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A look back at ski areas from Japan’s past 過去の日本のスキー場を懐かしむ

Nishi Zao

Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture

西蔵王スキー場　山形県山形市

Nishi Zao was a ski area in the Tsuchizaka neighbourhood of Yamagata City, in the eastern region of Yamagata Prefecture. With the famous Zao Onsen ski area nearby, this ski area never got much attention. Very little information about it can be confirmed, including when it opened and closed.

Opened
開設		 Unconfirmed
Closed
 閉設		 Unconfirmed
Base elevation
標高最低		 About 590m
 

Photographs

Taken in October 2023
写真撮影：2023年10月

Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）
Nishi Zao Ski Area (Yamagata, Yamagata) 　西蔵王スキー場（山形県山形市）

Further Information

  • Nishi Zao is one of those 'mystery' ski areas for which almost no information can be confirmed
    　
  • The ski area was located a few km north of the Zao Onsen 蔵王温泉 ski area (information on SnowJapan)
    　
  • Online research into Nishi Zao is no doubt hindered, at least to some extent, by the presence of that famous nearby ski area
    　
  • However, Nishi Zao is not mentioned in any of the 100+ printed guidebooks on hand
    　
  • Nishi Zao seems to have had one ski lift
    　
  • The positioning of the ski lift can be guessed at on old aerial maps, but cannot be confirmed
    　
  • During a visit to the location in October 2023, the location of the old slope could be made out
    　
  • The ski area is clearly shown on a nearby 'Guide Map' sign for hikers
    　
  • On that map, the name is translated as West Zao Ski Area (in addition to the Japanese kanji)
    　
  • An old road sign by the side of the nearby Nishi Zao Kogen Line road is also still pointing to the ski area
    　
  • In 2018, a bakery opened by the road at the side of the old ski slope, but that closed in May 2024
    　
  • The Nishi Zao Pasture farming facility 西蔵王放牧場 can be found further along the same road
    　
  • The road ends at that point

Google Earth

Google Street View

Google Maps

Location
所在地

Just over 1km off Prefecture Road 53, also known as Nisho Zao Kogen Line.
About 9.5km from the Yamagata Zao IC exit of the Yamagata Expressway.
About 11km from the Yamagata Kaminoyama IC exit of the Tohoku Chuo Expressway.
About 8.5km from Yamagata Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen line.
山形自動車道　山形蔵王ICから的9.5km
東北中央自動車道　山形上山ICから的11km
山形新幹線　山形駅から的8.5km

Currently operating ski & snowboard resorts in the region
近隣の運営中のスキー場

All currently operating ski areas in Yamagata Prefecture

This page was created in May 2024
Last updated on 3rd December 2024
2024年5月 作成 　2024年12月3日 更新