How Do You Stay Safe in Zao? Volcano, Snow, Bears and 110/119

Published 2026-10-04 · Sources checked 2026-10-04 · Treasure Hunting Co., Ltd.

This guide is for visitors and longer-stay guests at Zao Onsen in Yamagata City. It covers the volcano status of Mount Zao, winter mountain safety, bears and how to call for help on 110 and 119.

We used pages from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Yamagata Prefecture, Yamagata Prefectural Police, Yamagata City, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and the Zao Onsen Tourism Association. All were read on 2026-10-04. In an emergency, follow local announcements and staff instructions first.

Two prefectures, one volcano

Mount Zao (Zaozan) sits on the border of Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures. JMA's 2018 bulletin for it named three towns in Miyagi and two cities in Yamagata: Yamagata City and Kaminoyama City.

Zao Onsen is in Yamagata City. Zao Town, with a similar name, is a separate town on the Miyagi side. When you read a warning, check which side it is about.

Mount Zao's volcanic alert level today

On 4 October 2026, JMA's status page showed Level 1 for Mount Zao. That is a volcanic forecast, not a warning, and its keyword means "keep in mind this is an active volcano". JMA listed no new bulletins from the past week.

Some background from JMA and the prefecture:

• JMA has used volcanic alert levels for Zao since 26 July 2016.
• The last change came on 6 March 2018, when JMA lowered the level from 2 to 1. Activity had risen after volcanic tremor on 28 January that year.
• The expected crater area is the Umanose caldera, which includes Mount Goshiki and the crater lake Okama. Okama is about 360 m across.
• JMA watches the volcano with seismometers, tiltmeters, GNSS, cameras and other instruments.

JMA uses Levels 4 and 5 for warnings to residential areas. For Zao, a Level 2 warning would cover about 1.2 km from the Umanose caldera. Level 3 would cover about 3.5 km from the centre of Okama.

The prefecture says that at Level 2, the hot spring village and other tourist facilities lie outside the danger zone. If the level is raised, the local municipalities send emergency alert messages to mobile phones.

Near the crater: what is closed and why

Even at Level 1, entry to the Umanose caldera is banned for the time being. The Zao volcano disaster council made this rule, and part of the trail that crosses the caldera is closed.

JMA says steam and volcanic gas come out at two spots inside the caldera. If you notice anything unusual, leave the caldera quickly.

JMA's hiking leaflet for Zao adds this advice:

• An eruption can happen without warning. Bring a helmet.
• Volcanic gas may collect in hollows and valleys. Never enter closed areas.
• Submit a climbing plan before you go. It can be sent from a smartphone.
• If you notice anything unusual, tell the local town, the police or the weather office.

Snow adds another risk. Yamagata City warns that an eruption in the snow season could melt snow near the crater. The meltwater could carry mud down the Sukawa River through the city, so the city has published hazard maps.

Winter mountains and avalanches

JMA's Zao hiking leaflet says that in the snow season, avalanches, slips and getting lost are real risks. It asks people without the right knowledge, experience and skills not to climb casually in winter. It also says winter climbing needs fitness, proper gear and a plan.

JMA issues avalanche advisories when it expects snow sliding from slopes to harm people or buildings. Check JMA warnings before a winter outing.

The Zao Onsen Tourism Association's winter page lists a phone line for rescue requests: 023-694-9215.

Yamagata Prefectural Police counted 48 mountain accidents in the prefecture in 2025, involving 54 people. Two people died and 30 were hurt. The police give this advice:

• Tell your family where you are going, and go with others, even on a mountain you know.
• Carry a phone with a hiking app or GPS turned on, plus a spare battery.
• If you lose the trail, go back the way you came. If you are still lost, call for help from a place with a clear view.
• Even on a short trip, take food, water, rain gear and warm clothes.
• Carry a bear bell, a whistle or a radio.

Bears

Yamagata City publishes a list of Asian black bear reports. Its list for this fiscal year had 108 reports by 3 October 2026. Three were bears seen on roads inside Zao Onsen, on 10 July (two reports) and 8 August.

On 30 April 2026, Yamagata Prefecture issued a bear warning. The reason was 11 bear sightings in urban areas between 24 and 30 April.

