H.I.S. · Sendai
A winter afternoon and evening from Sendai that ends on a heated snowcat among the juhyo, the fir trees on Mount Zao that wind and rime ice turn into snow monsters. Pick it for the night ride: the monsters are lit up after dark, and you do not have to drive mountain roads in snow to see them.
Every winter the Aomori fir forests high on Mount Zao freeze into juhyo: rime ice and snow build up on the trees until they look like a crowd of white giants. They are at their best from late December to late February. This H.I.S. tour leaves Sendai station's east exit at noon and builds an afternoon around them: Kanahebisui Shrine, strawberry picking, a stop at Michi-no-Eki Yamagata Zao roadside station, and after dark a snowcat ride into the snow monster forest.
The stop addresses put the ride on the Yamagata side of the mountain, where the Zao Onsen ski area runs heated snowcats through the illuminated juhyo in the evenings (see the Zao Night Cruiser page). The listing includes the vehicle from Sendai, admission and snacks. Lunch and dinner are not mentioned, so eat before noon and bring something for the evening.
Know two things before you book. It is non-refundable: no refund or change for any reason, and mountain weather can be brutal. And it is new, with only two departures on the calendar (9 and 24 January 2027) and no reviews yet. Daytime snow monster trips with the Zao ropeway or the Miyagi Zao snowcats are easier to rebook if the weather turns.
From the east exit of JR Sendai station.
A stop at the shrine's approach terrace.
Strawberry picking on the way to Zao.
A roadside station at the foot of Zao for food, local produce and a break.
A heated snowcat through the snow monster forest, lit at night.
About 10 hours after departure.
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No. The listing says it is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, weather included.
The Viator calendar shows 9 and 24 January 2027. The snow monsters are usually best from late December to late February.
The vehicle from Sendai station, admission fees and snacks. Meals are not listed, so eat before noon.
The itinerary stops at Michi-no-Eki Yamagata Zao on the Yamagata side, where the Zao Onsen ski area runs evening snowcat tours to the lit snow monsters. See our Zao winter guide for both sides.
Ready to book
Ride a snowcat up Mount Zao to see the snow monsters at night, from Sendai station.
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