📝 Articles about Yamagata
Yonezawa Castle Town and Uesugi Legacy Course
A castle town route centered on Uesugi Shrine and the Yonezawa Castle ruins, tasting Yonez…
Dewa Sanzan and Mount Haguro Pilgrimage Course
A day of prayer climbing the 2446 cedar lined steps and passing the national treasure pago…
Zao Onsen and Snow Monsters Course
A mountain resort route enjoying the strong sulfur springs of Zao and the winter snow mons…
Ginzan Onsen and Obanazawa Stroll Course
A nostalgic day exploring the Taisho era streetscape of Ginzan Onsen and the countryside o…
Yamadera Risshakuji and Yamagata City Course
A one day route combining the 1015 stone steps of Risshakuji with a stroll through central…
Onogawa Onsen A Firefly Spa with Skin-Beautifying Waters
An old spring in Yonezawa known for early-summer fireflies and moisturizing skin-beautifyi…
Shirabu Onsen A Thatched-Roof Spa in the Azuma Mountains
A 700-year-old hidden spa on the slopes of the Azuma range in Yonezawa, known for thatched…
Hijiori Onsen A Secluded Healing Spa in a Caldera
A 1200-year-old healing spa in a caldera in Okura, charming for its rustic streets and mor…
Atsumi Onsen A Riverside Spa Town with a Morning Market
A thousand-year-old spa along the Atsumi River in Tsuruoka, where a beloved morning market…
Yunohama Onsen A Seaside Spa Facing Sunsets on the Japan Sea
A seaside spa along the Japan Sea coast in Tsuruoka, prized for sandy beaches and sunsets …
Akayu Onsen A 900-Year-Old Spring in Wine Country
A 900-year-old spring in Nanyo, surrounded by countryside famed for grapes and wine.…
Kaminoyama Onsen A Castle Town Dotted with Footbaths
Rising in the castle town below Kaminoyama Castle, this spa scatters free footbaths perfec…
Tendo Onsen Gentle Waters in the Town of Shogi Pieces
A soft-textured spa on the plains of Tendo, a town celebrated for producing Japanese shogi…
Zao Onsen Milky Acidic Waters and Winter Snow Monsters
A highland spa on the slopes of Mount Zao famed for strongly acidic milky water and the wi…
Ginzan Onsen A Taisho-Era Townscape of Gaslit Ryokan
Wooden multistory inns line the Ginzan River where gas lamps glow at dusk in a nostalgic T…
Dadacha Mame
Tsuruokas fragrant heirloom edamame, a summer delicacy prized for its rich sweetness and u…
Yonezawa Ramen
Thin wavy noodles in a light soy broth, a signature bowl of the Okitama region.…
Ita Soba
Chewy country soba served in a rectangular wooden box, a specialty of the soba road.…
Cherry Sweets
Luxurious early summer sweets made with ruby colored Sato Nishiki cherries.…
Yamagata Dashi
A refreshing mix of chopped summer vegetables served over rice or tofu, a Murayama regiona…
Dondon Yaki
Okonomiyaki style batter wrapped on chopsticks, a Yamagata street food favorite.…
Tama Konnyaku
Round konjac simmered in soy sauce and eaten on a skewer, a famous snack along the Yamader…
Cold Meat Soba
Chewy country soba in a cold chicken broth, a local noodle born in Kahoku town.…
Yamagata Imoni
An autumn tradition of taro and beef simmered in soy sauce, savored around giant pots on t…
Yonezawa Beef
One of Japans three great wagyu brands, prized for fine marbling nurtured by the Yonezawa …
Yachi Hachimangu, an Ancient Shrine of Sacred Court Dance in Kahoku, Yamagata
An ancient shrine to Emperor Ojin said to be founded by Minamoto no Yoshiie. Home to the H…
Douhara Taki, a Spring Water Waterfall of Mount Chokai in Yuza, Yamagata
