History / Culture / Tour Spots in Yamagata Area

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Yamagata
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Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Warabe no Sato Historical and Cultural Art Museum

4.5

8 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Yamagata-shi Zao Onsen Doji Daira 1138

This museum is on prefectural route 21 in Doshidaira, Zao Onsen, Yamagata City. It encompasses five warehouses and buildings of historical value, including an Anzaisho, or stopping point, used by the Meiji emperor during an official tour of the Tohoku region. The buildings have a variety of materials on display, including items donated by the Imperial family, pieces related to the lords of Yamagata Castle, and papers and texts left behind by artists and writers who have visited Zao. There is also a dining room serving Jidori Soba, made with Zao-grown organic buckwheat and free-range chicken.

We didn’t have time to go to the museum, but we had a good lunch at the restaurant that is in an old house on the museum grounds. Although the food at this restaurant was rather ordinary, the place...
Chokainomori Astronomical Obsevatory, Cosmos Domu

4.0

8 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Yamagata Pref. Sakatashi Tsuchibuchi Akira Jiro 20-2

This astronomical observatory is in the Chokai-no-mori area of Tsuchibuchi, Sakata City. It has a 50-centimeter reflector telescope, the largest in the Shonai region. They hold astronomical observations at night on Fridays and Saturdays and during the day on Saturdays and Sundays. In the annex's exhibition room there's a model of the space shuttle, a display of the constellations, and a large quick reference board of the stars where you can see what the sky will look like later that night.

キャンプ場の途中にあったので寄ってみました公園になっており天気が良ければとても眺めが良い公園です天体観測館は当然と言えば当然なのですが日中訪れても無駄足になります夜の星観察場なので
Kaisendo Museum

4.0

8 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Yamagata Kaminoyama-shi Yarai 4-6-8

This art museum is in Yarai 4-Chome, Kaminoyama City. It stores a collection of lacquerware and weaponry collected by Hasegawa Kenzo, who ran a prosperous local silk mill. The main hall uses a building from the Taisho era, and holds swords from the Kamakura period to the late Edo period, as well as Ming dynasty Chinese lacquerware, and more. The kominka (old house) where Hasegawa lived, and his Japanese garden, are also open to the public.

入場料500円ですが、お庭と建物に往時が偲ばれます。お茶や飴があったり、まったり座れる座敷があったり、ピアノが弾けたり、心が和みます。すごいコレクション！なのかどうかは分かりませんが、いい所です。
Yamagata Prefectural Ukitamu Fudoki no Oka Archeological Museum

4.0

7 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Higashiokitama-gun Takahatamachi Akutsu 2117

Yamagata Prefectural Ukitamu Fudoki-no-Oka Archeological Museum is located on the west side of Mahoroba Ancient Village Historical Park. “Ukitamu” is the ancient name of the Okitama region, as recorded in the eighth-century chronicle Nihon Shoki. As the name suggests, the main exhibits consist of artifacts from the Old Stone Age to the Kofun Period (about 250 to 538) that have been dug up in the area. Among the most unusual exhibits are stone items from the Old Stone Age,, said to be the oldest in Yamagata Prefecture, and earthenware decorated with lacquer “Saimon-doki,” which have been designated as National Important Cultural Properties. In addition, there will be a display of a recreated diorama of Jomon people living in a pit-type dwelling, and an experience-based event on such as earthenware making.

道の駅たかはた近くにある県立の考古資料館です。置賜地方から発掘された旧石器時代から古墳時代までの遺物を展示している資料館です。特に「彩漆土器」は国重要文化財に指定されています。発掘時は、鮮やかな赤色があったそうですが空気にふれ色彩が変化してしまい、現在は金庫に保管されていて展示はレプリカです。さらに新潟県境に近い小国町の遺跡から発掘された黒曜石の石器は青森や北海道産。当時それらの地方と交流があっ...
Sokoji Temple

4.0

6 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Sakata-shi Sokojisawa 8

This temple is in Sokojisawa, Sakata City. This Zen temple was founded in 1384 by monk Getsuan Ryoen, and is the 12th temple on the Shonai 33 Temple Pilgrimage. Horaien, the garden on the temple grounds, is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty, and the Kinoko Sugi cedar planted along the pilgrimage route is over 300 years old, and is a prefecturally Natural Monument. They also offer activities like copying of Buddha pictures or sutras, and Zazen meditation.

