Yamagata Prefecture | Travel Guide
While Yamagata prefecture in the northeastern part of Japan’s main island might not be a typical destination for international tourists, it is a good destination for off the beaten path winter sports. Every year, Yamagata receives plenty of snow, and combined with the many mountains it makes for a good destination for skiing and snowboarding.
But that is not all there is to do in Yamagata, as doing a temple stay is one of the best ways to experience Japanese culture from up close. In the summer, people flock to the area to participate in the Hanagasa Matsuri, a traditional Japanese festival. The region is quite rural and known for its production of rice and fruits.
Check out our package tour in the Tohoku region if you are interested in discovering the area!
Ginzan Onsen Hot Spring Resort
Do you want to relax in a hot spring resort without the tourist crowds? It is a bit of a trek, but Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata is a perfect getaway for those who really want to bathe in nature.
Dewa Sanzan in Yamagata
The people who practise on Dewa Sanzan are called 'yamabushi', and they are probably the most rigorous and stoic people in the history of Japan. They are no strangers to physical and mental endurance, as they undertake long pilgrimages under harsh natural circumstances, train under ice-cold waterfalls and extended fasting.
Yamadera: a Hidden Gem in the Mountains
Yamadera is a temple located in the mountainous northeastern part of Yamagata City and it is one of the prominent temples in the Tohoku region. It was founded over a thousand years ago as a branch temple of the Enryaku-ji of Kyoto, as a branch temple for the Tendai school of Buddhism.
