Local hotel staff recommends Yamagata’s fascinating travel destinations. Experience history, hot springs, and heavenly dining in Yamagata!

Try your hand at making pottery. You may never be able to let go.

Hirashimizu pottery gets its name from the area of Yamagata City of the same moniker. There a 200-year-old pottery-making tradition using time honored techniques still continues to this day. The glazes and techniques used in Hirashimizu pottery vary from one pottery workshop to another, so you can enjoy the characteristics, textures, and styles unique to each workshop. One of these potteries is Shichiemongama where you can experience the tradition of pottery making.

Stand in the shoes of a potter while trying your hand at making some pottery yourself!

You can try giving the potter’s wheel a spin or simply painting a piece. We’re going to try turning our own pottery for starters. You first set your sights on what you want to make, such as a teacup, plate, bowl, or figurine. Then, the master potter explains the whole process from start to finish and goes over the tools we’ll be working with. After getting our instructions, we get to work.

Once the clay is placed on the wheel, it is time to get started. Working under the master’s careful guidance, the students become absorbed in shaping teacups and rice bowls. The clay pieces shrink considerably and become smaller when fired in a kiln, so be careful when sizing them up. While it may seem a little big at first, experience suggests otherwise. Bigger is better. It takes anywhere from an hour and thirty minutes to two hours to form the desired shape.

You can choose from a pallet of ten different colors for your finished piece. Once your piece is dried, it takes about thirty days to fire in the kiln.

Your work will be delivered to your home by mail (postage not included) in about a month or you can pick it up in person.
No reservation is required to participate in a pottery class (reservations required for groups).

When class is done, take a walk across the street to the gallery shop and take a gander at more than 300 Hirashimizu pottery pieces on display. You’re bound to find something there to take home for a souvenir.

Yamagata is the home of hiyashi ramen, a summer dish that’s cool to eat even in winter!

The Chinese restaurant Sakaeya Honten, located in the heart of Yamagata City, is the birthplace of hiyashi ramen. The renowned ice cold ramen dish was born out of a request from a customer who dared to ask, "If you can get cold soba, why can’t I have cold ramen?” Do you want to know the secret behind this classic summer treat, which can be enjoyed here all year round?

The secret is in the broth!

It’s a light soy sauce flavored broth made from beef extract, katsuoboshi (dried bonito flakes), kombu (kelp), and other ingredients that is topped off with a dash of sesame seed oil. The characteristically straight noodles are aged for elasticity that gives them a strong chewy texture. Atop the noodles you’ll be delighted to find nori, kamaboko, bean sprouts, and other ingredients, accented with chashu braised beef.

Above all, don’t be surprised to see chunks of ice floating in your bowl. It is a strange and wondrous combination. Despite the ice, the oil mysteriously never solidifies. The secret is in the special broth. It has been perfected through a trial and error process to make sure the consistency of the oil and noodles are just right. Sure it’s a cool summertime dish, but you’ll be asking yourself “why don’t I eat it in winter?” Hiyashi ramen is the one cool dish that’s hot here all year round.

A closeby hot spring off the beaten track

Drive 10 minutes from JR Yamagata Station and you find yourself in a bucolic setting stretching out to meet a mountainous backdrop. Nestled in the midst of this rural paradise, lies a lone abode in which dwells the hot spring known as Numagi Onsen Tsujigahana. People travel from all around to bathe in its sodium-rich water.
Step inside and you’ll find a reception desk next to which stands a vending machine dispersing tickets for bathing, a large lounge area, along with soft serve ice cream, konnyaku balls, and more. The greatest discovery of all will be that it will only set you back a mere 350 yen to take a dip in the hot spring bath.

Relax in an open-air bath with a view of the countryside

Beyond the immaculately clean changing rooms, there is an extremely spacious bath. The bathing area features two baths where the sodium chloride rich hot spring water comes pouring out at temperatures between 41ºC and 42ºC in one and between 43ºC and 44ºC in the other as well as a sauna. The best part of this hot spring is the wooden open-air bath. You can bask in the idyllic scenery and let the gentle breezes wash over you while soaking in some steamy warm water.

