back to Zao next year. Hopefully with fireworks. Thanks to all the friendly Tokyo Snow Club staff to make our trip so much fun!

Miki / 17 Feb 2022
5.00

It was a very nice trip, well organized, the accommodation was in a great location and everyone very friendly! Thank you :)

Francesca / 15 Feb 2022
5.00

This weekend was really good, full of nice people and well organized.

Christophe / 10 Feb 2022