is a town located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 11,790, and a population density of 77 persons per km² in 4,493 households. The total area of the town is . Geography Zaō is located in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan in southwestern Miyagi Prefecture in the Ōu Mountains, bordered by Yamagata Prefecture to the west. Parts of the town are within the borders of Zaō Quasi-National Park and Zaō Kōgen Prefectural Natural Park. Neighboring municipalities Miyagi Prefecture Shiroishi Shichikashuku Ōgawara Murata Kawasaki Yamagata Prefecture Kaminoyama Climate Zaō has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Zaō is . The average annual rainfall is with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Zaō has declined by approximately 30 percent from its peak in the 1950s. History The area of present-day Zaō was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and was part of the holdings of Sendai Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. It was made part Katta District in the new Iwaki Province at the start of the Meiji period. The district was transferred to Miyagi Prefecture on 21 August 1876. The villages of Enda and Miyamura was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the post-Meiji restoration modern municipalities system. The two villages merged on April 1, 1955 to form the town of Zaō. Government Zaō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Zaō, collectively with the city of Shiroishi and the town of Shichikashuku, contributes two seats to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Miyagi 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy The economy of Zaō is largely based on agriculture (primarily through the use of polytunnels) and forestry and seasonal tourism. Education Zaō has five public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education. Transportation Zaō does not have any passenger train service. Highway – Zaō Parking Area Local attractions Mount Zaō Zaō Quasi-National Park Zaō Kōgen Prefectural Natural Park