SPECTACULAR SCENERIES

SPECTACULAR SCENERIES

Traditional Culture and History
Experience spectacular scenery all made by snow.
Capture the beauty of the Snow Kingdom.

ZAO ONSEN

Zao is home to the world famous Snow Monster, an art form composed of ice and snow dictated by nature and created by the special weather conditions and vegetation in the area. You can also experience the famous Ogama a mysterious emerald green crater lake housed with a rugged crater wall.

Zao has long been worshipped as a divine mountain by pilgrims since ancient times, and is a must-go sightseeing destination in Yamagata Prefecture.

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The Ogama, the symbol of Zao, crater lake

Komakusa, the queen of alpine flora

Birds of Zao (Yellow-bellied Flycatcher)

Autumn leaves of Katakai swamp

Zao’s tree ice

Zao Onsen Ski Resort

Zao Ropeway

YAMADERA AND THE HOJUSAN RISSHAKUJI TEMPLE

An ancient temple of the Tendai sect where prayers have been offered for 1,200 years, a magnificent view awaits at the end of more than 800 stone steps. Yamadera is a sacred mountain that represents the Tohoku, or northern Honshu region of Japan. Yamadera is a scenic spot rich in nature surrounded by strange, huge rocks. You can also enjoy the atmosphere of the souvenir shops all lined up along the way towards the temple as a souvenir for visiting Yamagata.

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The snowy scenery of Yamadera Temple

The konpon-chudo Hall

Nokyodo

Godaido

The snowy landscape of Yamadera Basho Memorial Hall

The cherry blossoms at the Yamadera Basho Memorial Hall

Nokyodo and Kaisando

The autumn leaves of Yamadera Temple

Tarumiku Ruins / Mine no Ura

UESUGI SHRINE

Uesugi Shrine is dedicated to Kenshin Uesugi, a historical legend who is said to be the strongest military commander in Japan’s Warring States period. Uesugi Shrine is built on the site of a former castle, and represents Yonezawa Uesugi’s samurai spirit, as well as the spirit of frugality. During the “Yonezawa Uesugi Festival” held in the spring, visitors can experience the samurai culture come to life by attending the “Uesugi Procession,” a gorgeous armor parade participated by more than 1,000 people.

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The Uesugi Shrine main hall

Cherry blossoms in Matsugasaki Park (Uesugi Shrine)

The Illumination of Cherry blossoms in Matsugasaki Park (Uesugi Shrine)

The Snow lanterns at Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival

Candle zone of Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival

Sankyo Soko Storehouses

The Sankyo Warehouse is a rice warehouse that preserves the history of Sakata, a bustling port for shipping rice all over Japan, and is reputed to be the best in the country in terms of ingenuity and available facilities. The warehouse was built over 130 years ago and is

still in use today, not inferior to the storage capabilities of modern warehouses. Nearby the warehouse, the rows of 35 zelkova trees,

each aged over 150 years old, is also a popular tourist attraction.

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The snow scene at Sankyo Warehouse

The rows of green zeklova leaves

The rows of autumn zeklova leaves

KAMO AQUARIUM

The Kamo Aquarium has attracted attention for having the world’s largest number of jellyfish on display. The exhibit, called the Kranetarium, invites visitors into a mysterious world of colorful jellyfish floating in the water, as if they were in the sea. Don’t miss out on the jellyfish-themed snacks and jellyfish-related goods that you can exclusively buy at the Kamo Aquarium.

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直径5メートルの水槽「クラゲドリームシアター」に浮遊する約1万匹のミズクラゲ。

Sunset view over the Yamagata coast

THE YAMAGATA RAILWAY FLOWER NAGAI LINE

Spanning a stretch of tracks that measure 30 kilometers long for one way and lasts one hour, the Flower Nagai Line is a local train that allows visitors to enjoy seasonal flowers in bloom, nostalgic rural scenery, and the mysterious world of vast snow fields.

This local train connects four cities and towns in Yamagata prefecture. As this line dashes through a vast array of places famous for flowers, it is long appreciated by local residents as a scenic train line.

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A single-car train trekking on a snowfield

Train running across the Mogami River Railroad Bridge

Nishi-Otsuka Railway Station registered as a Tangible Cultural Property

KOJIMA SOHONTEN TOKO SAKE BREWERY

Yamagata is dotted with unique sake breweries that produce a variety of excellent sake – or Japanese rice wine – due to differences in both climate, and culture. Toko, located in Yonezawa City, is a historic sake brewery well-loved by locals. It contains an earthen storehouse that exhibits the traditional methods of sake brewing and its time-consuming and labor-intensive process, and is said to be the largest storehouse in Japan’s Tohoku region.

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DEWA SANZAN (THREE MOUNTAINS OF DEWA)

The Dewa Sanzan (Three Mountains of Dewa) is the collective name for the three mountains of Hagurosan, Gassan, and Yudonosan located in Yamagata. It is considered as a must-go destination for dedicated pilgrims. Hiking across the three mountains has been referred to as “a journey of rebirth,” in Buddhism. The connection between nature and faith in the mountains has been handed down since Japan’s Edo period (1603-1867) to the present day.The five-story pagoda of Mt. Hagurosan, a national treasure built about 600 years ago is considered to be an iconic symbol of the Dewa Sanzan mountains.

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Hagurosan

Gassan

Yudonosan

The Shinto bridge on the Haraigawa

The five-story pagoda of Hagurosan

The 2,446 stone steps leading to Hagurosan

Sanjin Gosai-den and Kagami-ike Pond

Sanjin Gosai-den

The Akashobin, a phantom firebird at Hagurosan

The Shoreisai Festival held on New Year’s Eve