Spots in Shonai Area (South) Area

  • Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium
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    4.5
    468 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Imaizumi Okubo 657-1
    This is an aquarium in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, the prefecture’s only one, with the nickname “Jellyfish Dream Hall.” It is known for displaying over 50 kinds of jellyfish and holds a Guinness World Record in this field. The biggest highlight is about 2,000 moon jellyfish swimming in a large water tank five meters in diameter. An exhibition corner of Shonai’s freshwater and saltwater fish, a sea lion show, and the black-tail gull feeding are all popular. There is also a complete exhibition area for children.

    A small ,rather old place, but excellent to see jellyfish.And eat icecream containing jellyfish,very tasty,with the chewy bits being the jellyfish. Many of the tanks being rather small for the amount...

  • Dewa Sanzan Shrine
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    4.5
    81 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Haguromachitouge 7
    This shrine is located at the peak of Mt. Haguro in Haguro-machi, Tsuruoka City. The three Dewa Sanzan Shrines, Gassan-jinja Shrine, Ideha-jinja Shrine, Yudonosan-jinja Shrine, each have a different god enshrined. However, because passage to Gassan and Yudonosan is not possible in the winter, the Ideha-jinja Shrine has erected the Sanjin-gosai Hall to represent all three in one space. The existing shrine was erected in 1818 and is designated as an Important Cultural Property.

    出羽三山は、祖霊の鎮まる“精霊のお山”、人々の生業を司る「山の神」「田の神」「海の神」の宿る“神々の峰”にして、五穀豊穣、大漁満足、人民息災、万民快楽、等々を祈願する“聖地”であった。 加えて「羽黒派古修験道」の“根本道場”として、「凝死体験・蘇り」をはたす山でもある。 すなわち、羽黒山では現世利益を、月山で死後の体験をして、湯殿山で新しい生命をいただいて生まれ変わる、という類いまれな「三関三...

  • Tsuruoka Park (Tsurugaoka Castle ruins)
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    4.0
    97 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Babachou 4
    Built around the ruins of Tsurugaoka Castle, Tsuruoka Park, sprawling in the center of Tsuruoka City, is a renowned destination for cherry blossom viewing in spring. 730 cherry trees grow on the park’s ground, particularly around the castle’s moat, and in spring the tree’s petals cover the waters of the moat. Also selected as one of the 100 best places in Japan for cherry blossom viewing, each year around April the park bustles with great numbers of visitors come to enjoy the flowers. Shonai-jinja Shrine stands on the site where the tower of Tsurugaoka Castle once stood, and the shrine’s treasure house displays various items connected with the lords who once ruled the domain from here. Some of the park’s many other highlights include an ancient Japanese cedar several hundred years old, and a museum dedicated to Tsuruoka-born author Shuhei Fujioka.

    We visited the park on 21 Apr and it was the time for full bloom. The park wasnt overcrowded and there were many stalls for food and games. There are buses from train station to the park but they...

  • Roadside Station Atsumi, Wheel Sunset Atsumi Bussan Museum
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    3.5
    60 Reviews
    Transportation
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Wasada Tonoura 606
    Roadside Station Atsumi is located along the Ushuhama Highway in Wasada Tonoura in the city of Tsuruoka. It includes a shop that sells local products, such as tsukemono (pickled vegetables) and folk crafts, along with a restaurant that sells full means that feature freshly caught seafood from nearby Nezugaseki Harbor. There is also an outdoor bazaar, where visitors can buy seafood, such as roasted squid, turbo cooked in its shell, or snacks such as soft ice cream. Since this roadside station is located on the seashore, visitors can watch the sun set over the Sea of Japan.

    直ぐそばに海がある風光明媚な場所にある道の駅です。 夕日がきれいだそうで、磯遊びも出来そうです。 GWだったのでレストランも混んでいましたが、まずまずの待ち時間で入ることが出来ました。 どの定食もボリュームがあって良かったです。もちろん味も良かったですよ。

  • Chido Museum
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    4.0
    60 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Kachushinmachi 10-18
    This is a museum in Kachu-Shinmachi Town, Turuoka City, Yamagata Prefecture which stores and displays 5,350 important items that fall under eight varieties of Important Tangible Folk-Cultural Properties relating to the heritage of the Shonai area. The museum takes its name from the Chidokan, the Shonai Clan’s samurai school, and items relating to that school are also on display. Several historical buildings such as the former Nishitagawa District Office and the old Tsurugaoka Police Station which are also important cultural properties were dismantled and rebuilt on the premises, which were the site of the Tsurugaoka Castle’s san-no-maru and the official residence of the Sakai family, the domain lord. The beautiful garden in shoin-zukuri style (a traditional style of Japanese residential architecture) is also worth seeing.

