Yamagata Prefecture Travel Guide

A famous castle of Ushu watching over the castle town.

A national park spanning Yamagata, Fukushima, and Niigata, and the third-largest in Japan by land area.

The only zoo in Yamagata Prefecture, open year-round, 24 hours a day, and free to visit.

A mystical waterfall formed by the spring water of Mt. Chokai, flowing in two streams.

A comprehensive museum where you can explore Yamagata’s nature, history, and culture all in one place.

Only for two months! Enjoy a dreamy, otherworldly view reflected on the water.

A relaxing local park with beautiful views from the summit.

A forest of giant trees lined with thousand-year-old cedars, wrapped in silence and mystery.

A one-of-a-kind shrine in a beech forest that enshrines “air.”

A renowned Soto Zen temple known as one of Japan’s leading prayer sites, where dragon deities have been enshrined since ancient times.

A relaxing spot in Yutagawa Onsen where Approx. 300 plum trees burst into bloom in spring.

A museum showcasing works by Utagawa Hiroshige, famous for The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido.

Enjoy gourmet cuisine unique to Yamagata, a region blessed with exceptional ingredients.

An exquisite balance of heat and richness! Traditional Yamagata miso ramen.

A ramen restaurant known as the birthplace of Yamagata’s local specialty, hiyashi ramen.

An exceptional Yonezawa beef experience with traditional craftsmanship and the charm of a historic folk house.

Rich spicy miso and hearty chashu are the highlights at this popular ramen shop in Yamagata.

A place to savor richly aromatic Yamagata-style 100% buckwheat soba.

All-you-can-eat traditional mori soba nurtured in the mountain villages of Yamagata.

Directly connected to JR Yamagata Station! A Japanese-style izakaya where you can enjoy Yamagata local cuisine and local sake.

An izakaya where you can enjoy Yamagata's local cuisine in a space that evokes the charm of old Japan.

In historic Naragejuku, savor konnyaku kaiseki with a springy bite and deep umami.

A fruit salon by a fruit shop that fully showcases the appeal of fruit.

A long-established soba restaurant with over 160 years of history, also known for its signature ramen dish, “Tori Chuka.”

A tourism and local products hall with the best selection in Yamagata Prefecture.

One of the largest commercial facilities in the area, known for its giant shogi piece object.

A live shogi piece demonstration and sales shop in the Tendo Onsen hot spring town.

Experience a time-trip to the Taisho Era at this costume rental & cafe.

A hot spring ryokan where beautiful nature and a Japanese garden bring relaxation.

A comfortable hotel that makes a convenient base for your Yamagata trip.

A place to enjoy hot springs, fine food, and activities in Shonai, Yamagata.

A Yonezawa hot spring ryokan where nature and soothing baths help deepen time spent together.

A community hotel where you can enjoy the culture and cuisine of Sakata, Yamagata.

A glamping facility with hot springs, surrounded by the great nature of Yonezawa, Yamagata.

A historic ryokan with over 300 years of history, offering the pure luxury of Zao’s natural flowing hot springs.

A charming 90-year-old wooden inn offering a serene experience and heartfelt hospitality.

A new-style ryokan that offers a blend of Japanese-modern ambiance and Italian cuisine featuring the best seasonal ingredients from Yamagata.

Relax in the hot springs at Tendo, the town famous for shogi, with an open-air bath offering views of a waterfall.

Refresh your body and mind in the scenic large public bath with stunning views.

A luxurious kura-storehouse suite for an indulgent stay in Shirataka, a town surrounded by abundant nature.

An energetic parade featuring around 10,000 dancers, their vibrant flower-decorated hats (hanagasa) swaying beautifully as they dance through the streets.

Aiming to be “Japan’s Most Moving Fireworks Show,” this top-notch competition draws the nation’s best pyrotechnicians in an dazzling launch of 12,000 fireworks across a vast 700-meter-wide site.