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Zao Crater Lake
蔵王お釜Miyagi · Tohoku
Zao's Okama is a perfectly round volcanic crater lake whose water shifts between emerald and deep blue with the light, ringed by the bare rock of the Zao range. The viewpoint sits at the top of the Zao Highline toll road, off the Zao Echo Line, and is a short walk from the car park. Both roads are closed by snow from early November to late April, so the lake is a late-spring-to-autumn sight only — Zao's famous winter 'snow monsters' (juhyo) are seen from the Zao Onsen ropeway on the Yamagata side, not from here.
- Best season
- Summer · Autumn
- Summer and early autumn
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Opening hours
- Seasonal — see below
- Admission
- Free to view Okama crater lake; only cost is Zao Echo Line toll road (¥550 round trip per car)
Usual hours — confirm with the official site for holidays + seasonal closures.
Today
¥550Seasonal hours
- Open-air viewpoint with no gate, but reached only by the Zao Echo Line and the Zao Highline toll road, both shut for winter from early November until late April.
- Immediately after the spring opening the roads also close overnight (roughly 17:00-08:00).
How to get there
From Sendai Station · ~40 min by car
Tags
naturevolcano
Location
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