Vol.042-Day Yamagata Trip With Charming Seasonal Scenery and Hot Springs

Day One

9:30 Visit a Beautiful Mystical Valley by Boat

Mifuchi Valley, located at the far end of Nagai Hyakushu Lake (Nagai Dam), is an area associated with “The Legend of Princess Unohana” which has been passed down for generations since the Heian period (794-1185). The valley is the approach to a shrine. Going through the valley on a boat takes visitors to the shrine. Tours are held from late April to mid-November and travel within this mystical landscape for about one hour. You will certainly be blown away by this scenery interwoven with nature.

We recommend viewing Lake Shirakawa’s submerged forest, which can only be enjoyed for a month between mid-April to mid-May. Snowmelt from the Iide Mountains streams into Lake Shirakawa resulting in a scenery that appears as if the verdurous white willow trees are sprouting from the water. Especially recommended during the early morning, on clear days the area is veiled in mist, creating a fantastic and picturesque landscape.

The gigantic snow huts of Onogawa Onsen Kamakura Village are very popular in the winter. You can even enjoy ramen inside the snow huts. Eating piping hot ramen in such cold weather will surely warm you up!

11:30 Enjoy Local Ramen

Once you’ve appreciated the incredible scenery, let’s head over to Nanyo for lunch. Yamagata is a ramen and soba noodle paradise ! We will be eating Akayu ramen, a local ramen dish from Nanyo. Akayu ramen is described as being a miso ramen topped with spicy miso made with Akayu-grown red peppers; you can adjust the spiciness according to your preference while dissolving paste into the broth. Ryu Shanghai Akayu Honten is particularly famous and visited by fans from all across Japan, often resulting in long queues. It’s recommended to visit at off-peak hours.

13:30 Take in the Charm of Yamadera Temple on a Sacred Mountain with Breathtaking Views

After enjoying local ramen, let’s head to Mt. Hoshu Risshakuji Temple, which is also known as Yamadera Temple. Yamadera Temple, consisting of strange rock and stone formations, has many spots for you to enjoy historical sites and incredible scenery as you climb its 1,015-stone staircase. The magnificence of the scenery at the top of the staircase simply cannot be described in words. Please admire the scenery, which changes every season.

In the winter, let’s head out to see the snow monsters of Zao, which can be reached in about an hour by car from Yamadera Temple. You’ll be welcomed by nature’s impressive artwork created through snow and ice. During the green season, you can enjoy the natural grand panorama and the starry night sky from places like Zao Terrace and Hyakumannin Terrace along the Zao Ropeway.

16:30 Indulgent Rest and Relaxation at an Inn Boasting Famous Hot Springs

After enjoying incredible scenery and excellent local cuisine, let’s relax at Hatagonokokoro Hashimotoya, a hot spring inn located in Kaminoyama Onsen that opened as a bathing facility in the Muromachi period. The pride of this inn is undeniably the hot springs! Thoroughly get your fill of well-known hot springs through the various elaborate baths. Some of their offerings include an open-air bath with direct flow from the source and a bathtub made from a giant, hollowed out stone from Zao or an outdoor bath where you can enjoy the expansive scenery.

Furthermore, the cuisine made with seasonal ingredients from Yamagata, alongside locally produced wines and sake, contributes to their popularity. Spend a blissful time at this hospitable Japanese-modern inn where guests are welcomed by a rabbit theme, the symbol of the inn.

Day Two

10:30 Enjoy Ginzan Onsen’s Nostalgic Townscape on a Stroll

On the second day, take a trip back in time to the Taisho era (1912-1925) in the nostalgic Ginzan Onsen. Change into a kimono or traditional Japanese attire and enjoy strolling around the hot spring town, visiting cafes and souvenir shops. As dusk falls, gas lamps light up, allowing you to immerse yourself in a nostalgic Japanese atmosphere reminiscent of the setting in “Spirited Away.” The most photogenic scenery can be enjoyed during snowy nights.

12:00 Fragrant Yamagata Soba Noodles

Yamagata Prefecture is renowned for being one of the nation’s top producers of buckwheat, and it boasts several soba (buckwheat noodle) districts. Among them, the Oku no Hosomichi Obanazawa Soba Highway offers the opportunity to savor fragrant, high-quality soba noodles. The buckwheat nurtured by the region’s diverse climate and pure water is truly exceptional. Some restaurants also offer workshops where you can make soba noodles from scratch, so why not challenge yourself?

14:00 Go Down Mogami River on a Boat to Admire the Amazing Scenery

The Mogami River Boat Tour allows you to enjoy marvelous scenery in every season with mountain cherry blossoms in the spring, fresh verdure in the summer, autumn foliage in the fall, and mountain scenery that resembles an ink painting in the winter. You can relax and enjoy a leisurely time while listening to the boatman’s singing along the majestic natural surroundings.

From spring to autumn, we highly recommend taking a stop at Genso no Mori on Mt. Tsuchiyu. It’s a captivating space where you can savor fresh air under ancient trees that are over one thousand years old, providing a mystical forest bathing experience. This picturesque spot has even been featured as a filming location for famous commercials and movies.

16:00 Learn About Snow Country Culture and Snow Disaster Relief Efforts

The final place on our itinerary is the Yukinosato Information Center where you can learn about beautiful snowflakes, the scientific properties of snow, and the life and culture of a “snow country”–a region that sees heavy snowfall every year.

This building was established to preserve and restore a part of the former Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Institute for Economic Research in Snowy Rural Regions building. The institute was built in 1933 as part of snow disaster relief efforts (*). The center is a registered tangible cultural property and is being used as an exhibition hall. *Efforts to seek support for those that suffered damage due to snowfall and cold weather

*MATCHA Published in February 2024 *Information as of January 2024