STAY YAMAGATA

See the striking frost-covered trees that look like snow monsters!

Zao is one of the largest mountain resorts in Tohoku.

From late December to early March, you can view the sea of frost-covered trees known as Juhyo in Zao that are rare in Japan. You will be overwhelmed by the striking Juhyo, which almost seem like they were not created by a natural phenomenon. At night, the Juhyo are lit up to create a magical world.

For people seeking active adventures, how about skiing on a slope where you can ski right next to the Juhyo? This is a slope so large and full of fun that you will feel like you could ski all day and not get enough. During the green season, enjoy trekking and cycling while feeling the refreshing breeze of the plateau. You can take a ropeway from the hot spring resort to the top of the mountain, so you can relax and enjoy the great nature of the Zao mountain range. During the popular autumn season, you can soar above the foliage in the ropeway while looking down at the beautiful gradation of yellow, orange, and red leaves.

An atmospheric hot spring town with beautiful wooden buildings

Ginzan Onsen is home to retro wooden hot spring ryokan inns lining both banks of the Ginzan River.

This town with a nostalgic atmosphere is filled with highlights, including the colorful snowflake tiles on the sidewalks and the vividly-colored paintings on the walls of the inns that line the streets. The town is full of spots where you can rent retro kimonos, footbaths using hot spring water directly from the source, spots where you can eat while walking, cafés, and souvenir shops, so you can fully enjoy strolling around the hot spring resort.

In the evenings, the gas lamps are lit and the town is enveloped in a gentle orange glow. On snowy winter nights, the flickering orange lights shine on the snow-covered retro wooden buildings, creating an even more photogenic and wondrous atmosphere.

See one of the top 100 sunset views in Japan

Yunohama Onsen is a hot spring resort town with ryokan inns lined up close to the Sea of Japan.

The top appeal of Yunohama Onsen is that you can soak in an open-air bath while watching the sun set over the horizon of the Sea of Japan, which has been selected as one of the 100 best sunset views in Japan. Why don't you spend a superb time watching the scenery turn orange as far as you can see and the moment the sun sets?

The expansive Yunohama coast has a vast beach that is perfect for a seaside stroll. When the weather is fine, watching the sunset on the beach is also recommended. It is also said to be the birthplace of surfing, as there is a record of people surfing with a single board during the Edo period (1603-1868). With swimming areas located within walking distance, you can actively enjoy playing in the sea, marine sports, and surfing.

Yunohama Onsen's hot spring waters have sodium, calcium, and chloride properties. Since the ocean is right in front of the hot spring, the waters are characterized by their salt content. 

A village with fireflies and abundant nature

Onogawa Onsen is one of the eight hot spring towns in Yonezawa.

It is said to have been discovered by Ono no Komachi, a beautiful female poet representative of Japan, and is known as a beautifying hot spring. The spring contains sulfur, sodium, calcium, and chloride, and is a rare hot spring where you can drink the water.

Onogawa Onsen is also famous as one of the prefecture's best villages for fireflies, and you can see three different kinds of fireflies at once in this precious hot spring town. A firefly festival is held from mid-June to mid-July when the fireflies can be seen. During this period, there are free guided tours and teahouses where you can take a rest while watching the fireflies. Enjoy the magical night with fireflies flying around the atmospheric hot spring town.

In winter, the Kamakura Village of snow huts opens in a section of the hot spring town. Inside the snow huts, you can even eat ramen noodles with long Onogawa bean sprouts that are only cultivated in winter. 

Enjoy walking in areas with completely different appearances

Kaminoyama Onsen once prospered as an inn town of Kaminoyama Castle. At the same time, it also has a resort-style hot spring district located in a highland area with a superb sweeping view of the Zao mountains. Each area has a completely different appearance.

In the inn town area, you can enjoy strolling around the reconstructed Kaminoyama Castle and samurai residences. Going to the four footbaths in the area is another attraction. In the highland area, you can enjoy walking. Soak up the negative ions, which are believed to be soothing in Japan, on a walking course through nature. Hanasakiyama Observatory, which is certified as a sacred place for lovers, is also recommended. Enjoy ringing the happiness bell and looking for the point where sound echoes amidst Zao's spectacular scenery. 

