Vintage kokeshi doll from Zaō Onsen, Yamagata, Yamagata. Zaō Onsen (蔵王温泉) is a famous hot spring area on Mount Zaō in the northern part of Honshū, the main island of Japan. The Zao Mountain is known for its conifer trees which become encrusted and solidified by January due to the hard rime phenomenon, which is caused by heavy snow and winds of freezing temperatures. These formations are known as "snow monsters" or juhyo in Japanese.
