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Guide
April 9, 2026 update
How to Get to Zao Onsen from Tokyo, Sendai, and Yamagata Airport (Transportation Guide)
Let’s go from Tokyo and Sendai to Zao Onsen !
From Yamagata Airport, shared taxies, from Sendai, and Sendai Airport, highway buses, and from Tokyo, JR Shinkansen connect to the Zao areas. And from Kaminoyama Onsen (Zao), Tendo Onsen, and Ginzan Onsen, JR conventional lines connect to the areas.
Check out this access guide to find the easiest and best route to Zao hot springs! You’re sure to find a convenient route — whether you prefer fewer transfers, shorter travel time, or lower costs.
We also introduce airport buses and highway buses that can be reserved in advance!
From Yamagata Airport to Zao Onsen
(1) Shared taxi (direct service)
Travel Time 1h Fare 4500 yen
-
Boarding Bus Stop
-
Yamagata Airport
-
▼
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 1hShared taxi
-
4500 yen
Number of Services
・Shared taxi (Operates in coordination with flight arrivals and departures – Tokyo [Haneda], Osaka [Itami], Nagoya [Komaki], Sapporo)
Notes
・Main Shared taxi Stops within Zao Onsen:
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal, Zao Chuo Ropeway
Onsen Station, Zao Ropeway Zao Sanroku Station
・Shared taxis must be reserved at least two days
in advance
(2) Airport bus→Local bus
Travel Time 1h10m Fare 2700 yen
-
Boarding Bus Stop
-
Yamagata Airport
-
▼
-
Transfer Point 1
-
Yamagata Station
- 35mAirport bus
-
1500 yen
-
▼
-
-
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 35mLocal bus
-
1200 yen
Number of Services
・Airport bus (Operates in coordination with flight arrivals and departures – Tokyo [Haneda], Osaka [Itami], Nagoya [Komaki], Sapporo)
・Local bus (1 an hour)
Notes
・Buses do not require reservations (cash payment
upon arrival)
From Sendai to Zao Onsen
(1) Highway bus (direct service)
Travel Time 1h25m Fare 2500 yen
-
Boarding Bus Stop
-
Sendai Station East Exit
Expressway Bus Stop #76
-
▼
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 1h25mHighway bus
-
2500 yen
Number of Services
・Highway bus (1 to 3 a day)
*Operation period: Late December – mid-March
Notes
・Buses require reservations by the day before
・Highway bus ticket counters: Convenience store
terminal reservation, or
(2) Highway bus→Local bus
Travel Time 1h45m Fare 2300 yen
-
Boarding Bus Stop
-
Sendai Station West Exit
-
▼
-
Transfer Point 1
-
Yamagata Station
- 1h10mHighway bus
-
1100 yen
-
▼
-
-
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 35mLocal bus
-
1200 yen
Number of Services
・Highway bus (2 to 6 an hour)
・Local bus (1 an hour)
Notes
・Buses do not require reservations (cash payment
upon arrival)
(3) Conventional line→Local bus
Travel Time 2h5m Fare 2430 yen
-
Boarding Station
-
JR Sendai Station
-
▼
-
Transfer Point 1
-
JR Yamagata Station
- 1h30mJR Senzan Line
-
1230 yen
-
▼
-
-
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 35mLocal bus
-
1200 yen
Number of Services
・JR Senzan Line (1 an hour)
・Local bus (1 an hour)
Notes
・Buses do not require reservations (cash payment
upon arrival)
From Sendai Airport to Zao Onsen
(1) Highway bus (direct service)
Travel Time 1h45m Fare 2500 yen
-
Boarding Bus Stop
-
Sendai Airport
-
▼
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 1h45mHighway bus
-
2500 yen
Number of Services
・Highway bus (3 a day)
*Operation period: Mid-December – late March
(2) Airport bus→Local bus
Travel Time 1h55m Fare 3200 yen
-
Boarding Bus Stop
-
Sendai Airport
-
▼
-
Transfer Point 1
-
Yamagata Station
- 1h20mAirport bus
-
2000 yen
-
▼
-
-
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 35mLocal bus
-
1200 yen
Number of Services
・Airport bus (2 a day)
・Local bus (1 an hour)
(3) Local train→Conventional line→Local bus
Travel Time 2h30m Fare 3030 yen
-
Boarding Station
-
Sendai Airport
-
▼
-
Transfer Point 1
-
JR Sendai Station
- 25mSendai Airport Line
-
-
▼
-
Transfer Point 2
-
JR Yamagata Station
- 1h30mJR Senzan Line
-
1830 yen
-
▼
-
-
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 35mLocal bus
-
1200 yen
Number of Services
・Sendai Airport Line (2 to 3 an hour)
・JR Senzan Line (1 an hour)
・Local bus (1 an hour)
Notes
・Buses do not require reservations (cash payment
upon arrival)
From Tokyo to Zao Onsen
JR Shinkansen→Local bus
Travel Time 3h20m Fare 12870 yen
-
Boarding Station
-
JR Tokyo Station
-
▼
-
Transfer Point 1
-
JR Yamagata Station
- 2h45mJR Shinkansen
-
11670 yen
-
▼
-
-
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 35mLocal bus
-
1200 yen
Number of Services
・JR Shinkansen Tsubasa (1 an hour)
・Local bus (1 an hour)
Notes
・Buses do not require reservations (cash payment
upon arrival)
From Kaminoyama Onsen (Zao) to Zao Onsen
Conventional line→Local bus
Travel Time 50m Fare 1460 yen
-
Boarding Station
-
JR Kaminoyama-Onsen Station
-
▼
-
Transfer Point 1
-
JR Yamagata Station
- 15mJR Ou Main Line
-
260 yen
-
▼
-
-
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 35mLocal bus
-
1200 yen
Number of Services
・JR Ou Main Line (1 an hour)
・Local bus (1 an hour)
Notes
・Kaminoyama Onsen (Zao)
・Buses do not require reservations (cash payment
upon arrival)
From Tendo Onsen to Zao Onsen
Conventional line→Local bus
Travel Time 55m Fare 1460 yen
-
Boarding Station
-
JR Tendo Station
-
▼
-
Transfer Point 1
-
JR Yamagata Station
- 20mJR Ou Main Line
-
260 yen
-
▼
-
-
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 35mLocal bus
-
1200 yen
Number of Services
・JR Ou Main Line (1 to 2 an hour)
・Local bus (1 an hour)
Notes
・Tendo Onsen
・Buses do not require reservations (cash payment
upon arrival)
From Ginzan Onsen to Zao Onsen
Local bus→JR Shinkansen→Local bus
Travel Time 1h35m~2h Fare 2920~4210 yen
-
Boarding Bus Stop
-
Ginzan Onsen
-
▼
-
Transfer Point 1
-
JR Oishida Station
- 30mLocal bus
-
1000 yen
-
▼
-
-
-
Transfer Point 2
-
JR Yamagata Station
- 30m~JR Shinkansen
-
720 yen~
-
▼
-
-
-
Arrival Bus Stop
-
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
- 35mLocal bus
-
1200 yen
Number of Services
・Local bus [Ginzan Onsen – Oishida Stn.] (5 to 10 a day)
・JR Shinkansen Tsubasa, or JR Ou Main Line (1 to 2 an hour)
・Local bus [Yamagata Stn. – Zao Onsen] (1 an hour)
Notes
・Ginzan Onsen
・Buses do not require reservations (cash payment
upon arrival)
The rates are those as of April 2026.
Fares and service frequencies are subject to change.
)
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