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Yamagata
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Tohoku

Yamagata

A treasure trove of Yamadera temple, Zao ski resort, and the fertile Shonai Plain. Also a paradise for cherries, imo-ni stew, and local cuisine.

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Photo by Suzi Kim on Unsplash

๐Ÿ“ Articles about Yamagata

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Seasonal Picks๐ŸŒธ Spring

Yamagata Cherry Blossom Guide: Best Sakura Spots

Discover the most beautiful cherry blossom spots in Yamagata. Spring sakura viewing guide โ€ฆ

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Gourmet๐Ÿ‚ Autumn

Yamagata Local Gourmet Guide: ่Š‹็…ฎ

Discover Yamagata''s unique local cuisine including ่Š‹็…ฎ. A food lover''s guide to the best โ€ฆ

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Rainy Day Spots๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

Rainy Day in Yamagata: Best Indoor Spots & Activities

Don't let the rain stop you in Yamagata! Discover top indoor attractions including ๅฑฑๅฝข็พŽ่ก“้คจ, โ€ฆ

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Gourmet๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

Yamagata Food Guide: Imoni, Dashi & Cherries

Every autumn, Yamagata holds giant outdoor imoni (taro hotpot) parties on the riverside. Dโ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

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 perโ€ฆ

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Festival/Event๐ŸŒธ Spring

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 โ€” the "Shogi Hometown." Each Apโ€ฆ

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Sightseeingโ˜€๏ธ Summer

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 throughโ€ฆ

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Sightseeingโ˜€๏ธ Summer

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 exceptioโ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

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 600โ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

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 Matโ€ฆ

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Sightseeingโ„๏ธ Winter

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. Aftโ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

Tsuruoka Shonai Domain and Chido Museum: Former Castle Town Where Shonai Domain Culture Lives On

Tsuruoka โ€” administered by the Sakai family of the 140,000-koku Shonai domain โ€” is Yamagatโ€ฆ

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Seasonal Picks๐ŸŒธ Spring

Nagai City Balloon Festival and Shirato River Canola Flowers

Nagai, Yamagata, offers the contrast of canola flowers along the Shirato River (a tributarโ€ฆ

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Sightseeingโ˜€๏ธ Summer

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 piโ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

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, aโ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐Ÿ‚ Autumn

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 distincโ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

Mogami River Boat Descent: River Journey on the Oku no Hosomichi Trail Where Matsuo Basho Composed

"Samidare wo atsumete hayashi Mogami-gawa" โ€” the Mogami River where Matsuo Basho composed โ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐ŸŒธ Spring

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 Mogamโ€ฆ

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Power Spotโ˜€๏ธ Summer

Three Mountains of Dewa Pilgrimage: "Journey of Rebirth" Walking in White Robes

The Three Mountains of Dewa โ€” Haguro-san, Gassan, and Yudonosan โ€” are mountain faith sacreโ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

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 traditionaโ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐ŸŒธ Spring

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 ancestโ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

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 sprinโ€ฆ

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Festival/Eventโ˜€๏ธ Summer

Shinjo Festival Floats and Shinjo Castle Ruins: Shonai Festival Counted Among Tohoku's Three Great Festivals

The "Shinjo Festival" held August 24โ€“26 each year in Shinjo, Yamagata, is counted among Toโ€ฆ

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Seasonal Picks๐Ÿ‚ Autumn

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 froโ€ฆ

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Power Spot๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

Yamadera (Risshakuji) โ€” 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 Baโ€ฆ

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Seasonal Picksโ„๏ธ Winter

Zao Onsen and Frost-Covered Trees โ€” Ice Monsters from the Yamagata Side

Ski and soak at Zao Onsen, approaching from the Yamagata side to see the dramatic juhyo icโ€ฆ

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Seasonal Picks๐ŸŒธ Spring

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 โ€ฆ

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Power Spot๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

Dewa Sanzan โ€” The Sacred Mountains of Rebirth and Ascetic Training

Embark on a spiritual journey through the Three Mountains of Dewa, a sacred pilgrimage sitโ€ฆ

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Power Spot๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

Yamadera (Risshakuji) โ€” The Sky Temple That Moved Matsuo Basho's Soul

Climb 1,015 stone steps to Yamadera temple complex, where poet Matsuo Basho composed his fโ€ฆ

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Sightseeing๐Ÿ—พ All seasons

Zao Onsen โ€” Spectacular Snow Monsters and Famous Hot Springs

Visit Zao Onsen for its dramatic juhyo (snow monsters) in winter and its famous strongly aโ€ฆ