総光寺の立派な山門に向かう参道にはきのこ杉という面白い形に剪定された杉が立ち並び見ごたえがあります。山門は１８１１年のもので200年もたっている歴史あるものです。本堂の裏には庭園もあり見どころ多い寺院です。
Somiya Shrine

4.0

1 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Pref. Nagaishi Yokomachi 14-24

This syncretized Shinto and Buddhist Shrine across from Nagai Ayame Park enshrines Yamato Takeru-no-Mikoto. Legends say sacred tree on the grounds, Naoesugi, was planted by Naoe Kanetsugu. The Treasure Hall also holds a sword dedicated by Naoe Kanetsugu, on display for free. They also display other Important Cultural Assets like an Onimen mask, Shishigashira lion dance head, a massive ema prayer plaque, and more.

山形鉄道フラワー長井線のあやめ公園駅から徒歩5分。 802年、征夷大将軍の坂上田村麻呂が東征した際に赤崩山白鳥大明神として創建。1593年に米沢藩主・蒲生郷安が下長井郷の神仏を合祀し、長井荘総鎮守として総宮神社と改めた。長井一の宮とされている。祭神は日本武尊命。社殿は木造銅板葺きで、拝殿は1926年の再建、本殿は1782年の再建。境内入口脇には直江兼続が手植えしたとされる9本の大杉が聳えている。
Toyotaro Yuki Memorial Hall

4.5

5 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Nanyo-shi Akayu 362

This memorial museum is located about five minutes by car from the JR Akayu Station. The museum introduces the achievements of one of Nanyo City's hometown heroes, Yuki Toyotaro who served as the Minister of Finance, and the fifteenth Governor of the Bank of Japan. This museum was built on Yuki's privately owned land for the townspeople and houses the Rinun Bunko Library. It preserves and displays many treasures of Yuki, who was a prolific reader, including valuable paintings and writings by such artists as Katsu Kaishu, and Yamaoka Tesshu. Special exhibitions or cultural workshop events are regularly offered.

地元出身の偉人、元大蔵大臣・第十五代日銀総裁を顕彰する記念館。入場無料も受付で住所、氏名、人数を記帳させられるので心構えが必要。８台駐車可能。辛味噌で有名な某有名ラーメン店至近距離。赤湯ラーメン巡礼の際の時間調整、腹休め、箸休めに適しています。
National Treasure-designated Five-Storied Pagoda of Mt. Haguro

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Tsuruoka-shi Haguromachi Hagurosan Chinai

The five-storied pagoda at Mt. Haguro, one of the three sacred mountains of Dewa where Shugendo (a mountain asceticism incorporating Shintoist and Buddhist ideas) was practiced until the Meiji period, has been designated as a national treasure. The current tower is thought to have been reconstructed by Masauji Muto, a head administrator of Mt. Haguro and lord of Shonai in the time of Emperor Chokei of the Bunchu period. It has an elegant appearance nestling within the cedar trees.
Nagai City Kodai no Oka Museum

4.0

5 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Nagai-shi Kusaoka 2768-1

"The museum is located in the ""Ancient Hill"" where many ruins from the Old Stone Age to the Warring States Period have been discovered at the foot of Mt. In addition to archaeological materials such as earthenware and stoneware excavated in Nagai City, the museum exhibits panel displays related to life in the Jomon period and a reconstructed model of a Jomon-era hard-hole dwelling."

資料館の隣のお蕎麦屋さんがとても良かったです。お蕎麦、おつゆの美味しさはもちろん縄文風の食器が使われていました。 GWに友人家族と一緒に３家族で訪れました。友人家族はバンガロー、私たちはテントサイトにテントを張りました。テントサイトはとても広くGWにもかかわらず他の人はいませんでした。平らで草の地面はとても柔らかく過ごしやすいキャンプ場です。トイレ、シャワーもきれいです。展示物がある...
Matsugaoka Kaikon Memorial Hall

4.0

5 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Tsuruoka-shi Haguromachi Matsugaoka 29

This museum is on the Matsugaoka Kaikon area, a nationally designated Historic Site in Matsugaoka, Haguro Town Tsuruoka City. It uses a rebuilt Edo period silkworm house, and offers exhibits related to the history of reclamation work done by former samurai of the Shonai domain after the Meiji restoration. The building's second floor also exhibits a 25,000 piece collection of folk toys. There are a variety of other facilities here, including the Shonai Rice-growing Implement Warehouse, which displays tools used in the nationally designated Tangible Folk Cultural Assets Shonai Rice-growing Implements, as well as the Shonai Eigamura Film Museum.

タクシー観光での羽黒山の帰り道に運転手さんがお勧めの場所があるといって立ち寄ってくれました。山形県鶴岡市にある日本遺産松ヶ岡開墾場。明治黎明期の戊辰戦争で敗北した庄内藩士が刀を鍬に持ち替えて、２カ月弱の短期間で期間で約１００haもの広大な原生林を開墾。当時の国の重要な輸出品だった絹産品を養蚕から絹製品までの一貫した生産地として発展させたそうです。古い建物が残りますが、明治初期（およそ１４...
Yuzuru no Sato

4.5

4 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Yamagata Pref. Nanyoushi Urushiyama 2025-2

This cocoon warehouse is on the grounds of a silk mill, and is now a museum dedicated to carrying on folk tales like Tsuru-no-Ongaeshi (The crane returns the favor). It displays folk tale videos, and offers some tablets for viewing as well. In addition, it has displays on sericulture and silk thread production, and displays with materials, costumes, and documents from the opera Yuzuru.