    鶴岡市のど真ん中、鶴岡公園の隣に有ります。 駐車場完備です。 入館料は800円。 敷地内には、旧庄内藩ゆかりの建物や、明治維新後の官公庁舎を移築されています。 沢山あるので、全部中を覗くと、それなりの時間がかかります。 旧藩主(酒井家)の御子孫は、未だに鶴岡にお住まいのようです。

  • Chidokan Shonai Domain School
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    4.0
    72 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Babachou 11-45
    Sakai Tadaari, the ninth lord of Tsuruoka Domain, established this domain school in 1805 with the aim of reforming samurai customs and cultivating surpassing individuals. The school’s educational policy focused on further strengthening each student’s innate talents. Today, the school is a designated National Historic Site and is open to the general public; facilities such as front Mikado gate, Confucian temple, and lecture hall remain intact. This facility is the only domain school still in existence in the Tohoku region.

    Amazing it is still there, the old school for young Samuraiunder King Sakai , as it used to be. Subject included localized Analects of Confucius ethics...

  • Catholic Tsuruoka Church
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    4.0
    64 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Tsuruoka-shi Babacho 7-19
    Tsuruoka Catholic Cathedral is located a five-minute walk from the Shiyakusho (City Hall) mae bus stop on the bus line from Tsuruoka Station. It is a beautiful church with a red roof and white walls, designed by Father Papineau and completed in 1903. A masterpiece of Meiji (1868–1912) period Romanesque architecture. On one of its altars stands the only statue of the Black Madonna in Japan and one of the few in the world. Another feature unique among Japanese churches is that its pictorial windows are not made of stained glass but of pictures painted on transparent paper pressed between two panes of glass.

    鶴ヶ丘城址に近い白い壁と赤い尖塔の建物です。案内板によれば明治期に建てられたようで山形県の文化財として指定されています。内部は畳の上にパイプ椅子が置かれています。入り口の上にはパイプオルガン、音を聞いてみたいものです。

  • Shonai Kanko Bussankan Furusato Honpo
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    4.0
    34 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Nunome Nakadori 80-1
    This store is located on National Route 7 in Nunome, Tsuruoka City. It houses mostly shops selling local specialties and souvenirs with shops selling seafood from the Sea of Japan and crab directly sourced from fishing ports. There is also a restaurant serving seafood and local cuisine using the fruits of the seas off Shonai.

    レストランのほか、お土産品や、鮮魚なども取り扱っており、とても充実しています。 新潟から酒田に行く際は、高速であえて鶴岡で降りていつもここに寄ります。(実は鶴岡の先から有料道路になるためってのもありますが) 物産館とは別棟・別経営になりますが、平田牧場の直売所もあり、こちらもあわせて見るとさらにいいです。 地元庄内交通グループ系で民間の経営のようですが、道の駅と名乗ってもいいレベルの施設です。

  • Shonai-jinja Shrine
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    3.5
    37 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Babachou 4-1 Tsuruokaoka Castle Ruinsite
    Shonai-jinja Shrine is located in Tsuruoka Park in Babacho in the city of Tsuruoka. Sakai Tadatsugu is one of four feudal leaders of Shonai Province enshrined here, and the shrine was built on the ruins of the inner building of Tsurugaoka Castle. The treasure house within the shrine precincts contains precious items associated with the Sakai clan, which are displayed on a rotating basis according to specific themes. From July 1 to July 7, the precincts are illuminated in celebration of the Tanabata Festival.

    鶴ヶ岡城址本丸に有る4人の藩主を祀る神社です。明治10年、荘内総鎮守として創建されました。中規模の神社ですが、威厳が有ります。

  • Zenpoji Temple
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    4.5
    30 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Shimogawa Sekine 100
    This temple is located in Shimogawa-sekine, Tsuruoka City. Enshrining the dragon god, this shrine draws believers that work in the fishing industry who pray for safe navigation across seas. This expansive almost 20 hectare landscape houses many Buddhist buildings and the 500 Rakan Statuary Hall (a registered Tangible Cultural Property) built in 1855. Periodically various events are hosted for experiencing zen, such as the Sanzenkai, and the fellowship of zen, zen no tsudoi.

    The temple has a long history that dates back more than 1000 years, but the existing buildings are about 150 years old, on average. Relatively speaking, they are of recent construction, as Japanese...

