| School Name | TEL | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Zao Ski School | +81-(0)23-694-9381 | http://www.zao-skischool.com/ |
| Zao Heim Ski School | +81-(0)23-694-9357 | https://www.skinet.co.jp/school/zaoheim/ |
| Zao Grand Ski School | +81-(0)23-694-9488 | http://www.zaograndskischool.hs.plala.or.jp/ |
| Zao Utopia Ski School | +81-(0)23-694-2128 | http://zaouss.sakura.ne.jp/school_english.html |
| Zao Freizeit Schischule | +81-(0)23-694-9259 | https://zao-freizeit.com/english/ |
| Austria Ski School | +81-(0)3-3230-2602 | https://austria-ski.jp/ |
| Zao Snowboard School | +81-(0)23-694-9254 | https://zaosbs.com/english/ |
Located on the right side of the Uwanodai Slope, it has two courses, one for beginners and intermediate skiers and another one for intermediate and expert skiers. One of those courses has a steep slope good for pole practice. The Nakamori Slope is accessible through the Kamoshika Bridge located on the side of the slope.
Located in front of the Zao Chuo Ropeway Onsen Station, it is of easy access due to its closeness to the hot spring resort’s central street. It is possible to enjoy almost 4 km of downhill ski from the Chuo Ropeway Torikabuto Station through the Central Slope, the Taihei Course, the Sunrise Slope, and finally the Nakamori Slope.
Located at the lowest altitude of the Zao Onsen Ski Resort, the Omori Giant course offers multiple various courses. While the peak of Mt.Yokokura is accessible by the four-person lift Omori Quattro, the Omori Wall has moguls at a maximum angle of 32 degrees for experts, and there is a slope for kids at the base.
Offering direct access to the Juhyo “Ice Monsters” area with the Kurohime No.1 Quattro Lift, the Kurohime Super Giant Course, which has a peak angle of 26 degrees and a total length of 1.7 km, is a long course with numerous sudden slow and rapid changes. The Kurohime Connection Course is a course connecting the Juhyogen Course to the Kurohime area.
Located in the middle of the Juhyogen Course at the bottom of the Utopia Slope, it is a broad slope with a width varying from 100 up to 200 meters. Offering a great view from the lifts, it is ideal for family skiing and practice.
Located in front of the Zao Ropeway Juhyo Kogen Station in the middle of the Juhyogen Course, it is popular for its moderate slope and good snow quality. It is usually open until the beginning of May every year. The top of the slope will be filled with the famous Ice Monsters and the scenic mountains far away can be gazed upon on a clear day.
Located in front of the Paradise Slope at the starting point of the Taihei Course 4 km from the Uwanodai Slope, it has moguls with an average angle of 10 degrees. The Paradise slope can be used to cut through from the Juhyogen Course at the peak of the mountain toward the Central Course.
Located on the left side of the Paradise Course, it offers on sunny days a direct view of the impressive surrounding mountains and a peak at those in the distance.
Located in front of the Zao Sky Cable Chuo Kogen Station at the bottom of the Dokko Pond, it is a quiet course protected from winds by the surrounding beech forest. Its three slopes are best for beginners and intermediate skiers.
onnected from the Zao Sky Cable Chuo Kogen Station to the Uwanodai Slope, it is a varied course approximately 3 km long. Its gentle slope from the beginning to its middle turns to a steep pitch of about 23 degrees when reaching the area of the Uwanodai Slope, but it is still accessible for beginners due to the large width of its course.
Connecting the Paradise and the Shobunuma slopes with the Uwanodai and Sunrise slopes, it is an approximately 5 km long course with an average width of 30 meters offering a variation of moderate slopes with sudden steep pitches in the middle.
Connecting the Utopia Slope to the Shobunuma, Paradise and Central slopes, it is a comparatively narrow course with good snow quality and an even gentle slope making for an enjoyable slide.
Connecting the Ryuzan Slope and the Sogo Ground parking area, it is a cross-country skiing course with a moderate slope going through woodland of Japanese larch.
Connecting the Juhyogen Course near Mt.Yokokura to the Omori slope, it is an almost 1 km long glade skiing course. It offers routes for beginners, intermediate and expert skiers. The Omori Wall, one of the three walls of the ski resort with a peak angle of 32 degrees, is located at the end of the course.
