Yamagata / Zao / Tendo / Kaminoyama

Top Things to do

• Yamagata Castle Ruins (Kajo Park)

  4.0

  181 Reviews

  Yamagata Pref. Yamagatashi Kajoumachi 1-7 (management office)

  These castle ruins, in Kajo-machi Yamagata City, is designated as a National Historic Site. It is said that Kaneyori Shiba, the father of the Mogami, built the Yamagata Castle in 1356. Today the ninomaru moat, the earthen mound, and the stone walls remain. A replica of the ninomaru west gate has been reconstructed at the entrance to Kajo Park (Kajo being another name for the castle). Selected as one of Japan's top 100 castles, it is one of the recommended sites to visit in Japan.

• Yamagata Prefecture Local Museum Bunshokan

  4.5

  184 Reviews

  Yamagata Pref. Yamagatashi Hatagomachi 3-4-51

  Yamagata Prefecture Local Museum Bunshokan is located along Prefectural Route 49 in Hatagomachi in the city of Yamagata. It is housed in the remodeled and repurposed former Prefectural Office and Prefectural Assembly Hall (built in 1916). This English Gothic Revival-style building has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the national government. The museum contains exhibits about the remodeling of the building and the history and culture of the prefecture. In addition, it is possible to rent the hall, the meeting rooms, the central courtyard and other areas for various events.

• Roadside Station Tendo Onsen

  4.0

  130 Reviews

  Yamagata Pref. Tendoushi Kuwanomachi 2-3-41

  This roadside station is along the Yamagata Bypass in Kuwano-machi, Tendo City. Located near the Tendo hot springs quarter, this station has over one million visitors a year. This multi-purpose park not only has direct to market produce shops, a tourist information center, water fountains, a lawn area with playground equipment, an amphitheater, but also a free foot bathing nook, and a wedding ceremony hall, all on the same site.

• Yamagata City Folk Museum (Former Saiseikan Hospital Main Building)

  4.0

  78 Reviews

  Yamagata Yamagata-shi Kajomachi 1-1

  This museum is located inside Kajo Park in Kajo-machi, Yamagata City. Built in 1878 as the prefectural hospital, the “Saiseikan” was relocated and restored, and is now used to exhibit items related to local history and medicine. The building is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

• Yamagata Museum of Art

  4.0

  49 Reviews

  Yamagata Pref. Yamagatashi Otemachi 1-63

  This museum is located across the way to the east of Kajo Park in Ote-machi, Yamagata City. Exhibited here are not only the Japanese works of Matsuo Basho's Three Mountains of Dewa writings, Yosa Buson's The Narrow Road through the Provinces scroll, but also a collection of Modern French works including Monet and Renoir. The museum also hosts various planned exhibits related to the collections, the Yamagata General Art Exhibits, local art exhibits, photography exhibits, and calligraphy exhibits.

• Yamadera Basho Museum

  4.0

  55 Reviews

  Yamagata Pref. Yamagatashi Yamadera Minamiin 4223

  This is a memorial museum for Matsuo Basho, the renowned haiku poet, located along Prefectural Route 19 in Yamadera, Yamagata City. The museum host various events such as haiku contests along with the permanent exhibit displaying drafts written in Basho's own hand, letters, and other archival materials pertaining to his life, as well as a theater corner documenting his life. The museum has tatami mat training rooms and tea rooms available for seminars or tea ceremonies and other traditional cultural art events.

• Honzan Jionji Temple

  4.5

  36 Reviews

  Yamagata Pref. Sagaeshi Jionji Cadastral 31

  Honzan Jionji Temple is located in Jionji in the city of Sagae. It is said to have been founded in 746 by Baramon Sojo. During the Edo period (1615-1868) it controlled 18 villages and land that produced about 505,095 liters of rice, making it the most powerful temple in the Tohoku region. Even though its influence has shrunk in the present day, its former precincts have been designated a National Historic Site, and it contains many Important Cultural Properties, including its main building and collection of Buddhist statues, as well as Jionji Bugaku, a type of dance performed during the Issai Kyoe Festival, held on May 5 every year.

• Yupia

  4.0

  25 Reviews

  Yamagata Pref. Tendoushi Tounaishinden 1620-1

  This day use hot spring facility has a view of Mt. Gassan and the Asahi mountain range from its outdoor baths, the largest in the prefecture. The hypotonic high temperature springs are said to be effective at treating muscle soreness and nerve pain. There are two different source springs, high temperature and low, for the large baths, full body bath with jets, saunas, and cold water baths. There is a physically challenged bath available by reservation as well.

• Cherryland Sagae

  4.0

  31 Reviews

  Yamagata Sagae-shi

  This roadside station is located along National Route 112 in Kawara, Yakuwa, Sagae City. The largest roadside station in the Tohoku region, Cherryland Sagae is centered around a souvenir store that sells a wide range of Yamagata specialties, such as famous sweets, agricultural produce, local sake and handicrafts. There is also a restaurant and a food court that serve food made using Yamagata beef and Shonai pork. Also, on the other side of the road there is a large cherry orchard called “Hakka Orchard Onuma.” There are also products only available at Cherryland, such as “Jion-ji Temple Golden Sesame Walnut Yubeshi.”