Prefecture guide
Yamagata
山形県
Mountain prefecture of Ginzan Onsen's lamp-lit street, Zao's frosted 'snow monster' trees, the cliff temple of Yamadera and sweet cherries in early summer.
- places to see
- 23
- town guide
- 1
- protected local foods
- 5
- traditional crafts
- 5
- Japan Heritage stories
- 4
Map of Yamagata
Tap a pin to see the place, or a town name for its guide. You can switch on places to eat and stay too.
Places to see in Yamagata
Uesugi Shrine
上杉神社A notable old tree in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Koyamazaki Site
小山崎遺跡A historic site in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
- Tsuruoka
Hodashi no Keyaki
文下のケヤキA notable old tree in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Kikusui Craft Museum
掬粋巧芸館A museum in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum
米沢市上杉博物館A museum in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
- Tsuruoka
Haguro-san Five-storied Pagoda
羽黒山五重塔A pagoda in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
- Tsuruoka
Kinbo Shrine
金峯神社 (鶴岡市)A Shinto shrine in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Shimokomatsu Kofun Cluster
下小松古墳群An ancient burial mound in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Kaisendo Museum
蟹仙洞A museum in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Hinata Caves
日向洞窟A natural sight in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Ukitamu Fudoki no Oka Archaeological Museum
山形県立うきたむ風土記の丘考古資料館A museum in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Yamagata Prefectural Museum
山形県立博物館A museum in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Town guides in Yamagata
The towns with the most to see, each with its own guide.
Taste of Yamagata
Foods whose names are protected in Japan. If the label carries the name, it really comes from here.
Traditional crafts of Yamagata
Officially recognised crafts that are still made by hand. A good place to start when you look for souvenirs.
This week's weather (nearest forecast: Sendai)
Today
24 Oct
Cloudy
High 20°CLow 11°C
Sun
25 Oct
Cloudy
High 21°CLow 16°C
Rain 80%
Mon
26 Oct
Cloudy
High 18°CLow 12°C
Rain 70%
Tue
27 Oct
Cloudy
High 17°CLow 10°C
Rain 50%
Mild: long sleeves or a light cardigan. Bring a thin jacket for the evening.
Explore by interest
Japan Heritage stories
Local history told as a route you can follow, with the places that go with it.
Good to know
- Ginzan Onsen is small and very popular in winter, so stay overnight or arrive early.
- Yamadera has about a thousand stone steps up to the temple halls.
- Cherry picking season is usually June to early July.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Yamagata?
The Yamagata Shinkansen runs from Tokyo through the prefecture to Shinjo, about three hours to the end of the line. You can also fly to Yamagata or Shonai airports; for more flight choices, Sendai Airport is the nearest major one.
What is Yamagata known for?
Zao Onsen, a ski and hot spring resort where winter turns the fir trees into giant snow monsters. Yamadera, a temple on a steep rocky hill, inspired one of Japan's most famous haiku. Ginzan Onsen is a picture-perfect hot spring town on an old silver mine.
What should I eat in Yamagata?
Cherries: Yamagata grows about 70% of Japan's cherries. In autumn, locals gather by rivers to cook imoni, a beef and taro stew, in giant pots. Yonezawa beef is one of Japan's top three wagyu brands.
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Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.