After taking a hot bath, knock back a chilled bottle of milk retro style!

While you’re still overflowing with the warmth of the water, cool off in the lounge area. Each of us bought a bottle of chilled milk from a kiosk and took a sip. Aaaaahhhh, it's so good! Can milk be this good? During our trip we stumbled upon this great hot spring that you can enjoy for the day at a great price. The hot water is loaded with health benefits, and you will feel like you're getting more out of it than you’re putting in.
This is an old-fashioned milk bottle, so it has a paper lid not a plastic cap. The trick is to pierce the end of the lid with a special stick. I failed to get the hang of it at first stab and wound up punching a hole through the center by mistake.

A place where you can rest and relax Yamagata style

Just a 1-minute walk from Yamagata Station, adjacent to the S-PAL Yamagata shopping center, stands the Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata. It’s the hotel’s 6th and 7th floors that makes staying here extra special. It’s wall-to-wall Yamagatesque with twin rooms featuring Yonezawa textile art and Tendo designer chairs, as well as Japanese and Western rooms that incorporate different types of traditional Yamagata latticework into their interior design.
The interior decor of the deluxe rooms on the 8th to 11th floors are inspired by Scandinavian design, where warm colors and natural materials seamlessly blend together to create a relaxing space.

Made from locally sourced ingredients, breakfast is a scrumptious cornucopia offering a little bit of everything

While it’s served up at the Japanese restaurant Mogami-tei, you can choose between Japanese and Western cuisine. It’s a splendid opportunity to enjoy the local flavors of Yamagata, such as Akegarashi made with Yamaichi soy sauce, Yasawa plums, a specialty of Sagae City, and dashi from Obanazawa. It’s a taste of home, with a full lineup of nimono (a simmered medley of ingredients) and aemono (vegetables, meat or fish dressed with various seasonings). Savor the side dishes made with plenty of seasonal vegetables along with a bowl of Yamagata Prefecture's renowned brand of rice, Tsuyahime.

• The words, "Wow, it's beautiful," popped out of my mouth the minute I laid eyes on the artist’s palette of petit bowls cradling so many colorful concoctions. The small portions added up to a smorgasbord of sheer delight. What could this be? We asked ourselves repeatedly and the response was always the same, “it’s delicious."
  “Eating the view” is a focus at Mogami-tei, where you can feast on locally produced Yonezawa beef and vegetables perfectly prepared on a teppan grill nightly.

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The location adjacent to the station makes gourmet food and souvenir shopping easy

Conveniently connected to Yamagata Station, the hotel is just a few steps away. The adjacent S-PAL Yamagata is a great place to eat and shop

Step back in time as you stroll through a park spanning the ruins of Yamagata Castle

This park, located almost exactly in the middle of the city, is a great place to take a walk. In the spring, about 1,500 cherry trees bloom along the moat, as nature weaves one of its most beautiful tapestries. The park was built on the site of Yamagata Castle. The foundations of the castle that remain today are said to have been built by the 11th lord of the castle, Mogami Yoshiaki. The castle was dubbed "Kasumigajo," or the Castle of Mist because its structure was obscured by a thick fog during the siege of Hasedo, which was part of the battle of Sekigahara back when the area was known as Dewa Province.

Often used as shooting location for movies, the impressive Otemon Gate is a must-see

As you cross the moat and pass through the Ninomaru Higashi Otemon Gate, your attention is sure to be captivated by the beauty of the blossoming cherry trees surrounding the water and the sight of wild birds sailing along the surface. Excavation and restoration work is still underway, and you can see the splendid stone walls and gates of this magnificent edifice. The Ninomaru Higashi Otemon Gate was faithfully restored using old photographs and drawings. The film, Samurai Hustle, was filmed here

Guarding over the Ninomaru Higashi Otemon Gate stands the imposing figure of a mounted Mogami Yoshiaki striking a fierce pose. Mogami Yoshiaki was the 11th lord of the castle who built the foundations of Yamagata Castle. The statue shows Mogami facing down the army of Naoe Kanetsugu at the Battle of Dewa in the Keicho era. He’s pretty cool.

