Zao Onsen live cams on the Central, Sunrise and JUPEER slopes plus three base car parks. Check snow, visibility and crowds before you drive from Yamagata.
Zao Onsen is a ski area and an onsen town in one, on the mountain famous for its snow monsters. The slope cameras show the snow and visibility, and the car park cameras show where it is busy, so you can choose when and where to start.
Central Slope: The slopes around the Central Ropeway, and your basic guide to weather and snow across the resort.
Sunrise Slope: A wide, gentle slope, good for checking conditions for beginners and families.
JUPEER Slope: A slope on the onsen town side, showing how well the lower mountain is covered.
Uenodai, Central Ropeway and Omori car parks: Three base car parks. On weekend mornings, see which entrance is quieter and head there.
Wind and fog often cut visibility higher up. If the slope cameras look white, start on the lower runs.
Compare the car park cameras and start from the quietest entrance.
Driving up from Yamagata city? Check the winter traffic page as well.
What do the Zao Onsen cameras show? The Central, Sunrise and JUPEER slopes, and the Uenodai 1st, Central Ropeway 1st and Omori car parks.
Can I see the snow monsters on the cameras? Not directly. These cameras cover the slopes and car parks, not the snow monster fields themselves.
Are the cameras shown as live out of season? No. Out of season some feeds keep their last winter image, so we only mark them live while the resort is open.