If you want to maximize your ski time this winter, look no further than Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort, set on the northern side of Honshu Island. This quiet ski area is famous for its mineral water hot springs, picturesque spa town, and an abundance of juhyo, or snow monsters. But don’t worry, these monsters won’t attack you while you’re skiing — juhyo are clumps of snow and ice that form on trees in unusual shapes due to Zao’s windy weather conditions. The town celebrates the juhyo with an annual festival and nighttime illuminations, which transform the landscape of Mount Zao in the evenings.

Visitors to Zao Onsen can zip down uncrowded runs best suited for intermediate skiers, though skilled beginners will also be able to make their way around the resort. Like most Japanese ski areas, Zao Onsen isn’t exactly known for its active nightlife — but that just means more time to shred the ski runs and relax in the onsen. Zao Onsen also remains less crowded than many Japanese ski resorts, so you won’t have to wait long to catch your chair to the top.