GUNUNG · Jepang

Mount Zaō

蔵王連峰 / 蔵王山 (Zaō-san)

Information

Elevation: 1.841 m
Country: Jepang (JP)
Location / Range: Pegunungan Zaō (Zaō Renpō), perbatasan Prefektur Yamagata–Miyagi, wilayah Tōhoku
Mountain type: Gugusan stratovolcano kompleks (puncak tertinggi Kumano-dake / Zaō-dake, 1.841 m)
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 38.1410, 140.4430
Difficulty: Ringan–menengah — banyak titik dapat dijangkau lewat ropeway atau Zaō Echo Line, dengan jalan kaki singkat ke bibir kawah Okama dan puncak
Best Season: Akhir musim semi–musim gugur (Mei–Oktober) untuk hiking; musim dingin terkenal dengan 'juhyō' (pohon monster salju) dan ski
Permits & Rules: Tidak ada izin khusus; perhatikan status kegunungapian dan area yang dibatasi di dekat kawah aktif
Hazards: Gas vulkanik dan kawah aktif, cuaca cepat berkabut di punggungan, angin kencang, serta salju dan es di luar musim panas

Description

Mount Zaō (Zaō Renpō) is a complex cluster of stratovolcanoes straddling the border of Yamagata and Miyagi Prefectures in Japan's Tōhoku region. Its centerpiece is Okama, a round crater lake also nicknamed the 'Five Color Pond' (Goshiki-numa) because its color shifts with the weather and light. Roughly 360 m across and about 60 m deep, the lake sits in a crater formed by an eruption in the 1720s and is one of the area's main attractions. The high point of the cluster is Kumano-dake (about 1,841 m). Because many viewpoints are reachable by ropeway from Zaō Onsen or along the Zaō Echo Line mountain road, the area is popular for easy day hikes combined with dramatic volcanic scenery. In winter, Zaō's slopes are famous for 'juhyō' — fir trees encased in ice and snow into 'snow monsters' — and rank among northern Japan's best-known ski resorts.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Okama via Zaō Echo Line / Katta (jalur pendek)

Ringan — jalan kaki singkat di punggungan terbuka

1–2 jam pulang-pergi dari area parkir

The easiest way to enjoy Mount Zaō: drive the Zaō Echo Line to a parking area near Katta-dake, then take a short walk to the Okama crater-lake viewpoint. Suitable for families and beginners; the terrain is open and exposed to wind and mist, and parts of the road are seasonal.

Source

Zaō Onsen Ropeway → Jizō-sanchō → Kumano-dake

Ringan–menengah — punggungan berbatu, sebagian menanjak

2–3 jam jalan kaki dari stasiun atas ropeway

Take the ropeway from Zaō Onsen up to Jizō-sanchō station, then walk the ridge past Jizō-dake to Kumano-dake, the cluster's high point (about 1,841 m), continuing to the Okama viewpoint. This route pairs easy access with an exposed ridge walk; in winter the area becomes a field of 'snow monsters'.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Hiking Mount Zaō usually centers on visiting the Okama crater lake and the surrounding peaks. Many visitors use the ropeway from Zaō Onsen or the Zaō Echo Line road, so the walking sections are relatively short — suitable for beginners and families — with dramatic volcanic scenery.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.