  • Fujisawa Shuhei Memorial Museum
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    4.0
    42 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Babachou 4-6 inside Tsuruoka park
    The Fujisawa Shuhei Memorial Museum is located in Tsuruoka Park in Babacho in the city of Tsuruoka. It contains a permanent exhibition of materials connected with the life of home grown author Fujisawa Shuhei and the world portrayed in his works. Inside the museum is a salon where visitors can peruse books by Fujisawa, books related to his works, videos of interviews with him, and a database of his works. The museum also sponsors events such as lectures and readings.

    鶴岡城址にある作家藤沢周平を紹介する記念館です。著作品は勿論のこと本人が東京在住時の書斎もこちらに移されています。入口に有る周辺地図までは撮影OKですが他は不可です。また庄内藩の歴史も紹介されています。

  • Heishindo – Former Kazama Family Residence
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    4.0
    34 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Babachou 1-17
    The Kazama Family was the Tsuruoka purveyors to the government in the Shonai (Tsuruoka) Domain. The former house, Heishindo, located on the east side of Tsurugaoka Castle, was built as a residence and operational base in 1896. It was designated as a nationally important cultural property in 2000 and as a Japanese Heritage site in 2017. Property of the kind of wealthy merchant of that time can still be seen today such as the yakuimon, a type of entrance gate which were originally used as gates for samurai dwellings, the stone-tiled roof with approximately 40,000 stones and the four storehouses around the main house.

    鶴岡市内中心部にある旧風間家住宅を博物館として保管されている丙申堂。1896年(明治29年)に風間家七代当主の幸右衛門によって、住居と店舗が一体となった建物として作られた。当時の趣をそのまま伝え、木造建築の美しさを残している。

  • Taihokan
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    3.5
    40 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Babachou 4-7 (within Tsuruoka Park)
    This structure, built in 1915, is located inside the Tsuruoka Park, in Baba-cho, Tsuruoka City. This baroque western structure, built in honor of the enthronement of Emperor Taisho, is a Tangible Cultural Property of the city. Used for a long period as a library since its opening, today, it also displays various archival materials pertaining to personages related to Tsuruoka.

    地元の偉人達を紹介している展示館です。地元だけにさすがに始めて聞く人ばかり、正直 観ていくのに飽きが来ます。建物そのものは良い雰囲気です。

  • Gassan Shrine Main Building
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    4.5
    32 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Higashitagawa-gun
    Gassan Jinja Shrine sits at the top of Mt. Gassan at an altitude of 1,984 meters which rises in northern Yamagata Prefecture. Along with Dewa Jinja Shrine on Mt. Haguro and Yudonoyama Jinja Shrine on Mt. Yudono, it is called “Dewa Sanzan-jinja Shrine” , Three Great Shrines of Dewa (an ancient name for this area). The main god worshiped here is Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, revered since ancient times as a god of farmers, fishers and sailors. It is still an active training site for devotees of Shugendo religious practices. The mountain is open to the public from early July to mid September, and the mountain paths on the way to it pass through a national park. Visitors can enjoy beautiful scenery and admire rare alpine plants. There are several huts and rest stops along the way, and visitors who make reservations can also find overnight lodging. Access to the main shrine requires some serious climbing, so visitors are urged to plan their visit well and not force themselves to climb beyond their capabilities.

    主なルートは3ルートほどあるようですが、オーソドックスに月山八合目から登りました。 月山八合目までは車で行けますが道が狭くすれ違いが大変なので小型車かバスで行くのがお勧めです。 山頂の月山神社までは岩が多い道のりですが、3時間ほどかければ誰でも登れる山です。山頂の神社境内は撮影禁止なので気を付けて。

  • Studio Sedic Shonai Open Set
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    3.5
    36 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Haguromachikawadai Higashimasukawayama 102
    This is a photo spot and tourist facility in Haguro Town, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, open to the public mainly as a set for shooting period piece films. It is famous as the location for well-known films including “Departures,” “Zatoichi THE LAST” and “Time Scoop Hunter.” Shooting sets are dotted around the vast 88-hectare (880,000m²) area, and aside from urban areas one can also see various locations including mountain settlements, fishing villages and inn towns. Excursion buses operating in the area cost 500 yen for the day.