The city and the prefecture give this advice:

• Make noise with a bell or a radio, so bears know you are there.
• Take all food and wrappers home. Leftovers draw bears.
• Stay away from cubs. A mother is likely to be close by.
• If a bear is a few metres away, check for cubs and back away slowly without turning your back. Try to keep a tree or rock between you.
• If the bear is further away, do not shout or run. Leave calmly.

To report a bear in Yamagata City, call the city on 023-641-1212 or the police on 110.

Calling 110 and 119

• 110: police. Yamagata Prefectural Police answer 110 all year, 24 hours a day. The officer will ask what happened, when and where. For the place, give the city or town name and the address.
• From a mobile. The police ask you to stop moving while you call, because the signal can drop. Hold the phone to your ear rather than using a headset. Look for an address or a landmark nearby.
• 119: ambulance. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency's guide says to call 119 when you need an ambulance. Anyone in Japan can use the service.

The Japan Tourism Agency's Safety tips website lists JMA weather warnings and earthquake news in English. It also points to an app of the same name.

What we could not verify, and therefore left out

• Whether the prefecture's bear warning of 30 April 2026 is still in force.
• Avalanche figures for the Zao area, or which ski slopes or trails close in heavy snow.
• Whether 110 and 119 calls are answered in English. The official pages we read did not say.
• Whether Yamagata City's emergency phone alerts come in English.
• Details of the snowmelt mudflow maps. We read the city's summary page only.

Related guides

• How do you get to Zao Onsen from Tokyo?
• What are Zao's snow monsters, and when can you see them?

Sources

All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.

1. 火山活動の状況（蔵王山） (Japan Meteorological Agency) — (Level 1 on the day checked; no bulletins in the past week; 6 March 2018 lowering and 28 January tremor; municipalities named; steam and gas in the caldera)
2. 蔵王山 (Japan Meteorological Agency) — (Goshiki and Okama, 360 m; monitoring instruments)
3. 蔵王山の噴火警戒レベル (Japan Meteorological Agency) — (expected crater area, Umanose caldera with Mount Goshiki; level keywords; in use since 26 July 2016)
4. Volcanic Warnings and Volcanic Alert Levels (Japan Meteorological Agency) — (Levels 4 and 5 for residential areas)
5. 蔵王山 (Yamagata Prefecture) — (Level 2 and 3 ranges; village outside at Level 2; phone alerts; caldera entry ban; trail closure)
6. 火山への登山のしおり 蔵王山版 (Japan Meteorological Agency and others) — (helmet; gas in hollows; climbing plan; reporting; winter risks and preparation)
7. 蔵王山火山 融雪型火山泥流ハザードマップ (Yamagata City) — (snowmelt mudflow along the Sukawa River; hazard maps)
8. 気象警報・注意報の種類 (Japan Meteorological Agency) — (what an avalanche advisory means)
9. winter (Zao Onsen Tourism Association) — (ski area rescue request line 023-694-9215)
10. 登山での遭難防止 (Yamagata Prefectural Police) — (2025 accident figures; advice for hikers)
11. ツキノワグマにご注意ください！【クマ出没情報】 (Yamagata City) — (108 reports by 3 October 2026; Zao Onsen reports; what to do; contacts)
12. クマ出没警報の発令について (Yamagata Prefecture) — (bear warning of 30 April 2026; 11 urban sightings)
13. 行楽シーズンにおける山でのクマに対する注意について (Yamagata Prefecture) — (noise; mothers with cubs; take rubbish home)
14. 緊急時あなたを守る110番 (Yamagata Prefectural Police) — (110 all year, 24 hours)
15. 110番通報を行う際は (Yamagata Prefectural Police) — (questions asked; city or town name and address)
16. 携帯電話からの110番 (Yamagata Prefectural Police) — (stop moving; hold the phone; landmarks)
17. Guide for Ambulance Services (Fire and Disaster Management Agency) — (call 119 for an ambulance; anyone in Japan can use it)
18. Safety tips for travelers (Japan Tourism Agency) — (weather warnings and earthquake information; the Safety tips app)