Pleasures in autumn by relishing Yamagata's culinary delights
Yamagata Prefecture in autumn is full of local culinary delights that you must try! After a soothing time spent viewing the autumn leaves, why not fill your stomach with Yamagata's cuisine?
Visit places famous for their autumn leaves
The autumn leaves season in Yamagata Prefecture starts in late September, when the leaves of the tall mountains begin to change color. The foliage front then gradually moves to the countryside and village areas until early November. You can drive along the Nishi-Azuma Sky Valley, Zao Echo Line, or Chokai Blue Line to enjoy foliage while driving. To enjoy the foliage in the air, such as aboard a ropeway, you can go to Tengendai Kogen, Zao Kogen, or the Gassan Pair Lift. To gaze at the leaves from a boat, you can go to Mogami Gorge. Enjoy unique autumn leaves viewing in Yamagata.
Imoni, an essential autumn dish in Yamagata
Imoni is a representative of Yamagata's regional cuisine. Imoni is flavored with soy sauce and contains beef in the Murayama, Mogami, and Okitama areas. In the Shonai area, traditionally miso-flavored Imoni with pork is eaten. The soup is full of meat flavor that soaks into the main ingredient, taro root, and gives it a sticky texture. Come to Yamagata to taste the piping-hot delicious Imoni.
Fruit-picking season has arrived
Yamagata is famous for its cherries, but many other fruits are in season in autumn. The fruits include grapes from early July to mid-October, peaches from early August to late September, apples from early September to late December, Japanese pears from early September to October, and La France pears from mid-October to late December. Why not participate in a fruit-picking experience in the fruit kingdom of Yamagata?
The long-awaited arrival of the first rice crop of the year
Yamagata Prefecture is one of the leading rice-growing regions in Japan. Delicious rice is grown in the Shonai Plain and other areas throughout the prefecture. There are countless varieties of rice that have been awarded the highest rankings for flavor. Two popular rice varieties are Tsuya-hime, which is glossy and gives off a sweetness every time you chew, and Yukiwakamaru, which has firm and flexible grains. The first rice crop of the year arrives around the end of September to early October.
The first buckwheat crop of the year in Yamagata has superb flavor!
From late October to November when autumn is deepening and it gets chillier, the first crop of buckwheat arrives in Yamagata, one of Japan's leading buckwheat production areas. To fully enjoy the flavor of noodles made from the new buckwheat crop, it is recommended to enjoy them with chilled tsuyu broth even in this cold season.
Also, when the new buckwheat is harvested, the area is covered with pure white, beautiful buckwheat fields. Yamagata's new buckwheat offers a variety of enjoyment, making it a feast for the mouth, nose, and eyes.