Tea time with the finest fruit from the field

The main Hatake Style store, adjacent to the Takahashi Fruit Land orchard in Yamagata’s Kaminoyama City, is a magnet of attraction. Here you can dig into parfaits and soft serve ice cream made with seasonal fruits fresh from the orchard. There’s only one way to describe it. It’s a fabulous fruit feast!

Dive into desserts filled with nature's bounty

Parfaits filled with seasonal fruits are the most popular item on the menu. Each parfait is like a treasure chest of jewels, filled with grapes, apples, pears, and other freshly picked orchard delights. Don't miss the homemade pudding ala mode, topped off with some silky smooth whipped cream and seasonal fruits. It is the kind of dessert that will fill you with delight from the very first bite. It's only available in limited quantities, so if it appears on the menu, order it while it lasts!

• We also recommend the seasonal soft serve ice cream that is rich in milk and fresh picked fruits, with three flavors to choose from, including milk, seasonal fruit, or try the best of both worlds and have the two swirled together. The soft serve ice cream is a must-have for fruit lovers, with cherry and grape being the top favorite flavors

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The spacious café and fabulous fruits will make your tea time the best time ever. In addition to sweets, there is a full menu that includes pizza, soba noodles, and other lunchtime fare. You’re sure to go fruity for this place.

Hot springs castle town that goes well with Yamagata wine and yukata

Lying in the shadow of Kaminoyama Castle, this hot spring resort and the town that share its name is steeped in 560 years of history. Nestled between Mt. Zao and other surrounding mountains, Kaminoyama is blessed with rich soil and abundant sunshine, as well as temperatures that vary widely between day and night, that makes the region one of the best places in Japan to grow grapes for wine. It’s a place where you can enjoy both a dip in a hot spring and a sip or two of wine. It’s the perfect getaway for grownups.

Five footbaths with a sweeping view of Kaminoyama

Kaminoyama is home to five footbaths each with its own unique features. You can enjoy strolling the scenic streets of this castle town while stopping at the footbaths along the way. The footbath at Kaminoyama Castle located near the entrance of Tsukioka Park, in particular, is a relaxing place that commands a spectacular view of Kaminoyama City. The footbath is covered by a roof, so you can enjoy it rain or shine. Give your feet a rest after a long walk.

Pamper your skin with hot spring water in this historic post town

The crystal clear water of Kaminoyama’s hot spring is slightly alkaline. It’s renowned for making your skin more beautiful due to its thermal and moisturizing properties as well as high concentration of metasilicic acid, which helps keep skin healthy. After dipping my feet in the hot spring water only for a brief while, my feet feel warm and my skin seems more resilient. There are also five public baths called “soto-yu” around town. You should try them too if you want to fully enjoy these hot spring waters that are great for your skin.

Famous for its cherry blossoms, Tsukioka Park contains the ruins of the Mogami clan’s castle

Kaminoyama Castle located on the grounds of Tsukioka Park was once the Mogami clan’s stronghold and served as the headquarters for the local feudal lords. Today it is open to the public as a folk museum where visitors can learn about the history of Kaminoyama City through videos and exhibits. About 100 cherry trees have been planted around the castle, making it a great place to walk around in spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

Scrumptious sweets from a soy sauce and miso maker

Kurazenya is a restaurant operated by Maruju, a long-established company that started off as a shipping agent/wholesaler in the Edo period. Initially selling benibana (Japanese safflower), Maruju started brewing operations in the mid-Meiji period and today operates as a manufacturer and wholesaler of soy sauce and miso. This well-established company also makes popular sweets to go. Don’t you wonder what these sweets made with soy sauce and miso taste like?

What do soy sauce, miso, or koji flavored pudding taste like?

