Extraordinary experiences brought about by the colorful autumn leaves seen from the sky

A gradation of red and yellow that gradually becomes darker from the top of the mountain to the foot of the mountain. Here we would like to introduce you to autumn foliage viewing, where you can see the changing colors from far away in the air.

The mountains of Yamagata Zao usually turn into autumn colors from late September to early October. Let's take a walk in the air overlooking the brightly colored carpet from the gondolas of the Zao Ropeway and Zao Central Ropeway.

The Zao Ropeway operates on the Sancho Line, which connects the Sanroku Line from Zao Sanroku Station at the foot of the mountain to Juhyo Kogen Station and Jizo Sancho Station at the top.The total length of the two ropeways is approximately 3,600 m, and the altitude difference is approximately 800 m. The summit line is of the "Funitel" type, in which the two ropes that hang the gondola are passed at a distance wider than the width of the gondola, so it is extremely stable while traveling. Even people who don't like heights can rest assured.

The view from the gondola alone is attractive enough, but what you also want to enjoy is the view from the terrace. There are decks called ''Mountain Summit Terrace'' at Jizo Sancho Station and ''Hyakumannin Terrace'' at Juhyokogen Station, and the view of the autumn leaves from there is also particularly beautiful. In particular, Hyakumannin Terrace is a relatively new spot that opened in June 2020. Chairs and outdoor beds are placed on the hill with a great view, so you can relax and enjoy the scenery.

Another route where you can enjoy viewing autumn leaves from the air is the Zao Central Ropeway. This is a large gondola with a total length of 1,787m and an elevation difference of 524m that connects "Onsen Station" located in Zao Onsen to "Torikabuto Station" at the top of Mt. Torikabutsu. From the gondola, you can see the cityscape of Zao Onsen and the Yamagata Basin, and on clear days, you can see mountains such as Mt. Chokai, Mt. Gassan, Asahi, Iide, and the Azuma mountain range in the distance. The mountains, dyed with autumn leaves, take on a calm mood, giving you a different look than usual.

At the top of the mountain, near Torikabutsu Station, there is the Mt. Torikabutsu Observation Deck and trekking courses that can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to experts. The highlight of the course, the combination of Dokko-numa and Fudo Falls with autumn leaves, is a limited-time scenery that can only be seen during this season. Many people visit every year to witness its beauty.