A mysterious waterfall where underground water of Mount Chokai gushes out from the hillsid…
Karamatsu Kannon, a Cliffside Temple Modeled on Kiyomizu in Yamagata City
A cliffside hall modeled on Kiyomizu dera in Kyoto. Rooted in the love tale of Princess To…
Maruike sama, a Mysterious Emerald Spring Pond in Yuza, Yamagata
A 20 meter mysterious pond filled only by spring water from Mount Chokai. Revered as a dei…
Chokaisan Omonoimi Jinja, a Purifying Sacred Site in Yuza, Yamagata
The first shrine of the old Dewa province, with Mount Chokai as its sacred body. Two footh…
Kuguri Daki, a Hidden Waterfall Slipping Through a Rock Hole in Nanyo, Yamagata
A rare 14 meter waterfall whose water drops as if slipping through a 5 meter hole in the r…
Mifuchi Keikoku, a Secret Dragon Gorge Reached Only by Boat in Nagai, Yamagata
A hidden gorge of sheer cliffs running about 250 meters along the upper Nogawa river. Said…
Jakusho ji, a Matchmaking Kannon Temple in Tendo, Yamagata
The first temple of the Mogami thirty three Kannon pilgrimage, opened by the monk Gyoki ab…
Kumano Taisha, a Matchmaking Shrine of Three Hidden Rabbits in Nanyo, Yamagata
One of the three great Kumano shrines of Japan and a leading ancient shrine of Tohoku. Fin…
Tamasudare no Taki, a Quiet Waterfall Power Spot in Sakata, Yamagata
At 63 meters, this is the tallest single drop waterfall in Yamagata. Found by the monk Kob…
Yamagata Winter Travel 2026: Zao Snow Trees, Ginzan Onsen & Kaminoyama Onsen
山形の冬の楽しみ方を紹介。蔵王樹氷・銀山温泉・上山温泉など、冬ならではの体験が待っています。…
Yamagata Autumn Foliage 2026: Yamadera, Zao & Mogami Gorge
山形の紅葉スポットを厳選紹介。山寺（立石寺）・蔵王・最上峡など、秋の絶景をお楽しみください。…
Yamagata Cherry Blossom Guide: Best Sakura Spots
Discover the most beautiful cherry blossom spots in Yamagata. Spring sakura viewing guide …
Yamagata Local Gourmet Guide: Imoni (Taro Stew)
Discover Yamagata''s unique local cuisine including 芋煮. A food lover''s guide to the best …
Rainy Day in Yamagata: Best Indoor Spots & Activities
Don't let the rain stop you in Yamagata! Discover top indoor attractions including 山形美術館, …
Yamagata Food Guide: Imoni, Dashi & Cherries
Every autumn, Yamagata holds giant outdoor imoni (taro hotpot) parties on the riverside. D…
Sakata Seafood and Hiyoriyama Park: Food Culture of the Port Town Where Kitamae Ships Flourished
Sakata, Yamagata, is a port town that flourished through Kitamae ship trade in the Edo per…
Tendo Shogi Town: Human Shogi Chess and Japan's No.1 Shogi Piece Production Area
Tendo, Yamagata, produces over 90% of Japan's shogi pieces — the "Shogi Hometown." Each Ap…
Mt. Gassan and Snow Corrie Trekking: Sacred Dewa Peak Where Snow Remains Through Summer
Mt. Gassan (1,984m) in Yamagata is a leading Tohoku sacred peak where snow remains through…
Dadacha-mame: The Phantom Edamame That Grows Only in Tsuruoka and Shonai
"Dadacha-mame" edamame grown only in the Shonai region of Tsuruoka, Yamagata, has exceptio…
Kaminoyama Onsen and Samurai Residence Ruins: Castle Town Hot Spring Where Edo Atmosphere and Famous Waters Coexist
Kaminoyama Onsen in Kaminoyama, Yamagata, is a celebrated Tohoku hot spring with about 600…
Yonezawa Beef: Pinnacle of Yamagata Black Wagyu Sharing Japan's Top Three Wagyu Rankings
"Yonezawa beef" from Yonezawa, Yamagata, is one of Japan's Three Great Wagyu alongside Mat…
Zao Onsen Ski Resort: Tohoku's Largest Ski Resort with Ice Trees and Hot Springs
