PRESS RELEASE

Press Release

[Mercure Miyagi Zao Resort & Spa] Experience Miyagi Zao's rare natural beauty "Snow Monster" up close. Accommodation plan with "Rime Tour" that goes by a snow car equipped with heating will be sold only in February and March

An all-inclusive stay unique to winter, where you can enjoy the bonfire and grilled marshmallow on Saturday night.

Mercure Miyagi Zao Resort & Spa, a plateau resort hotel overlooking the magnificent Mount Zao (Location: Zao-cho, Kanda-gun, Miyagi; General Manager: Takafumi Yoshida), has launched an accommodation plan that includes a tour where you can see the rime up close. In this plan, you will take a fully heated snow car "Wilde Monster" at "Mountain Field Miyagi Zao Sumikawa" located about 20 minutes by shuttle bus from the hotel and head to Mount Zao near 1,600m above sea level. During the walking time, you can get off the snow car and watch the fantastic rime up close. Also, on Saturday from February to March, you can experience bonfires and grilled marshmallows at the fire pit installed on the hotel premises, which is also recommended for making winter memories for families.

Plan Overview

[Plan Name] Enjoy the ice tour of Miyagi Zao and a heartwarming buffet <evening breakfast included>
【Accommodation period】 Until our stay on Saturday, March 7, 2026
[Fee] 1 night All-inclusive 22,480 yen ~ (Price per person when using 2 rooms including 1 room including rime tour participation fee, dinner, breakfast, lounge, hot spring etc.)
【Jime Tour】
Mountain Field Miyagi Zao Sumikawa
〒989-0916 In Kuraishi-dake National Forest, Onkarita Onsen, Zao-cho, Kanda-gun, Miyagi Prefecture
※Please take the snow car from 11:30.
※About 20 minutes by car from the hotel. There is a "500 yen one coin shuttle bus (reservation required)" that you can get on and off in front of the hotel.　http://www.zao-sumikawa.jp/freebus/
※The application deadline is 3 days before 17:00. The cancellation fee will be 100% from 3 days before.
※If the tour is not held, it will be changed to "Fire Snowstorm Experience Tour" and there will be no refund of the fee.
※Minors must be accompanied by a guardian.
※Children under the age of 2 who do not need a seat must ride on the guardian's knees.
【Reservation / Details】 https://mercure-miyagizao-resortandspa.jp/plan/rime-tour/

What is 'rime'?


Rime refers to ice that is formed by freezing water vapor or overcooling water droplets cooled down to about 5 degrees below freezing sprayed on trees. In particular, Zao's rime is also known as "Snow Monster", and is a formative beauty woven by rare nature in the world. The winter west wind containing water vapor collides with the leaves of Aomoritodomatsu that grows naturally on the western slope of the mountain to form ice grains, creating ice. It can be seen only in a limited area in Japan, and in particular, the rime on the Miyagi Prefecture side is also said to be "roughly masculine rime" (*1).
*1: Source "Mountain Field Miyagi Zao Sumikawa" homepage
http://www.zao-sumikawa.jp/spot/

Every Saturday there is also a free trial of bonfire and grilled marshmallow

In the snow-covered hotel courtyard, as a special event to enjoy winter nights in the snowy country, you will experience a grilled marshmallow surrounded by a fire pit. The fantastic scenery woven by the light of the swaying flame is the beauty that you want to leave in your photo. We will deliver a relaxing time with a warm drink such as hot cocoa. On February 14th (Saturday), you can also enjoy "Smoa" where you can eat baked and thick marshmallows sandwiched with biscuits as a special Valentine's sweets.


Grilled marshmallow image

[Date] February 14th (Sat), 21st (Sat), 22nd (Sun), 28th (Sat), March 7th (Sat), 14th (Sat), 20th (Fri), 21st (Sat), 28th (Sat)
[Hours] 18:30-20:00 (last entry 19:45)
[Place] Hotel courtyard
[Fee] Free (for guests only)
[Details] https://mercure-miyagizao-resortandspa.jp/plan/courtyard-experience/
[Remarks]
・Due to bad weather and other circumstances, the contents may be changed or canceled without notice. Thank you for your understanding.
・Hot drinks are limited in quantity.

Accommodation is all-inclusive and stays at will
Resort hotel located on a plateau overlooking Mount Zao

Alcohol at the restaurant and drinks in the lounge are included in the accommodation fee, and the large public bath is equipped with a hot spring open-air bath "Toogattaonsen Fudo no Yu" and a sauna, so you can spend a relaxing time without hesitation. Dinner and breakfast are served in a buffet style, and local menus unique to this area include "Zuda Mochi", "Sendai Fu no Egg Toji", "Fried Chicken Fried", "Fried Sasakama", and "Tangular Fried". In addition, as an activity "Local Discovery" where you can touch the taste and story unique to the area, "craft experience" where you can collect natural materials such as pine cones and acorns while strolling around the hotel, and make objects that make use of their shapes and materials with groogan.

【Buffet limited menu until March】 Hotel Original "Milk-style sweet potato stew"

"Imoni" is attractive because the taste varies from region to region. In Miyagi Prefecture, it is made with pork and miso, and the richness of red miso, which is a characteristic of Sendai miso, combined with the umami of vegetables, is a taste that feels gentle sweetness. In addition, we will provide our special "milk-style sweet potato stew" using local milk for a limited time.

[Hotel name] Mercure Miyagi Zao Resort & Spa
[Location] 1-1, Oniishihara, Toogattaonsen, Zao-machi, Katsuta-gun, Miyagi
【TEL】 03-6830-3926 (Reservation Center)
【URL】 https://mercure-miyagizao-resortandspa.jp/
※Some drinks, activities, etc. are charged
※We do not offer lunch

BACK