赤湯温泉に宿泊した折に、民話「鶴の恩返し」を語り部が土地の言葉で話してくれるということで訪ねた。製糸工場で使われていたまゆ蔵”を利用してつくられた資料館には、民話の映像や古くからの蚕糸業に関する資料、戯曲「夕鶴」関連の資料などが展示されている。ひととおり資料館を見てから、語り部の館のホールに案内されたが、コロナ禍のウィークデーとあって観客は僕ら夫婦だけの貸切状態。訥々した地元言葉で話す語り部の口演...
Former Yahagi Family Residence

4.0

4 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Shinjo-shi Izumita Okan Higashi 460

This historical building is on prefectural route 311 in Okanhigashi, Izumita, Shinjo City. There is no official record of when it was built, but the appearance and architecture suggest it is a common farmhouse from the mid-Edo period. It is a nationally designated Important Cultural Asset, and they offer free tours all year except in winter.

Former Residence of Yahagi ในวันที่หอมะตกลมแรงได้ผ่านไปพบกับสถานที่เกษตรกรรมสมัยโบราณแห่งหนึ่งซึ่งทางญี่ปุ่นได้กำหนดไว้เป็นสภายที่ที่สำคัญทางวัฒนธรรมแห่งหนึ่งของญี่ปุ่น
Yukinosato Information Center

4.0

4 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Shinjo-shi Ishikawamachi 4-15

This museum is on prefectural route 313 in Ishikawa-machi, Shinjo City. It is located on the remains of the former Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Snowfall Area Agricultural Economic Survey Office, which was built in as part of the early Showa era Snow-damage Relief Campaign. It displays materials related to the original office's work, as well as offering information on snow types, and living in snowy areas. It also has an example of a Yukimuro snow room, a cold storage space unique to areas with heavy snowfall. It also has a library and a multi-purpose hall.

建物が立派です。昔の施設を再利用しているそうです。中の本や資料も沢山あり色々と雪の事を知りたい方にはお勧めです。入場無料なので気軽に利用できます。
Basho, Seifu History Museum

4.5

3 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Obanazawa Nakamachi 5-36

About a 10-minute drive from the JR Oishida Station, this library museum is dedicated to archiving and displaying artifacts related to Matsuo Basho, author of Okunohosomichi, ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’, and to the merchant prince and haiku poet of Obanazawa, Suzuki Seifu. The building, a replica and refurbishment of the architecture of a late Edo period merchant residence, is a treasure on its own. The warehouse is provided with latticed shutters for fire prevention, and the main building is a chumon-zukuri structure with a bisecting earthen hallway. In addition to introducing the friendly relationship of the two poets, the museum also displays artifacts related to the life and history of Obanazawa, hosting special exhibits, presentations, and exhibit commentary.

芭蕉の句に合わせて地元の人達がつくった豆人形が展示されています。それぞれの句の場景を再現しているものですが、和風ドールハウスみたいで可愛かったです。
Oishida Municipal History and Folklore Museum

4.0

3 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Kitamurayama-gun Oishidamachi Oishida Otsu 37-6

Just a 10-minute walk from the JR Oishida Station, this museum houses and displays historical, cultural, anthropological, and seafaring related historical artifacts of Oishidamachi Town, which flourished from their river trade on the Mogami River that runs through the town from the south to the north. Also displayed are cultural treasures and works by famous artists from the regiona including Matsuo Basho, Masaoka Shiki, and Saito Mokichi; the western-styled artist, Kanayama Heizo, and the Japanese-styled artist Komatsu Hitoshi. On the premises is the Chokin Shaoku cottage, in which Saito Mokichi resided during the evacuation, and from which many an exceptional song was penned, later to be included in the songbook Shirokiyama.

斎藤茂吉が昭和21年2月から翌年11月まで暮らした家。四季を通じて、この家に住み、歌を読んだのかと思います。ただの家ですが、不思議な魅力を感じました。
Yudonosan Sohonji Dainichibo

3.0

4 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Oami Nyudou 11

Yudonosan Sohonji Dainichibo is a temple located in Oaminyudo, in the city of Tsuruoka. It is a sacred site founded by Kobo Daishi, the founder of the Shingon School of Buddhism, and he is said to have made the principal object of veneration. Since ancient times, the area has been considered a site of spiritual significance for those who attach sacred significance to mountains, and it also has deep connections with the Tokugawa clan. Visitors can see the mummy of Shinnyokai Shonin, who starved himself to death, and a standing sculpture in gilt bronze of the Buddha Shaka Nyorai, which the national government has designated an Important Cultural Property.

