Day Trip : Okama Crater + Zao Onsen

I will be doing a daytrip from Tokyo to Yamagata( Okama Crater + Zao Onsen) and back to Tokyo by 2150PM on 11th Oct (Wednesday)

First train out from Tokyo(0612) to Kaminoyama Onsen Station (0848AM) to take the free bus to Kattadake peak.

1) i google around and saw the schedule but i am not sure if its the right one. but the first bus to Kattadake is 0910AM to 1020AM? http://www.zaoliza.co.jp/smmr/40513682ca67ba9d9f2a4ef6977ce430ffa43c34...
is this correct free bus to get to Kattadake?

2) Does this free bus take me to the Kattadake peak ? or do i need to take the chair lift up?

3) i wish to get from Kattadake to Zao Onsen. Can a bus connect me ?

4) if there is no bus from Kattadake to Zao Onsen, i can take the Zao Ropeway from Zao Onsen to its upper station (1800 yen one way), how long is the walk from the free bus drop off location to the ropeway?
is it ok to factor 2hrs for a normal walk ?


5) Is the Zao Ropeway drop off location in Zao Onsen far away from Zao Dai-Rotemburo (Zao Large Outdoor Baths)? can i assume its a 30mins walk?

6) is the Zao Dai-Rotemburo (Zao Large Outdoor Baths) far from the Bus Station to connect back to Yamagata?can i assume its a 30mins walk?


6) as i need to get back to tokyo by 2150PM. i will need to take the 1804PM Shinkansen Tsubasa 156号 from Yamagata. therefore i will need to be at the Zao Onsen bustop at 1620PM so i can reach Yamagata at 1705PM to wait for my train.


I think i am on a very tight schedule as i have about 6hrs in Kattadake and Zao Onsen.
i am uncertain if the below plan is possible so please share your opinions or best ways so i can access any risks. :) many thanks in advance. ありがとう

hihi just reviving this thread to see if there is any replies :)

I can only comment on #5 and #6.

From the ropeway station to Zao Onsen dai rotenburo, Google maps says about 20 minutes. It's generally accurate, but from what I remember, the road from the river to the dai rotenburo was very steep.

From the rotenburo to the bus station, it's downhill, so you only need 10 minutes.

thank you so much!!!

I am planning to visit on the 26 of October, and currently doing some "homework":
http://www.zaoliza.co.jp/smmr/access/

wish to get from Kattadake to Zao Onsen. Can a bus connect me ?

Yamagata Station ⇔　Zao Onsen Bus Terminal ⇔ Okama Time table

Yamagata Station 9:30 > Zao Onsen bus terminal 10:10 > Okama 11:06.
Okama 13:00 > Zao Onsen bus terminal 14:00 > Yamagata Station 14:40

< Bus service day >
From 27th April to 31st July : Saturday, Sunday and Holidays only
*Suspended week day and 19th May
From 1st August to 27th October : Every day

https://www.zao-spa.or.jp/english/access/

thank you everyone..

4) if there is no bus from Kattadake to Zao Onsen, i can take the Zao Ropeway from Zao Onsen to its upper station (1800 yen one way), how long is the walk from the free bus drop off location to the ropeway?
is it ok to factor 2hrs for a normal walk ?

any idea on this?

Wait, you want to take the chairlift down from the crater, then walk to the Zao onsen ropeway? You'd better hike to the upper station from Kattadake instead.

Here it says 1h30 (45 min*2), but check the weather for your dates because you might need snow shoes.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7929.html

ahhh means its do-able. i just saw that
------------
By ropeway
It is also possible to take the Zao Ropeway from Zao Onsen to its upper station (1800 yen one way, 3500 yen round trip) and walk from there for about 45 minutes further up the mountain to the summit of Mount Zao from where the Okama Crater comes into visibility.
-------------
but i am going down instead. means its around 45-60mins from Okama Crater to Zao Onsen Ropeway (sanpokojinsan station).

thank you!!!

You're welcome! There's a map with the elevation profile of your hike, under "熊野岳コマクサ観賞コース": https://zaoropeway.co.jp/summer/trekking.php
And the less complete English version: https://zaoropeway.co.jp/summer/en.php

Seeing this website again reminds me how confusing it was when I planned my own visit...
地蔵山頂駅=Jizo Sancho Station (the highest station), which is marked as "Zao Sancho Station" on the english map. Can't help you more than that as I don't speak Japanese, but google lens should do the trick ;)

how long is the walk from the free bus drop off location to the ropeway?
is it ok to factor 2hrs for a normal walk ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpD69tt5JxA