Tour around 4 areas in Yamagata to satisfy both your stomach and heart with their unique landscapes and cultures

Yamagata prefecture is about 2 hours and a half by Shinkansen from Tokyo. It consists of 4 areas: “Murayama” including Yamagata city, the central city of Yamagata prefecture, “Okitama,” “Shonai,” “Mogami.” You can visit a few destinations on a day trip, but why not travel around Yamagata prefecture leisurely to enjoy landscapes, foods and cultures varying depending on each area?

This time, we’re going to introduce features of 3 areas surrounding Murayama area.

“Okitama Area” with loads of sightseeing spots created by nature and history

Being about 30 minutes by Shinkansen from Yamagata Station, “Okitama Area” is located in the southernmost part of Yamagata prefecture. It’s an area with abundant crops surrounded by many mountains such as Ou Mountains and Asahi Mountains. Speaking of the city great access from Yamagata Station, it’s Yonezawa city famous for one of the three highest quality Japanese beef brands ‘Yonezawa Gyu.’ Not only foods but also spiritual spots created by nature, such as the largest waterfall in the Tohoku region “Namegawa Great Falls” and eight famous hot springs “Yonezawa Hatto“, are attractive. In addition, it’s also a place related to the Uesugi Clan, warriors in the Sengoku era. There are lots of historical spots with a solemn atmosphere, including “Uesugi Shrine” built approximately 150 years ago and “Yonezawa Castle Ruins (Matsugasaki Park)” which is a popular cherry-blossoms viewing spot.

“Shonai Area,” treasury of foodstuff and food culture

Located in the northwestern part of Yamagata prefecture, “Shonai Area” is about 2 hours by express bus from Yamagata Station. This area facing the Sea of Japan and having lots of rivers including Mogami River is one of Japan’s leading granary areas. The Shonai Plain where rice farming is flourishing is also located in this area, and their local sake made from high-quality water and rice for sake is exquisite as well as rice. We recommend that you should eat Dadacha-mame and Gassandake Bamboo Shoot, Nanzenji Dofu and so on as nibbles. In addition, it might be a good idea to visit Tsuruoka city, which is the representative city of Shonai area and registered as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Why not enjoy eating around this area to your heart’s content while sightseeing?

“Mogami Area” allowing you to feel Japanese tradition and contemporary

“Mogami Area” is located in the northeast part of Yamagata prefecture, where it takes 50 minutes by Shinkansen from Yamagata Station. Here, you can enjoy not only nature and various local foods but also Japanese culture that represents both traditional and modern Japan. Shinjo city, the main place of this area, is the venue of “Shinjo Festival” with over 260 years of history. This magnificent and gorgeous festival is registered as a national important intangible folk cultural property and a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. On the other hand, you can experience the world of Manga, one of Cool Japan, when visiting “Shinjo Mogami Manga Museum” adjacent to Shinjo Station. Illustrations and autographs of various Manga creators such as Yoshihiro Togashi who wrote ‘Yu Yu Hakusho (幽☆遊☆白書),’ ‘HUNTER×HUNTER’ and so on are exhibited.