Zao, Miyagi / 蔵王・御釜
Zao Okama Crater Lake
A crater lake near the summit of the Zao mountains, seen from a viewpoint at about 1,600 m.
Last official check
25 Sept 2026
Traveler reports
0
Reports open in Phase 2
Next scheduled check
24 Dec 2026
Decide before you go
A short summary made from the official facts below. Check the rows for details.
- Getting there
- Bus / Car
- Closing days
- Closures change with the season
Before you go
Only facts we confirmed on official sources are shown. Anything else is listed under “Not yet confirmed”.
- Closed
Cannot be visited from early November to late April every year (winter closure of the Zao Echo Line and Zao Highline). Roads can also close at other times; check road information on the day. The roads also close at night from the late-April opening until after Golden Week, and from mid-October until the winter closure in early November (times are not listed on this page).
Checked 25 Sept 2026 on a tourism board site- Admission
No entry fee is listed. The Zao Highline toll road charges a toll (amount not listed on this page).
Checked 25 Sept 2026 on a tourism board site- Getting there
About 1 hour by car from Murata IC or Shiroishi IC (Tohoku Expressway). Miyako bus to Zao Katta Sancho: one bus a day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays only.
Checked 25 Sept 2026 on a tourism board site- Parking
About 350 spaces, free.
Checked 25 Sept 2026 on a tourism board site- Accessibility
The path from the summit rest house to the viewpoint is graded for wheelchairs, but the footing is uneven in places. Wear sturdy shoes.
Checked 25 Sept 2026 on a tourism board site- Not yet confirmed
Opening hours, Payment
we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
Found wrong or outdated information? Let us know
Address: Zao Quasi-National Park, Miyagi (no street address)
Official site: https://www.zao-machi.com/sightseeing_spot/1.html
Latest from the official site
- 7 Sept 2026（受付終了） 26/10/ 4 「蔵王の御釜 ご来光ツアー」 今年も実施いたします！Japanese only
Titles and dates from the official site's news feed, checked once a day. We show only the titles; open the link for details.
Location
Smaller pins are other spots nearby.
Nearby spots
- No photo yetZao Onsen Dai-rotenburo Open-air BathYamagata5 km away (straight line)
Photo: Yamagata Prefecture (yamagatakanko.com)Zao Ropeway (snow monsters)Yamagata5 km away (straight line)
Photo: ZAO Ropeway / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)Zao OnsenYamagata5 km away (straight line)- No photo yetKami-no-yu public bath, Togatta OnsenMiyagi12 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetMiyagi Zao Kokeshi MuseumMiyagi12 km away (straight line)
Distances are straight-line distances, not travel distances.
Crowds
- Not yet confirmed
Crowd level, Best time to visit, Peak time, Busiest days, Busiest season
no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Latest traveler report
- None yet
Traveler crowd data by time of day appears after 5 traveler reports (0 so far).
You can check typical busy hours in Google Maps ("Popular times" on the place's page). Open this spot in Google Maps
Visiting respectfully
- NatureDo not go past the viewpoint fence toward the lake, and stay on the trails.Checked 25 Sept 2026 on a tourism board site
- NatureVolcanic area: do not approach the Umanose caldera (expected crater area), and leave if you notice anything unusual. It can be about 10 degrees colder than the foot of the mountain, with strong winds.Checked 25 Sept 2026 on a tourism board site
Verification log
- 25 Sept 2026First check · Tourism board · https://www.zao-machi.com/sightseeing_spot/1.htmlSeason, access, parking, road tolls and safety notes read from the Zao Town Tourism Association's official page.