The Snow Monsters, known as juhyo in Japanese, have arrived in Zao! These mysterious formations are a rare sight, found only in a few select locations in Japan. Zao Onsen, in Yamagata Prefecture ...

Snow monsters on Mt Zao, Yamagata, Japan. Picture: Alamy Ringed by craggy mountain peaks, we were serenely alone by a frozen lake and trees laden with clumps of snow. Wooden trail signs pointed ...

Juhyo form when moisture and snow in the air ... Fu Shi-xiang, 31, who is from Taiwan and works in Japan, learned about Zao through social media and decided to visit for the first time.

Further along the street, which is heated in winter to ensure it remains clear of snow, is Zao Onsen Yutabiya Takayudo, which sells a variety of onsen-themed souvenirs from around Japan ...

and has spent over 20 years in Japan as a hiking guide. On the first day, we'll start with a snow hike descending from Jizo Summit Station at an elevation of 1,661 m.