Kaminoyama Onsen's hot springs are clear, colorless, and slightly alkaline. After a long walk, relax and soak in a hot spring to relieve your fatigue.

A town well-known for its pieces used for Shogi (Japanese chess)

Tendo Onsen is located in the city center of Tendo, the largest producer of Shogi pieces in Japan.

There are art objects with the motif of Shogi pieces scattered throughout the city, and there is a huge Shogi piece in the center of the hot spring district. Even the sidewalks have printed Shogi designs. You can enjoy the experience of making your own Shogi pieces in Tendo, the city of Shogi. You can create your own original Shogi pieces by writing your favorite characters on them.

The Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival featuring "Human Shogi" is another event unique to this city of Shogi. An enormous Shogi board is set up in Maizuru Park, surrounded by cherry blossoms, and people wearing armor and kimonos become the Shogi pieces! You can watch the exciting games of professional Shogi players on the giant board. Games are held on Saturdays and Sundays in mid-April every year. During this period, the weeping cherry trees along the Kuratsu River in the hot spring town are in full bloom. The area is lit up at night, making it ideal for a nighttime stroll around the hot spring town.

Stroll the streets of a hot spring town that retains its traditional appearance

Hijiori Onsen still retains its traditional atmosphere.

If you want to enjoy Hijiori Onsen to the fullest, a stroll around the hot spring district is recommended. You can see the old post office with its modern exterior and retro sights such as the traditional Hijiori kokeshi dolls in this area that is perfect for strolling while wearing a yukata. If you want to enjoy hot spring hopping, it is recommended to purchase the Yumeguri ticket, which can be used at three designated inns and facilities.

In addition, there are many events that add color to the nights in the hot spring district. They include the Hijiori no Hi lantern exhibition in which lanterns made by local students are hung at the entrances of the inns, and the Hijiori Snowy Dream Corridor in which candles are lit on the snow wall that is as high as three meters in winter. 

Enjoy food-filled strolls around town with wine and ramen

Akayu Onsen has a history as a protected hot spring where the lord of the Uesugi family, a famous samurai family in Japan, used to bathe. Today, it is also famous as a town with wine and ramen.

Grape cultivation has been actively conducted in Akayu since long ago. The town has six famous wineries, making it one of the largest concentrations of wineries in Japan. Some of the wines have won prizes at the Japan Wine Competition, and have certified quality. All of the wineries have a cozy atmosphere and are easy to visit, which is one of their charms.

Yamagata is the top prefecture in Japan for ramen consumption. Its most famous ramen variety is Akayu Spicy Miso Ramen, which features miso ramen topped with spicy miso. The spicy miso is not dissolved at once, but rather is gradually dissolved, and it is recommended to adjust the spiciness as you eat. You can also enjoy strolling around the hot spring town while enjoying Akayu's cuisine, including visiting footbaths and public baths.

Walk around town to fully enjoy the hot spring

Atsumi Onsen flourishes along the Atsumi River.

The clear waters of the Atsumi River show completely different scenery in each of the four seasons. In spring, about 300 cherry trees planted along the river bloom and are lit up at night. In early summer, the river is crowded with fishermen who enjoy fishing for sweetfish, and in autumn, you can see salmon swimming up the river right in front of you.

The nature-filled hot spring district is dotted with hot spring spots. In addition to public bathhouses, there are footbaths along the river and on the main street, drinking fountains where you can drink hot spring water, and a hot spring shrine where the hot spring deity is enshrined. It is a hot spring district you can enjoy in many ways, from soaking in baths to drinking to visiting shrines. There are also plenty of resting spots, such as cafés where you can soak in the footbath while drinking tea, and wooden decks along the river, so why not arrive early and enjoy Atsumi Onsen at your leisure?

In addition to the hot springs that are introduced here, there are many other famous hot springs such as Sakuranbo Higashine Onsen, Gassan Shizu Onsen, Sagae Onsen, Akakura Onsen, Semi Onsen, Shirabu Onsen, and Yutagawa Onsen.

Stay not just one but two or three nights to enjoy Yamagata's hot springs. Click here to check out more information about Yamagata's unique hot springs!