What to do and see in Yamagata, Tohoku: The Best Things to do

December 12, 2021 Merry Kessler

Yamagata is the capital city of Yamagata Prefecture located in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. As of October 2015, the city had an estimated population of 252,632, and a population density of 663 persons per km².
Restaurants in Yamagata

1. Frost Covered Trees of Zao

Near Jizo Mountain, Yamagata 990-2301 Yamagata Prefecture +81 23-694-9168 http://www.kankou.yamagata.yamagata.jp/zao/jyuhyo/
Excellent
54%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 246 reviews

Frost Covered Trees of Zao

2. Risshaku-ji Temple

4456-1 Yamadera, Yamagata 999-3301 Yamagata Prefecture +81 23-695-2843 http://www.rissyakuji.jp/
Excellent
52%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 891 reviews

Risshaku-ji Temple

Reviewed By JohnD209 - Leavenworth, United States

Yamadera means "mountain temples" and the mountainside has many small and a few large temples built in nooks and crannies along the way up to the mountain top. The hike up to the top and the area of Risshaku-ji is along a stone path with over 1000 steps. It takes about one hour to climb and 25 minutes to descend. The lower steps wind back and forth climbing through a Japanese cypress forest festooned with stone lanterns. About half-way up there is a traditional temple gate with two guardian statues. After you pass through this gate there are more buildings and more maple trees - making the climb sparkling when the maples are changing colours. Most professional pictures of the temple complex are taken in the fall when the reds and yellows are out or in the spring when the maples send forth their green leaves. As the complex opens up you will see several separate buildings. Head to the left to go to the Risshaku-ji Temple and the views of the train station and town through which you passed on the way to the base of the mountain. A must-see experience. After seeing the Risshaku-ji Temple, continue up a few more minutes to the main Senju-in Temple, which is a completely different looking temple that is used more for worship than for the views. It has some magnificant statuary in the foreyard.

3. Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort

Zao Onsen, Yamagata 990-2301 Yamagata Prefecture +81 23-694-9328 http://www.zao-ski.or.jp/
Excellent
52%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 330 reviews

Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort

Reviewed By MontyPuppy - Perth, Australia

If you love Nosawa Onsen but hate the crowds, try something a little further away. Zao Onsen in the Yamagata Prefecture has 12m snow seasons, lovely powder, loads of lifts and fun local foods to try plus the very amazing and unique ‘snow monsters’. (Eerie snow and wind blasted trees near the peak of the mountain). If you enjoy first tracks and make early starts avoiding the Zao ropeway that takes tourists up to the monsters, you’ll have a fabulous time. And then there is the private and public town onsens and apres skiing. Sensational.

4. Bunshokan

3-4-51 Hatagomachi, Yamagata 990-0047 Yamagata Prefecture +81 23-635-5500 http://www.gakushubunka.jp/bunsyokan/
Excellent
48%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 187 reviews

Bunshokan

Reviewed By SofiaTKI - Lima, Peru

you can't miss this spot. It is a lovely museum of english renaissance architecture and it was the previous prefectural government office and assembly hall.

5. Dokkonuma Swamp

Zao Onsen, Yamagata 990-2301 Yamagata Prefecture
Excellent
46%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
0%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 28 reviews

Dokkonuma Swamp

6. Zao Ropeway

229-3 Zao Onsen, Yamagata 990-2301 Yamagata Prefecture +81 23-694-9518 http://zaoropeway.co.jp
Excellent
36%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 226 reviews

Zao Ropeway

Reviewed By hienbau - Geneva, Switzerland

The landscape is spectacular and worth to queue. The wind is very strong and blew with snow like storm, so sometime we could hardly see the things on top, then stop at the middle station and enjoy the view there. Will come back for skiing, must be wonderful experience.

7. Yamagata Kyodokan

1-1 Kajomachi, Yamagata 990-0826 Yamagata Prefecture +81 23-644-0253 http://www.city.yamagata-yamagata.lg.jp/kankokyaku/sub3/bunkazai/97270yamagatasikyoudokan.html
Excellent
32%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
24%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 84 reviews

Yamagata Kyodokan

Reviewed By DesmondLim - Singapore, Singapore

It’s a little museum, located inside Yamagata Castle Park, north of Yamagata Station, about 13mins walk (1.1km) Honestly, it was in our plan as it look like “just an old building. We decided to pay a visit while in the park, but it turned out to be a surprised. It was originally a local hospital in the 1900s and the compound was beautiful . The museum displayed a lot of medical equipments and medical manual used in the old days. There are some old photos of the medical team and patients as well. It’s free entry and definitely worth a visit if you are nearby. Do drop me a message if need more info, and give me a thumbs up if you find the info useful. Thanks

8. Kajo Park

Kajomachi, Yamagata 990-0826 Yamagata Prefecture +81 23-641-1212 http://www.city.yamagata-yamagata.lg.jp/shiseijoho/sub14/koen/ecb45kajou.html
Excellent
21%
Good
52%
Satisfactory
25%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 182 reviews

Kajo Park

9. Yamagata Museum of Art

1-63 Otemachi, Yamagata 990-0046 Yamagata Prefecture +81 23-622-3090 http://www.yamagata-art-museum.or.jp/
Excellent
33%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 51 reviews

Yamagata Museum of Art

10. Yamagata castle

Kajomachi, Yamagata 990-0826 Yamagata Prefecture http://www.city.yamagata-yamagata.lg.jp/shisetsu/sub2/shisetsu_kankobunka/ecb45kajou.html
Excellent
10%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
39%
Poor
4%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 126 reviews

Yamagata castle

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