湯殿山、羽黒山に行く人、行った人にはおすすめできません。出羽三山に批判的な話が延々と続きます。とにかく話が長い。歴史や作家の批判やうちの寺はすごいという話ばかりです、何も得るものはありません。
Kumano Taisha Shrine

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Pref. Nanyoushi Miyauchi 3476-1

This is approximately a 13 minute walk from Miyauchi Station and is one of three Kumano Shrines in Japan. Boasting more than 1,200 years of reconstruction, also called the Ise Shrine of the Tohoku region, the worship hall is the oldest thatched roof building in the prefecture. Kumano Ogami (Great Diety) is the god of “unification” and is a diety that brings the benefits of “marriage,” and many worshippers visit the shrine as a marriage power spot. Also, it is believed that if you find three hidden rabbits carved on the back of the main hall without assistance, your “prayers will come true” and you will “be happy.” Amulets of cute rabbits etc are available at the reception.
Sagae Folk Museum

3.0

3 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Sagae-shi Sagae Nagaoka Hei 2707

This museum is located inside Sagae Park in Sagae Nagaoka, Sagae City. Ancient articles are exhibited there, such as historical records and folk materials from the Nishimurayama County period, and artifacts excavated from the historical ruins in the surrounding area. The museum is housed in the former Nishimurayama County government office and assembly hall, both of which have been designated as Tangible Cultural Properties of the prefecture.

4月中旬辺りから5月にかけて郷土館のある寒河江公園で行われる桜・つつじまつり期間中は、入館無料です。公園の桜を見たついでに寄りましたが、郷土館の辺りでも桜が咲いていて、野点などのイベントが行われていました。館内では寒河江の人々の暮らしの道具や資料などの展示、郷土の名士の解説などがありました。
Marudai Ogiya

4.0

2 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Nagai-shi Tokamachi 1-11-7

This historical structure is in Toka-machi 1-Chome, Nagai City. This shop was opened in the early Edo period, and was owned by the prosperous kimono merchant family who ran Marudai Ogiya. There are seven buildings preserved here, which were built between the late Edo Period and Taisho Period, and all are registered prefectural Important Cultural Assets. You can see here the remains of Nagai City's prosperous days as a center for shipping on the Mogami River. There are also displays of works by woodcarver Naganuma Kozo, third son of family leader Naganuma Kozo, as well as his collection of folk and farm implements in the Naganuma Kozo Gallery.

長井駅から徒歩10分ほど。見学無料。丸大扇屋は江戸時代から続いた商家で最上川の舟運を利用した交易で業績を伸ばし、明治期には呉服商を営んでいた。表通りに面した1848年築の店舗から敷地奥にある1913年築の新座敷まで7棟の建物があり、山形県の指定有形文化財になっている。室内には当時の生活道具などが展示されているが、太い梁、黒光りする床板、頑強な造りの土蔵など建物自体が一番の見所となっている。
Kiyokawa Hachiro Memorial Hall

3.5

2 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamagata Pref. Higashitagawagunshounaimachi Kiyokawa Kamikawara 37

This memorial building is located on Prefectural Route 45 in Kamikawara Kiyokawa, Shonai Town, Higashitagawa County. It is on the precincts of the Kiyokawa-jinja Shrine, which is dedicated to Kiyokawa Hachiro, a Shoji native and historical figure from the end of the Edo period. It has an exhibit of his letters and diaries, as well as materials related to the Meiji Restoration.

明治維新で活躍した清河八郎の功績をまとめ展示されている。尊王攘夷で活躍する前に暗殺されており、歴史の教科書には出ません。ここで初めて清河八郎を知りました。

Yamagata

Okitama Area Murayama Area Mogami Area Shonai Area (North) Shonai Area (South)

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour

Reference/Local/Exhibition/Literature Museum Shrine Castle / Ruins of Castle Historical Monument Temple Church Ruin / Grave / Ancient Tomb Memorial Hall Cultural Property Event Hall / Public Hall Art Museum Museum / Science Museum Other Historic Site/Building

Yamagata Areas

Although often overlooked, Yamagata prefecture by no means lacks appeal: the Yamadera temple trail through the mountains, deliciously tender Yonezawa wagyu, and over 100 steaming hot springs, most notably Zao Onsen, await visitors. When winter comes, the snowcapped peaks become dotted with skiers by day and onsen-goers by night, while summer brings the celebration of juicy Yamagata cherries.