Mt. Zao & Zao Onsen Autumn Leaves 2026
Last updated: July 28, 2026. Typical viewing times and details below are compiled from official park, temple, city and tourism-association websites (linked at the end of this page). The dates of annual night light-ups are set each year — check the official site before you travel.
Autumn descends the Zao mountains in stages, with the roughly 800-meter drop from Jizo summit to the onsen town painting maples, beech and rowan in a long-lasting gradient of scarlet, orange and gold.
Key Facts
| Typical peak | Late September (summit) to mid-October (peak), coloring the onsen town into early November |
|---|---|
| Best months | September–October |
| Location | Yamagata, Yamagata |
| Nearest station | Yamagata Station (JR / Yamagata Shinkansen) |
| Admission | Free for the onsen town and Echo Line road; the Zao Ropeway charges a fare - confirm current rates on the official site |
| Night light-up | No autumn night light-up |
| Official site | https://feel-the-zao.jp/special/kouyoumeguri/ |
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Highlights
- Ropeway ride climbing through the color gradient to Jizo Sancho summit station
- Panoramic Zao range views from around 1,661 m at the summit
- Zao Echo Line mountain drive between Yamagata and Miyagi
Where to See the Autumn Leaves
Zao Ropeway (Jizo Sancho summit) (Paid)
The ropeway rises about 800 meters through changing color to the Jizo summit station, giving a sweeping view of the colored range.
About 15 minutes on foot from Zao Onsen Bus Terminal to the ropeway base station.
Zao Echo Line (Free)
A 26 km mountain road linking Yamagata and Miyagi, coloring earliest at higher elevations for a scenic autumn drive.
Accessed by car from the Zao Onsen / Mt. Zao area.
Getting There
About 40 minutes by Yamagata Kotsu bus from JR Yamagata Station to Zao Onsen Bus Terminal, then about 15 minutes on foot to the Zao Ropeway.
Crowd & Timing Tips
- Because color descends over roughly 50 days, timing your elevation (summit vs town) helps avoid missing peak
- Ropeway queues and the onsen town fill up on mid-October weekends
About Mt. Zao & Zao Onsen
Zao Onsen is a historic sulfur hot-spring resort at the foot of the Zao mountains.
See more autumn-leaf spots: Tohoku Autumn Leaves 2026 · Japan Autumn Leaves Guide 2026