Zao Onsen Snow Monsters

Zao Onsen
Hanging with the monsters
Lunch up High
Beer with the monsters
On the way
On the way to Zao - 2011 trip
Zao Onsen
Fireworks at the Snow Monster Festival
Snow Monster Love
Why not hug a monster?
Amazing Scenery
A must for photographers!

This Club Trip features:
* Skiing/Boarding at Zao Onsen
* Snow Monster Festival and Light Up Event
* Fireworks and night ski/snowboard show
* Big resort with a 10km long ski run!
* Ski-in Ski-out hotel.
* Excellent outdoor onsen short walk from hotel
* Group party/drinks on the Sat. night
* Friday night departure / two full days in the mountains!

Zao Onsen Snow Monster Festival Fireworks Show 2011

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. Of course its not all about tearing down the slopes at Zao, theres lots of activities other than skiing/boarding to spend your time on.

The top half of Mt. Zao is home to the famous Snow Monsters, a forest of fir trees that freezes mid-winter due to icy siberian winds and forms towering human like 'monsters'. Known as 'Juhyo' in Japanese, these Snow Monsters are an incredible natural phenomonen and definitely one of Japan's must-see attractions. At night you can take the Gondola up to the top of Zao and check out the Snow Monsters lit up in colourful lights, a pretty amazing spectacle!

Snow Monster night light-up

Mt. Zao itself is a huge volcano (luckily dormant!) and the surrounding areas are abundant with natural volcanic hot springs. The outdoor onsens in this area are also great as you are more than likely to be surrounded by snow and even snowed apon as you sit in the hot waters. The hotspring water in Zao is 100% volcanic goodness and is slightly milky in colour, great for soothing your post-ski/boarding muscles!

Zao Onsen - View from above

The Zao Onsen Snow Monster Festival happens only one night a year and we are lucky enough for it to be on the saturday night of our trip! The festival features the snow monster illuminations, a fireworks show, a pro ski/snowboard jump show at night, ice sculptures and more. Our hotel for the trip is right on the slopes - in front of one of the main gondolas and also right in front of the fireworks show.

Looking forward to a packed weekend skiing/boarding and mingling with some snow monsters!

Useful Links:
Last Season's Zao Onsen Trip - Photos
Zao Onsen Ski Resort - Official Page

The Plan

Friday 3rd February
19:00pm	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.
01:00am approx.	Arrive in Zao Onsen and check into the Hotel. Have a late night onsen and/or sleep.

Saturday 4th February
07:00am	Wake up!
07:30am ~ 08:00am	Breakfast in the hotel restaurant
08:00am ~ 17:00pm	Head out onto the slopes! Get out there early and Ski / Snowboard all day - bring your camera and get some snow monster photos!
17:30pm ~ 18:30pm	Soak in the hotel or nearby onsens. Relax with a cold drink
18:30pm ~ 19:30pm	Dinner in the hotel restaurant.
19:30pm ~ late	Snow Monster Festival! Head out to the Snow Monster Night light-up (optional). Check out the ski/snowboard jump show and fireworks.

Sunday 5th February
07:30am	Breakfast at the Hotel
08:30am ~ 14:00pm	Skiing / Snowboarding at Zao Onsen followed by a soak in the onsen
14:30pm	Board the bus for the trip back to Tokyo.
21:30pm	Arrive back in Shinjuku with some great photos and memories - Remember to swap contact details with the people you met!!

The Price

This Club Trip Includes:
Round Trip Private Bus from Tokyo to Zao Onsen, Yamagata
Two Night's Accomodation - ski-in ski-out hotel: 20 seconds from lifts - outdoor onsen closeby
Breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday Mornings
Dinner on Saturday Night
One Lift Pass for Saturday for use at all areas of Zao Onsen.
Travel and Accident Insurance for the whole weekend
Town and Ski Resort Course Guide Maps
Chance to hang out with a fun group of snow loving folks!
Trip Options - Snowboard Set Rental (Board, Bindings, Boots) +1500yen per day - Ski Set Rental (Skis, Boots, Poles) +1500yen per day - Snow Wear Rental (Jacket, Pants) +1500yen per day - Snow Goggles +500yen per day - Snow Gloves +500yen per day - Professional Ski/Board Lesson +3500yen half day (Lesson Fees - pay direct to instructor on the day) - Extra Lift Pass for Sunday +3800yen (adv. price - normally 4800yen)
Total Cost : 25900 yen = Full - Email: trips@tokyosnowclub for Wait List

Reserve a Space

Reservations are for Club Members only but if you have a friend who wants to come theres no worries just get them to join up as a member for free on the website first

Earlybird Discount - 1000yen off the trip price for members who book and pay before Dec. 27.

Rooms - Its 4 ~ 5 people per room at the hotel. Rooms are Japanese Style rooms. Limited private, two person rooms are also available at an extra cost of 2000yen per person. If you would like a private room please make a note on your booking form when you sign up.

There is only space on the bus for 53 people and these spaces will go to those who book first. This Club Trip will book out well before the trip date so if you are keen to come the earlier you reserve a space the better!

Full - Email: trips@tokyosnowclub for Wait List