Zao Cheese and Onsen Food Tasting Walk

Zao Onsen, a hot-spring village in the mountains south of Yamagata City, has developed a small local cheese-making industry alongside its centuries-old bathing culture, and the local tourism association organizes a walking route pairing both. The visit runs roughly one and a half to two hours through the village's historic hot-spring streets, stopping at local producers for tastings of Zao's namesake cheese, a distinctive product for a mountain onsen town more commonly associated with hot springs and skiing. The route also includes sampling of tamakon, skewered potato and konjac cooked in a savory broth and considered local soul food, giving the walk a mix of dairy and savory street-food stops rather than a single dish focus. Midway through, the group stops at a free public onsen footbath, letting visitors soak their feet between tastings, a distinctive break not found on typical food walks. A guide leads the route and provides commentary on the village's history as both a hot-spring and, more recently, a ski destination. Included in the price are the guided walk and the food and cheese tastings at each stop; the footbath itself is free and open to the public regardless of the tour. The village is busiest and most atmospheric in the December-to-March ski season, though onsen bathing and the food route are available year-round.