Zao Onsen Ski Resort on the outskirts of Yamagata City is Tohoku's largest ski resort. Aft…
Tsuruoka Shonai Domain and Chido Museum: Former Castle Town Where Shonai Domain Culture Lives On
Tsuruoka — administered by the Sakai family of the 140,000-koku Shonai domain — is Yamagat…
Nagai City Balloon Festival and Shirato River Canola Flowers
Nagai, Yamagata, offers the contrast of canola flowers along the Shirato River (a tributar…
Sagae Cherry Picking: Harvest Experience in Japan's No.1 Cherry Production Area
Yamagata centered on Sagae is Japan's premier cherry production area. During the cherry pi…
Shonai Soba Culture: Japan's No.1 Soba Consuming Prefecture's Food Culture
Yamagata has Japan's highest per-capita soba consumption. Centered on the Shonai region, a…
Nanyo City and Akyu Onsen: The Hot Spring with Red Source Water Known as the "Onsen to Drink"
Akyu Onsen in Nanyo, Yamagata, is a celebrated Yamagata basin spring known for its distinc…
Mogami River Boat Descent: River Journey on the Oku no Hosomichi Trail Where Matsuo Basho Composed
"Samidare wo atsumete hayashi Mogami-gawa" — the Mogami River where Matsuo Basho composed …
Yamagata Castle (Kajo Park): One of Tohoku's Largest Castles Built by Mogami Yoshiaki
Kajo Park in central Yamagata is the ruins of Yamagata Castle extensively rebuilt by Mogam…
Three Mountains of Dewa Pilgrimage: "Journey of Rebirth" Walking in White Robes
The Three Mountains of Dewa — Haguro-san, Gassan, and Yudonosan — are mountain faith sacre…
Kokeshi Doll Villages Obanazawa and Naruko: Warmth of Wood in Tohoku Traditional Crafts
The Naruko Onsen and Obanazawa areas straddling Yamagata and Miyagi are leading traditiona…
Yonezawa Castle and Uesugi Shrine: Ruins of the Famous Castle Where Naoe Kanetsugu and the Uesugi Clan Lie
Uesugi Shrine in Yonezawa, Yamagata, stands on the former site of the Uesugi clan's ancest…
Zao Onsen Public Baths: Milky White Strongly Acidic Springs and Hot Spring Town Atmosphere
Zao Onsen on the outskirts of Yamagata City is known for strongly acidic milky white sprin…
Shinjo Festival Floats and Shinjo Castle Ruins: Shonai Festival Counted Among Tohoku's Three Great Festivals
The "Shinjo Festival" held August 24–26 each year in Shinjo, Yamagata, is counted among To…
Gassan Highland Autumn Foliage and Alpine Plants: Tohoku's Earliest Mountain Autumn
Mt. Gassan highland in Yamagata, in alpine zones above 1,500m, sees autumn color begin fro…
Yamadera (Risshakuji) — The Scenic Sacred Site Where You Climb 1,015 Stone Steps
Climb 1,015 stone steps to Yamadera, a stunning mountaintop temple complex where Matsuo Ba…
Zao Onsen and Frost-Covered Trees — Ice Monsters from the Yamagata Side
Ski and soak at Zao Onsen, approaching from the Yamagata side to see the dramatic juhyo ic…
Shonai Cherry Picking and the Journey to Tsuruoka and Mt. Haguro
Pick fresh cherries in the Shonai plain and visit the sacred Mt. Haguro, one of the three …
Dewa Sanzan — The Sacred Mountains of Rebirth and Ascetic Training
Embark on a spiritual journey through the Three Mountains of Dewa, a sacred pilgrimage sit…
Yamadera (Risshakuji) — The Sky Temple That Moved Matsuo Basho's Soul
Climb 1,015 stone steps to Yamadera temple complex, where poet Matsuo Basho composed his f…
Zao Onsen — Spectacular Snow Monsters and Famous Hot Springs
Visit Zao Onsen for its dramatic juhyo (snow monsters) in winter and its famous strongly a…