    行ったのは数年前ではあるが今でも変わらずゆったりとした時間が流れているんでしょう。映画やドラマで観た場所を探索して見つける楽しみ。エリアとエリアの間にもそんな場所があるのでバスで移動するのは勿体ない。ここは遊園地ではないので上げ膳据え膳で何かを提供してもらおうと訪れてはいけない。自分で探す、いや探せる。セット内はほぼほぼどこまででも入り込めるので小道具など思わぬ物を見つけることもある。ただしセット...

  • Old Nishidagawa County Government Office
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    3.5
    26 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Tsuruoka-shi Kachushinmachi 10-18 (Chido Hakubutsukan Uchi)
    This building is a nationally registered Important Cultural Asset in Kachushinmachi, Tsuruoka City. This is a piece of pseudo-Western style architecture built in 1881, and was used as a stopping place by the Meiji emperor on a tour of the Tohoku region. It has housed the Chido Museum since it was relocated to its present location, and it displays a variety of materials on the culture and history of the Meiji period, including pictures of its own construction.

    致道博物館エリア内に有る明治時代に建てられた擬洋風建築の建物です。明治天皇の行在所にもなったというから、当時は先進的な建物だったのでしょうね。ただ、私が訪問時は入館は出来ないようでした。

  • Dewa Sanzan History Museum
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    3.5
    26 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Haguromachitouge 7
    This museum is on the grounds of Dewa Sanzan Shrine. It displays materials related to the history and culture of Dewa Sanzan (the three mountains of Dewa), and has a collection of valuable items related to the time of Shugendo Buddhism, a syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. It also has 190 of the 500 bronze mirrors excavated from the Kagami ike bronze excavation, displays statues of the Buddha, lantern poles, and more to attract countless shrine visitors. Open from late April through November.

    鶴岡駅から庄内交通バスでやく50分の場所、羽黒山山頂のバス停のすぐそばにある出羽三山歴史博物館。こんな山頂まで50分で訪れることにも驚きだが、こんな山頂にこんな大きな博物館があるのにも驚きだ。 博物館では出羽三山の歴史と文化をにかかわる資料出土したものが数多く展示されている。

  • Ideha Cultural Museum
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    3.5
    18 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Haguromachitouge Injuminami 72
    A cultural museum in Toge Inju-minami, Haguro Town, Tsuruoka City. The museum has exhibits covering the famous Dewa Sanzan (three mountains of Dewa) culture of the yamabushi (mountain priest) who practiced here. Visitors to the museum can also have a go at blowing a conch shell and learn about the Dewa Sanzan and mountain asceticism through lectures and seminars on ascetic practices and the sacred mountains.

    内部に 常設 及び 企画展示室があり 《出羽三山》の文化や歴史を知る展示がありますが 展示品の写真撮影は 禁止となっているので要注意です。一方で こちらに入館し 常設展示室に山伏姿の人形があり この山伏姿の人形を撮影したく、 係員に 展示物は撮影せず 人形のみ撮影すると説明し 許可をもらいました(添付 写真参照)。 入館し 展示品のどれかを撮影したくなった場合 係員に相談されることをお薦めします...

  • Gyokusenji Temple Garden
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    4.5
    15 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Haguromachitamagawa 35
    This garden at Gyokusen-ji Temple, also called the Flower Temple, was made in 1450. Centered around a large pond, with a natural waterfall on the stream flowing from the mountains, the park has a variety of flowering plants, azaleas, maples, and Japanese primrose in a Chisen Kaiyushiki Horai water-based promenade garden. Nationally recognized as a Cultural Asset Spot of Scenic Beauty, it is popular all year round for its scenery.

    国の指定名勝の庭園を楽しみました。 建物の中に入って庭園を見るスタイルなので鑑賞式庭園かとおもったら、 サンダルが用意してあり回遊することができます。 建物の柱の間からみる額縁鑑賞も、庭に降りる回遊鑑賞も楽しめます。 池のほとりに枝垂がありましたが、 私が訪れたときには、ほぼちっていて、葉桜でした。

  • Dewanoyuki Sake Brewery Museum
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    4.0
    14 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamagata Pref. Tsuruokashi Oyama 2-2-8
    This is a library museum in Oyama, Tsuruoka City. Annexed to the long-standing headquarters of choice Dewanoyuki Sake maker, this museum exhibits memorable equipment and documents for sake brewing. Aspiring to familiarize the residents with the history and culture of sake making, there are tours and sake-tasting available for all visitors. It's truly a museum of a different flavor.

    Our last stop in the Shonai area before travelling into the Mogami area, we managed to squeeze 30 mins out of our tight schedule to visit this interesting museum cum brewery where their sake was...

Yamagata Areas

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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.

Yamagata Photo Album

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