Seeing snow for the first time was fantastic for me overall. Our guide, Oliver, was excellent; he was very kind, spoke three languages, and actively guided us throughout the trip. The itinerary was very well-planned, with ample time to explore, take photos, and enjoy the scenery at each stop. The hotel was comfortable, and the driver was a very skilled driver. Although the bus seats were a bit small, they were generally quite comfortable. I was lucky enough to see beautiful snowscapes. Although the heavy snowfall prevented me from seeing the Zao Snow Trees that day, and I only reached the first level of the cable car, it was still incredibly breathtaking. The foxes were also very cute.
Since the purpose of this trip was to see the Zao Snow Trees, getting on the cable car to the summit was crucial for us. We were very grateful to the travel agency for offering group tickets, which allowed all group members to get priority access and board the cable car smoothly to the top, avoiding long queues with others. This made the entire snow tree tour a very pleasant experience! We also want to thank our Japanese tour guide for her special care and consideration for us foreigners.
The itinerary was fantastic, the tour guide was very knowledgeable, and the Ginzan Onsen was beautiful. I highly recommend it. It gets very cold in winter, so please note that Wednesdays may be closed for some shops.
The rich historical atmosphere of Ginzan Onsen, coupled with the beautiful snow-covered scenery, was both healing and heartwarming. The magnificent Zao Snow Trees were truly breathtaking and unforgettable. Many thanks to our tour leader, Xiao Zhang, for his professional introduction and attentive service, which created a wonderful family travel memory.
In the morning, we went to Ginzan Onsen, had lunch at noon, and then enjoyed Zao Juh (a type of Japanese ice sculpture) in the afternoon. We were quite lucky with the weather; the Ginzan Onsen shuttle bus schedule was perfect, and we had priority tickets for groups at Zao Juh, so we didn't waste time queuing. Lunch was also very plentiful. Thank you to Lion Travel for organizing this tour; my family was very satisfied. Thank you also to our tour guide, Lili!
Although it was a shared tour without a guide, the driver was very friendly, the ride was smooth, and the time was well managed. The Fox Village and Zao Snow Tree cable car trip was interesting and the scenery was beautiful and spectacular; however, in winter, you need to wear enough warm clothing and hats to visit Zao Snow Tree.
Anonymous User
Family
Yamagata City Weather, Climate and Best Time to Visit
Data source:Meteostat Update date:2025-09
Yamagata City year round climate
Spring (March–May): 5.3–16.6°C, the climate transitions from cold to warm, with increasing rainfall and occasional showers. Common activities: flower viewing, hiking, visiting historical sites. Recommended clothing: light jacket, comfortable long pants or skirt, comfortable shoes.
Summer (June–August): 21.3–27.0°C, hot and humid, with more rainfall, especially in July. Common activities: mountain hiking, outdoor picnics, hot spring bathing. Recommended clothing: light and breathable clothing, sun hat, rain gear.
Autumn (September–November): 9.0–23.1°C, pleasant and comfortable climate, with less rainfall and abundant sunshine. Common activities: viewing autumn leaves, cycling, enjoying local cuisine. Recommended clothing: light jacket, long-sleeved shirt, comfortable shoes.
Winter (December–February): 0.4–2.6°C, cold and dry, with little snowfall, but occasional snowfalls. Common activities: skiing, hot spring therapy, enjoying winter scenery. Recommended clothing: warm coat, hat, scarf, gloves.
Yamagata City climatological average
Annual average temperature: approx. 13.3°C / Annual rainfall: approx. 1305 mm / Summer humidity: 70%–80% / Rainiest month: July
Yamagata City monthly average temperature and precipitation
Month
Air temperature (°C)
Precipitation (mm)
January
0.4°C
83
February
1.2°C
70.9
March
5.3°C
102.3
April
12.6°C
87.2
May
16.6°C
114.9
June
21.3°C
116.1
July
25.9°C
182.3
August
27°C
119.5
September
23.1°C
138.1
October
14.9°C
74.5
November
9°C
99.5
December
2.6°C
117
Yamagata City weather for the next seven days
1/31
Saturday
Moderate or heavy snow showers
-0.2°C/-4.4°C
2/1
Sunday
Heavy snow
0.6°C/-4.5°C
2/2
Monday
Moderate or heavy snow showers
1.4°C/-6.1°C
2/3
Tuesday
Mist
1.9°C/-6.7°C
2/4
Wednesday
Sunny
3.7°C/-6.5°C
2/5
Thursday
Patchy rain nearby
5.2°C/-2.7°C
2/6
Friday
Patchy rain nearby
3.5°C/-3.4°C
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