Starting from the Zangezaka Course and going to the Paradise Slope and the Central Slope, it is an intermediate course among frost-covered trees. The large amount of powdered snow makes for an enjoyable slide while surrounded with splendid nature.
Starting from Mt. Kurohime and accessed by using the Kurohime No. 1 Quattro Lift, it is a wide and 1.7 km long course offering a satisfying variety of gentle and steep slopes. The view of the winter woods from the lifts is truly scenic.
Going through the Hyakumannin Slope toward the Kurohime parking area, it is an approximately 1.5 km course running between trees and accessible by the Kurohime No. 2 Quattro Lift.
The Juhyogen Course is a red, or intermediate course. Also known as the Zange Zaka Course, the Juhyogen Course is the longest course on the mountain. Roughly ten kilometers long and starting from Jizo Sancho Station, this course first runs through two kilometers of Snow Monsters and then all the way down to Zao Onsen Village. From the upper-central part of the course you can turn into the Sailer Course, a red course with a steeper grade named for renowned Austrian skier, Anton “Toni” Sailer (1935-2009). Farther down the mountain, the Juhyogen Course will take you through the Utopia Slope and the Hyakumannin Slope to the Yokogura Slope near the bottom of the mountain. At first the gradient can be a little steep but should be no issue for beginners who are willing to snow-plough and take it slow.
The Hanenkamm Course is a black, or expert course. Authorized by the FIS, Hanenkamm has A, B, and C courses, all of which end in the Uwanodai Slope area. A variety of competitions are held here throughout the year. The top of the A/B Course is a 38° wall that contains some of the most challenging terrain at Zao. The C course is to the north of the A/B courses (right, when facing down the mountain) and is a good course for both beginners and more advanced skiers. Heading south (left, when facing down the mountain) while going down Hanenkamm will lead you to the green Sunrise Course that you can take down to Zao Onsen.
The Uwanodai Slope was the very first ski slope at Zao, and its ski lift was the second ever built in Japan. Almost anyone who has ever been skiing at Zao has been down this slope. Its light grade and proximity to the onsen town make it a popular place for lessons and for children. Also open for night skiing, Uwanodai is one of the most popular places on the mountain. You can get a hot meal, a new pair of gloves, or a rest at the Jupeer base center located at the bottom of the slope.
The Uwanodai Slope was the very first ski slope at Zao, and its ski lift was the second ever built in Japan. Almost anyone who has ever been skiing at Zao has been down this slope. Its light grade and proximity to the onsen town make it a popular place for lessons and for children. Also open for night skiing, Uwanodai is one of the most popular places on the mountain. You can get a hot meal, a new pair of gloves, or a rest at the Jupeer base center located at the bottom of the slope.
The Ryuzan Slope was the main slope used in the 1979 Interski training convention and is a green, or beginner area. Located next to the Kuraray Zao Schanze ski jump and with more than four different slopes to take down to the bottom, this is a great spot for families and beginners. It is a straightforward slope with little in the way of surprises and only minor grade variation between 20° to 23° throughout.
The Chuo Slope is one of the most popular slopes on the mountain. Covered with high-quality snow and looking out over the Snow Monsters, the Chuo Slope is a green, or beginner area. It is usually one of the first slopes to open each year and last to close for the season—during an average year, the snow on Chuo Slope will be skiable until around May. This central set of seven trails is a good starting point for beginners to get used to their gear before gliding down through Diamond Valley and the Frosted Forest. Chuo sits on top of the Hanekamm, Ohira, and Takadori Courses.
The Paradise Slope is a red, or intermediate area. Paradise Slope directly connects the Juhyogen Course to the Chuo and Uwanodai Slopes. Often full of thick, fluffy snow until Golden Week in May, Paradise Slope is right between the Snow Monsters and the Frosted Forest. It does have a rather steep 25° grade and is intended for intermediate skiers, but there is a more roundabout route with a gentler slope for beginners that ends at the same location as the wall. There is a free, sixteen-seat rest area near the lift building at the bottom of this slope.
The Yokokura Wall, located at the very top of the slope, is known for its initially steep 38° incline, which is followed by 300 meters at a 30° incline. After clearing these two steep sections, this area is relatively straightforward, and beginner and intermediate skiers can take the longer slope around the wall to avoid them. The lower part of Yokokura is gentle and good for families. This slope is one of the two areas open for night skiing on the mountain. The Zao Ropeway at the bottom of the Yokokura Slope is also the main way to get to the summit to see the Snow Monsters.