"Icefall" Frozen Waterfall Snow Trekking in Yamagata

Outside Miyagi Prefecture Application Required Outdoor / Activities Half-Day Experience Family Dating / Couples Girlfriend Getaways Activities Available in the Morning Solo Travel With Friends Do It Here

Enter a world covered in ice, just like in the movies! Guide included and equipment rental available, so even snowy mountain trekking beginners can easily participate!

This is a snow trekking adventure with the goal of visiting a frozen waterfall called Hyobaku in the Yamagata Zao area. Every winter, the entire gigantic waterfall freezes, creating an icefall approximately 30 meters high and several dozen meters wide. The power cannot be conveyed in photos.

This area, which has long attracted ice climbing enthusiasts, is known as the Ice Garden, and is an icy world straight out of a movie. Step into the world of ice at Senninzawa Ice Garden in search of unknown, spectacular views.

・Providing hot water: The guide will provide hot water during lunch time, so there is no need to bring a mountain climbing burner.
・Portable toilet: We will bring a tent-type portable toilet, so women do not have to worry about using the toilet.
・Photo gift: During the tour, the guide will take photos and send you the data for free on the day of the tour.

COURSE:
We head mainly downhill from the lift end of Zao Riza World Ski Resort, aiming for the icefall. The end of the second lift is a frost-covered area with a series of large ice monsters. You can also enjoy viewing Ice Monsters (frost-covered trees) here.

From the end of the lift, put on your crampons and trek for about an hour to Senninzawa Ice Garden.
Rental snowshoes are the latest gear that has just been introduced, so they are easy to wear and walk in.

When you arrive, have lunch while looking at the icefall. The guide will provide you with hot water, so please bring a warm lunch such as cup noodles. In addition, a tent-type portable toilet can be set up during lunch, so you can use the restroom. You can stay hydrated without worrying about going to the toilet.

After enjoying the mysterious world of ice, climb back up the steep slope and change into snowshoes. Walk on the fluffy fresh snow, slide on your butt, and enjoy walking down the mountain to the ski resort without using the lift on the way back.

Those who have never experienced mountain climbing in the snow can participate, but they must have the physical strength to carry a 10 kg backpack and walk for more than 4 hours on their own feet. There are some steep descents and climbs.

If the route to the icefall is not safe to walk due to field conditions, we may change to walking around the area using snowshoes.

All year round, outdoor guides immersed in Yamagata's nature are eagerly waiting to welcome you. Come visit Yamagata and experience the beauty of our surroundings!

Holding Term	Early January to End of the March
Duration	About 5 hours
Number of people involved	1 ~ 10people
Fee	18000 JPY- (tax included)

YAMAGATA EXPERIENCE

In the spring, when the water level rises due to melting snow, vast submerged forests appear. We hold a variety of nature experience activities throughout the year, including submerged forest canoe tours at Lake Shirakawa, which can only be experienced for two months from the end of March to May every year. SUP and hidden valley canoeing in the summer, colored leaves canoeing in the autumn, and snow trekking in the winter, all of these tours allow you to feel the changes of the seasons unique to Yamagata with your five senses. From 2023, a new balloon flight experience will be added, allowing you to feel the charm of Yamagata from the sky. Please come and enjoy the great outdoors.

Contact / Organizer Information

Experience Index

Basic Information

Experience Name	"Icefall" Frozen Waterfall Snow Trekking in Yamagata
Holding Place	Zao Liza World gathering
Duration	About 5 hours
Holding Term	Early January to End of the March
Start Time	9:00

Implementation Condition

Minimum number of passengers	1people
Maximum number of passengers	10people
Reservation Application Deadline	By 17:00, 1 days in advance
Cancellation Policy	天候状況次第では、シーズン期間の変動の可能性がございます。フィールドコンディションにより氷瀑までのルートが安全に歩けない場合は、スノーシューでの周辺散策に変更する場合がございます。
Important Notes for Participants	--- Things you definitely need to prepare --- ・Cold-weather clothing (cold-proof/waterproof tops and bottoms such as ski wear. Please bring warm enough clothing in case of weather below -10 degrees Celsius) ・Climbing shoes (high cut, cold and waterproof. You can also participate in winter boots or snow boots, but you will need to wear thick socks or two layers of socks to prevent your feet from moving too much inside the shoes.) knit cap (covers the ears) ・Gloves (warm ones, such as ones for skiing. *Cotton gloves and woolen gloves are not good because they get wet and allow wind to pass through.) ・Rucksack (20 liters or more; light crampons and helmet will be stored in the backpack during the tour) ・Lunch (bread and cup noodles, etc. Hot water will be provided.) ・Drinks (water bottles filled with warm drink. Plastic bottles may freeze) ・Snowshoes, poles, light crampons, helmet (rental available) 　 --The following are things that are good to have-- ・Gator spats (things that are attached to the ankles to prevent snow from getting into the shoes) ・Down jacket or fleece (for use during breaks) ・Thin gloves or work gloves (for use when eating) ・Heat pad ・Sunglasses

Fee

Fee	Adult (10 years and older): 18000 JPY (tax included)
Included in the fee	・Guide fee ・Insurance fee ・Taxes ・Rental of essential gear (snowshoes, poles, light crampons, helmet) ・lift fee
Items not included in the fee	・Rental of essential gear: 3,000 yen (snowshoes, poles, light crampons, helmet) ・Parking fee (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays only. Free on weekdays)
Payment Methods	Advance payment by credit card.
Cancellation and Changes	In the event of cancellation for your convenience, the following cancellation fees will apply. Up to 8 days before: Free of charge Cancellation 4 to 2 days prior: 550 yen Cancellation the day before: 2,200 yen Same-day cancellation: Full amount Cancellation without notice: full amount
About Cancellation Fees	In case of cancellation or change, please contact us as soon as possible.
Benefits	The guide will take photos during the tour and send the files later by email as a special memory.

Meeting Place & Access

Meeting Place	Zao Liza World gathering
Meeting Place Remarks	Zao Liza World inside restaurant building
Meeting Time	Start meeting time 9:00AM (Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the start time.)
Access	From Sendai: 1 hour and 50 minutes by car to Yamagata City, then 45 minutes by car. From Sendai: 1 hour and 50 minutes by train to Kaminoyama Onsen Station, then 30 minutes by car.
Parking	There is. ・駐車場代（土日祝のみ1,000円、平日無料）

Directions

Other

Barrier Free	None
Guides and Information	Our staff, including a former Japanese representative of ski orienteering competitions in snowy mountain fields, a WMA outdoor disaster first aid license holder, and a former Tokyo Fire Department paramedic, are all capable of providing activity services with safety in mind for our clients. In addition, we strive to improve our services on a daily basis through regular skill improvement technique training sessions among our staff.
Regarding Multilingual Support	Japanese / English
Implementing Organizer Name	YAMAGATA EXPERIENCE/Iide canoe club