Deep Yamagata that you don't know - Yamagata and Okitama, where the "real Japan" remains to be passed on to the next generation

Capture the precious landscapes of Okitama that we want to preserve for the future

The local train lines that run peacefully through the countryside stir up the sense of travel.
The Flower Nagai Line (Yamagata Railway) opened as a light railway in the Taisho era, and since the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, it has carried many people to this day, and even today, it continues to entertain us as part of the serene scenery of Okitama. There are six types of carriages in operation. There are carriages decorated with flowers from the four cities and towns along the line, and recently a carriage in collaboration with the popular manga "Ramen-loving Koizumi-san" has also been introduced, which has been well received by railway fans and manga fans nationwide.
Along the Flower Nagai Line, there are two station buildings designated as registered tangible cultural properties: Nishi-Otsuka Station and Uzen-Narita Station. Uzen-Narita Station, built in 1922, is managed by the Uzen-Narita Ekimae Orada Association, a group of local residents. In order to welcome passengers to a clean station, they clean the station, pull weeds, plant flowers around the station, and hold events.
The reason they hold events in the station building in between their busy schedules is because they want passengers to have a fun and painless time while waiting, which is unique to local train lines. They use the old office as a gallery to hold photo exhibitions of seasonal flowers and the Flower Nagai Line, as well as other exhibitions related to the culture and history of the region, and cherry blossom viewing events, and are increasing the number of fans of Uzen-Narita Station and the Orada Association across the country.
As time passes, the smell of the coal stove disappears from the station building, and the number of passengers has decreased, causing it to lose its former vitality, but this station building and line are treasures for the local community and we don't want them to disappear. Through the Orada Association, we were able to experience the love for the community as they speak to the next generation about the importance of continuing to use the station.
It was a trip on a local line that allowed me to experience the "goodness of the old" once again.

Okitama, Yamagata is a rice-producing region that is also famous for its sake. On this day, rice planting was taking place in Nagai City.
This is the planting of "Sawanohana," the raw material rice used to make the Junmai Ginjo "Yomigaeru" brewed by Suzuki Sake Brewery Nagaigura, which evacuated from Namie, Fukushima after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
About 50 Suzuki Sake Brewery fans from all over Japan gathered. "Souyaku" is a sake that was once sold by "Toyo Sake Brewery," a sake brewery in Nagai, using the mythical rice "Sawanohana," a variety recommended by Yamagata Prefecture. Suzuki Sake Brewery, which evacuated to Yamagata after the earthquake, took over Toyo Sake Brewery, which was considering closing down, and was asked by Nagai citizens and evacuees to brew sake again using "Sawanohana," and the new "Souyaku" was brewed.
Daisuke Suzuki of Suzuki Sake Brewery combined the story of himself, a victim of the earthquake, the revived Sawanohana, and the story of "Revival" and began brewing a new sake in Nagai.
The beautiful season of the flooded rice fields reflecting the sunlight changes into a green, windy season, and in September the rice is harvested, its golden color.
Rice planting was taking place in a lively manner under bright sunlight and beautiful weather.

There is a fantastical landscape that can only be seen for two months in the Nakatsugawa area of Iide Town.
When a large amount of meltwater flows into the area around Shirakawa Dam, the surrounding white willow trees become submerged, creating a mysterious sight known as the "Submerged Forest of Lake Shirakawa."
This water will eventually drain away and be used as irrigation water during the rice planting season, so this is a scene that can only be seen for a short period of time.
This time, the white willow flowers were just falling on the water, creating a beautiful contrast between the fresh green leaves and the white water. This spot is becoming increasingly popular, and canoe tours through the submerged forest are also available.

Yamagata Railway Flower Nagai Line

Uzen-Narita Station

Uzen Narita Station Orada Association

Suzuki Sake Brewery Nagaigura

Submerged forest at Lake Shirakawa (every year from late March to mid-May)