Among the popular sweets to go is Premium Pudding that comes in three different flavors, mitarashi (sweet soy sauce), miso, and koji. Other seasonal flavors are also available for limited times only. (*The seasonal flavor pictured above is koji fromage.) Mitarashi is a sweet soy sauce flavor, while the miso flavored pudding has the subtle flavor of miso. The koji flavored pudding fills the palate with an aroma of amazake (sweet sake). They are all very fragrant.

You can enjoy the pudding in the cafe attached to the store instead of having it to go. In addition to the Premium Pudding, soy sauce cream puffs, mitarashi fondue, and soft serve ice cream are all on the cafe menu.

If you go there at lunchtime, try the Yamagata beef curry or fresh pasta with Yamagata beef bolognese sauce, a rich tomato sauce packing a big Yamagata beef umami punch mixed with fresh pasta served al dente. Both options come with a small salad and miso soup. While the miso soup is served on the side, this shop’s signature specialty as the main ingredient makes it a headliner. It’s worth traveling for.

The store has a wide selection of products, including its ever popular soy sauce and miso as well as dressings and sauces made using special techniques that make great souvenirs.

Get your ingredients and get barbecuing

Shopping Center Yoshida located in Jonanmachi is a supermarket beloved by locals. Operated by a butcher, the supermarket is known for its wide selection of high-grade Japanese beef such as Yonezawa beef. It also sells an abundance of fresh fish as well as vegetables from local farms for everyday cooking.

Mesh grills and seasonings are provided, so you don’t have to bring a thing

In November 2019 the supermarket opened a barbeque garden in a corner of its specious floor. Tables with an authentic built-in grill are set up in a partitioned area, where you can barbeque ingredients you buy at the supermarket right then and there. Mesh grills, plates, knives and forks are all provided on a counter, so you don’t have to bring a thing with you. All you have to do is buy some fresh ingredients and eat to your heart’s content. It’s a special way to barbeque that makes you feel extra special.
High-grade beef bought from the butcher is being grilled over charcoal. Yamagata beef is so tender and juicy. Sauces and seasonings are all provided at the BBQ Garden.

Tour Yamagata’s famed Uyo Otokoyama sake brewery

To brew good sake you need good quality water and rice. Mineral-rich groundwater and special grains of rice all go into brewing some of the finest sake at Otokoyama Brewing Company. Let's visit the brewery that makes this delicious sake and experience the actual brewing process.

Tour a sake brewery that’s been in business for over 200 years

Otokoyama Brewing Company is located in Yamagata City, just a 14-minute walk from Yamagata Station. Yamagata's leading sake brewery, Otokoyama has been brewing sake since its establishment in 1789. When your eyes meet the brewery’s storied structures and that rust red roof, you’re filled with a sense of history. While it doesn’t provide any special guided tours, Otokoyama gives you a rare glimpse at sake brewing up close.

The mineral rich and slightly sweet tasting groundwater running beneath the premises is indispensable to making the excellent sake that pours out these doors. This groundwater goes a long way to making the crisp, clean, dry sake.
Just as important as the water is the rice that goes into making sake. The brewery uses locally grown rice produced especially for sake brewing, such as Miyama Nishiki and Dewa Sansan, which are traceable and quality guaranteed.

Here we are tasting the rice koji (fermented rice). The taste is a weird but wonderful combination of sweet and sour. Koji plays a key role in the fermentation process that leads to creating delicious sake.A big bubbling tank of this koji fermented rice mixture is proof positive that the koji is alive and kicking.

A worker gives us a taste of the sake in the making. The taste resembles a more milky unfiltered variety of sake, but the finished product is still a long time coming and we can hardly wait.

Our tour is capped off by sampling the different kinds of sake made at the brewery, such as Uyo Otokoyama, Dewa Hojo, and Yuki Otokoyama.

It’s exciting to know that the koji we just witnessed at work during the tour will turn into this delicious sake we now get to taste. The best time to take a tour is during the months of January through March when you can watch the entire sake preparation (called shikomi) process.