Yamagata – nature, temples and gastronomy

The present Yamagata region was part of Dewa Province. During the Edo period, it was a fortified town and the center of the Yamagata estate under the Tokugawa Shogunate. The city of Yamagata was founded on 1 April 1889 as the capital of the Yamagata prefecture with the creation of the modern municipal system. The city reached special city status on 1 April 2001. The city’s status was then elevated to central status on April 1, 2019. Yamagata Prefecture is full of seafood dishes, fruits and rich nature. The subtle beauty of the snowy landscape unfolds in a range of fun events, illuminated snow monsters and charming wooden lodges all around the city, with a soft steam blowing around Ginzan Onsen. A relaxing and nostalgic scene awaits you.

Matsuri

The Yamagata Hanagasa festival, one of the main summer festivals in Tōhoku, is held in the city every 5, 6 and 7 August.

Yamagata also hosts the Yamagata International Film Festival twice a year.

An autumn tradition is Imoni-kai (taro potato festival). Taro potatoes, fine sliced meat and vegetables are cooked in a large pot on the picnic site. The banks of the Mamigasaki River are popular. Once a year, on the first Sunday of September, the city’s government serves thousands of bowls from its giant iron pot.

Yamadera and RisshakuJi Godaido

Yamadera is a picturesque temple located in the mountains northeast of the city of Yamagata. The temple gardens stretch over a steep mountainside, where there are superb views of the valley. The temple was founded more than a thousand years ago in 860 as a temple of the Tendai sect under the official name of Risshakuji. Its popular name, Yamadera, literally means “mountain temple” in Japanese.

The mountain is located about five minutes walk from Yamadera Train Station, and there are dozens of shops and restaurants that welcome the many visitors to the temple. There is also a small reception center just opposite the bridge along the train station path to the temple.

To the south of the temple you can also discover the Fuga no kuni, a large park or the Yamadera Basho Memorial Museum. This museum collects works and reels of the poet Matsu Basho (1644-1694) who perfected the art of haiku in its form 5-7-5.

YamagataJo and Kajo koen

Yamagata Castle was built in 1592 by Yoshiaki Mogami, one of the main feudal lords of Tohoku during the period of the civil war in Japan. It is recognized as one of the top 100 castles in Japan. Located in the centre of the city of Yamagata, the castle park was opened to the public as Kajo Park after World War II. In recent years, excavations and restoration work have taken place. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the original castle in some of the rebuilt buildings, including the main doors that were reassembled in 2018.

An equestrian statue of Yoshiaki Mogami stands on the castle grounds. Yoshiaki was the founding feudal lord and most popular of the castle. He devoted resources to the development of the city.

Thanks to the 1,500 cherry trees in bloom on the old castle estate, Kajo Park is one of the best sites in Yamagata for Hanami. The row of flowering cherry trees along the eastern and southern moats is illuminated during the high flowering season. In addition to the Yamagata Kyodokan, the park and its surroundings are full of cultural attractions enjoyed by tourists, including the Yamagata Prefectural Museum, the Yamagata Art Museum and the Yoshiaki Mogami Historical Museum.

Yamagata Prefectural Hospital- Kyodokan

The Yamagata Prefectural Hospital, built in 1878, was transformed in 1969 and opened free of charge to the public. The Western-style building exhibits documents on local history as well as medical equipment from the time. The nearby stone is a macabre historic site. Local folklore says Yoshiaki put the head of his greatest rival, Nagahisa Shiratori, on the stone when he murdered him.

Culinary specialization

Like Niigata rice, Yamagata rice is one of the most famous in Japan, widely cultivated in the Tsuruoka Plains. This rice will be used for many recipes and specialties including Yamagata sake or Oranda Senbei rice biscuits.

Yonezawa Gyu, Yonezawa beef is a specialty in Yamagata prefecture, considered one of the three best meats in Japan (with Kobe and Matsusaka).

You can find these specialties in many restaurants in the city of Yamagata.

Ski resort Zao onsen

For snow lovers, the Yamagata Zao Onsen ski resort is the largest ski resort in the Tōhoku region of Japan. The resort is especially famous for its ski slopes in winter, but trekking is also a popular sport in summer.

Also known as “snow monsters”, the trees take curious forms due to heavy snowfall and ice winds. Snow monsters form around the top of the Zao ski resort and are generally the most spectacular around mid-February. Access to the monsters is provided by a cable car and a cable car for skiers and non-skiers.

Getting to Yamagata

From Tokyo, it is possible to take the Shinkansen Yamagata for a journey of about 2H30 (for a ticket of 11,000 yen covered by the JR Pass).

A trip to Yamagata will allow everyone to truly immerse themselves in the beauty of the Japanese countryside, savor local dishes and soak up some of the country’s best outdoor hot springs while remaining a step towardsHokkaidoor inTohoku.

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