Culture
Japan’s snow monsters
The area is home to Japan’s oldest ski resort.
Image courtesy of: The Hidden Japan
Every winter, at an elevation of more than 6,000 feet, a land full of snow monsters forms on the summit of the volcanic Mount Zao. Located about 220 miles north of Tokyo, Zao Onsen is well known as both a hot spring and ski resort area in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture. Now, there is a new reason to recognize Mount Zao!
Snow monsters at nighttime.
Image courtesy of: The Hidden Japan
The Japanese calls the winter phenomenon of “snow monsters,” Juhyo. On Zao Mount where people ski and snowboard, trees take on interesting shapes due to the region’s heavy snowfall and freezing winds. If reaching the snow monsters via snowboarding or skiing is not a preferred method of arrival, these magical creations can be viewed from the warm comfort of a cable car. Regardless of how you reach them, the snow monsters draw many visitors to the area each winter.
The snow monsters silhouetted by the sun.
Image courtesy of: The Atlantic, photographed by: Carl Court
This seemingly mystical occurrence is best (courtesy of The Atlantic) “explained by the unique mechanics of a few different weather conditions that all come together in just the right way. The snow monsters are created through the repeated process of high winds blowing snow onto rime ice that then binds to the tree and tree branches, creating snow clumps that appear monster-like.”
The icicles that collect grow horizontally because of the strong winds that blow through.
Image courtesy of: Amusing Planet, photographed by: Krishna Wu
The juhyo phenomenon is due to the harsh weather systems that come through the area. Traditionally, Siberian jet streams blow heavy storms through the Zao Mountain Range. As such, the trees living on the peaks’ upper sections collect thick layers of both ice and snow. The tiny water droplets carried by the strong wind collect on the pine trees’ branches forming icicles. Quickly, the tree branches become frozen into interesting shapes and forms.
Snowboarding among monsters…
Image courtesy of: Amusing Planet, photographed by: Foofa Jearanaisil
This process of strong wind blowing water from the nearby lakes towards the mountainside occurs throughout the winter. The repetition makes the ice bind to the trees and their respective branches. The clumps adhere to the Coniferous trees via such a “chaotic process” that at the end, no two snow monsters are identical.
This is definitely something to see in person if visiting Japan. Of course there are other places throughout the world where this phenomenon takes places; but Mount Zao is the most accessible for those wanting to get a close-up look. Sounds like a fabulous idea for magical winter trip!
