Autumn Leaves in Zao Echo Line | Miyagi & Yamagata Japan

Autumn Leaves in Zao Echo Line | Miyagi & Yamagata Japan

This is a mountain road that crosses the Zao mountain range from east to west and connects Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures, and the autumn colors and autumn scenery of the Zao echo line. The Zao Echo Line, which allows you to cross Yamagata Zao Onsen from Togatta Onsenkyo in Miyagi Zao to Kaminoyama City, is known as a mountain sightseeing road with a total length of about 26 km. Along the road, there is also an observatory and a promenade where you can appreciate the magnificent nature of the Zao mountain range. One of the attractions here is that not only hikers but also general tourists can easily enjoy sightseeing in light clothing. The snow walls and the fresh greenery of early summer, which can be seen immediately after the long winter that is closed in winter, are also beautiful.However, the autumn leaves that gradually color the trees from the area around “Zao’s Okama” surrounded by Mt. Katta, Mt. Kumano, and Mt. Goshikidake to the foot of the mountain are also very fantastic. The season when the autumn leaves reach their peak is the season when they are closed at night due to freezing, but when heading from Miyagi prefecture side to Yamagata prefecture side, you can return to Miyagi side using the Yamagata Expressway.
This video introduces tourist attractions along the Zao Echo Line and Zao Highline in 5K resolution.

Takimidai
Takimidai is located about 4.5km from the entrance on the Miyagi prefecture side of the Zao Echo Line toward the summit. This is a view spot where you can see the Sankai waterfall in front and the Fudo waterfall and Jizo waterfall on the right side at once.

Zao Fudoson
Zao Fudoson, which has a statue of Fudo Myo at the entrance, has a waterfall where you can see the Fudo Waterfall, which boasts a height of 53.5 meters. It is said that this area has something to do with Zao Fudoson and Fudo Waterfall, but the details are unknown.

Komakusadaira
Komakusadaira, where you can see the lovely pink alpine plant, Dicentra peregrina, can see the scenery of the Kaerazu waterfall and the magnificent mountains from the observatory installed on the cliff. Currently, it is no longer possible to see the Dicentra peregrina herd, so it is said that plant collection is prohibited and restoration activities are underway.

Dokko swamp
The Dokko Marsh, which is also the setting for Teru Miyamoto’s novel “kinshu” is a swamp with a circumference of about 350 m and an average depth of about 2 m, and water constantly springs from the bottom of the swamp. Depending on how the light hits, the waterside may appear to be dyed in clear emerald green, and you can appreciate the particularly beautiful scenery such as the autumn leaves and the fresh green of early summer.

Zao Okama
Zao’s Okama, which can be reached through the Zao Highline for a fee, is the most famous tourist spot in the Zao mountain range.The crater lake was formed by an eruption about 1,000 to 2,000 years ago, and the water surface is clear and Lapis lazuli color when there is no volcanic activity.