Hot springs, gourmet food and stunning views. Experience the charms of Yamagata! A two-day, one-night trip for two

First day

We will introduce a two-day, one-night driving course that will take you around the prefecture using a rental car, with Yamagata Airport as your base.

Pray for marital harmony at "Kosugi no Osugi," a natural cedar tree affectionately known as the "Totoro Tree."

First, we will drive about an hour and a half from Yamagata Airport to Sakegawa Village in the northern part of Yamagata Prefecture. The large cedar tree "Kosugi no Osugi" in the Kosugi district of this village has long been loved as a sacred tree by the villagers, and is a popular spot for tourists as it resembles Totoro from the movie "My Neighbor Totoro."

Kosugi no Osugi is a 1,000-year-old tree that is 20 meters tall and designated as a national natural monument. It is also known as the "Couple Cedar," "Matchmaking Tree," and "Children's Tree" because it looks like a single tree separated at the base into two. Why not pray for marital harmony and receive power in the midst of nature?

*Due to the heavy rains in July 2024, Route 308 from Shinjo City to Sakegawa Village and Route 58 from Tozawa Village are closed due to landslides. For the route to Osugi no Osugi, please check the Sakegawa Village Tourism Association website.
Web: Sakegawa Village Tourism Association Official Website

Large Cedar in Kosugi

About 1 hour and 10 minutes by car

Enjoy Japan's best "Sakata Ramen" at "Kachou Fuugetsu (Sakata Main Store)"

One of the joys of traveling is local cuisine! In fact, Yamagata City in Yamagata Prefecture is the ramen powerhouse with the highest ramen consumption in Japan. You can enjoy local ramen in various parts of the prefecture, which is divided into four major regions: Murayama, Mogami, Okitama, and Shonai.

This time, we will taste Sakata Ramen at "Kachou Fuugetsu" in Sakata City, Shonai region. Its unique feature is its seafood stock-based soup topped with homemade curly noodles and wontons. Sakata Ramen was voted number one in Japan in the 2023 "Japan Local Ramen General Election," and is a must-try for ramen lovers.

Kachoufugetsu's signature dish is "Shrimp Wonton Noodles with Soy Sauce." Fluffy, creamy shrimp wontons float in a soup made from seafood stock such as dried sardines, flying fish, and kelp, combined with pork bones and chicken bones. The medium-thin curly noodles are mixed well with the rich, flavorful soup, making this a simple yet flavorful dish.

While the average amount of noodles in ramen noodles across the country is 100-160g, Sakata ramen has a regular portion of 200-220g noodles, in order to ensure that customers can "eat until they're full." Those with smaller appetites can also choose a small portion, so no need to worry! This ramen has a light seafood soup that is easy to eat and will leave you very satisfied, both in your stomach and in your heart.

Kachoufugetsu Sakata Main Store

Approximately 30 minutes by car

Experience farming in the sun and reading in the rain at "SUIDEN TERRASSE" floating in the countryside

A 30-minute drive from Kachou Fuugetsu Sakata Main Branch, a beautiful building appears in the middle of the countryside. This is the SHONAI HOTEL SUIDEN TERRASSE, a hotel floating on a rice field.

Anyone can use the restaurant, common building library, and shop, even if they are not planning to stay overnight.

The common library has about 1,000 books selected under 10 themes, such as "Nature and Creatures," "Looking Around the World," and "Japan and Yamagata." A rural landscape spreads out beyond the bookshelves, allowing you to enjoy reading in a relaxing space.

On sunny days, you can relax and dine on the restaurant terrace while feeling the breeze of the Shonai Plain. On rainy days, you can read in the library and listen to the sound of the rain outside the window. It would be nice to share your favorite book with your partner and talk about it. This is truly a spot where you can enjoy the experience of farming in the sun and reading in the rain.

SHONAI HOTEL SUIDEN TERRASSE

About 1 hour 50 minutes by car

Immerse yourself in a movie-like world at the nostalgic hot spring town of Ginzan Onsen

After relaxing at "SHONAI HOTEL SUIDEN TERRASSE," we headed to our next destination. After about a two-hour drive, as dusk approached, we arrived at "Ginzan Onsen," where the gas lamps were beginning to light.

This popular spot in Yamagata is said to look just like the setting for the movie "Spirited Away." The sight of wooden hot spring inns lined up on both sides of the Ginzan River exudes a nostalgic Japanese atmosphere, making you feel like you've traveled back in time.

You're sure to enjoy the changing seasons, from the pink of mountain cherry blossoms in spring, the dazzling green of summer, the splendid autumn foliage, and the snowy landscape lit by gas lamps in winter.

In addition to beautiful scenery, this hot spring town is also full of cafes, places to eat, and souvenir shops, making it a fun place to stroll around.

Ginzan Onsen

If you're interested in Ginzan Onsen, check out TikTok!

About 1 hour and 10 minutes by car

Relax and unwind in the hot springs at your accommodation, Yuyu no Sato Yusa

At the end of the first day, we headed to our accommodation, Yuyu no Sato Yusa.

Dinner is a seasonal meal made with Yamagata beef and locally grown vegetables, allowing you to enjoy the flavors of Yamagata with all five senses.

After a delicious meal, you can relax and unwind from the day's fatigue in the open-air cypress bath overlooking the majestic Zao mountains. Enjoy a luxurious moment in the natural air while looking out at the rural landscape and mountains. We also recommend enjoying a morning bath in the large bath basking in the morning sun.

The facility also has a spot called "Ofuro Café" that is available for day use. In addition to the "Sauna Lounge" that couples can enjoy together, there are free magazines, comics, and coffee available, and seasonal craft experience workshops are also held. It is a space where you can spend your time freely and leisurely.

Yuyu no Sato Yusa

If you're interested in "Yuyu no Sato Yusa," check out TikTok!

Second day

Take a stroll through the sky and soothe yourself with the breathtaking views on the Zao Ropeway

On the second day, we will arrive at "Zao Ropeway Zao Sanroku Station" in about 20 minutes by car from "Yuyu no Sato Yusa". From here, we will take the ropeway to the summit.

The view from the ropeway is a grand panorama overlooking the Zao mountains! There are terraces along the line, such as the "Hyakumannin Terrace" at Juhyo Kogen Station and the "Summit Terrace" at Jizo Sancho Station, where you can enjoy the spectacular views while feeling nature with your whole body.

In the summer, they also hold an event called "Summer Night Cruising" where you can enjoy stargazing at night. The night view is also romantic, so we recommend visiting at night.

In autumn, the area is filled with vibrant, photogenic autumn leaves, allowing you to enjoy beautiful sights all year round.

Zao Ropeway

About 1 hour and 20 minutes by car

Taste Yamagata's local ramen "Akaya Ramen" at "Ryu Shanghai"

After enjoying the spectacular view of Zao, it's time to fill your stomach. On the second day, head to Ryu Shanghai (Higashine branch), a long-loved local ramen restaurant, to try Akayu Ramen, a local ramen from the Okitama region. Enjoy comparing it with Sakata Ramen from the first day.

A must-try at Ryushanghai, a restaurant loved by locals since 1958 (Showa 33). Akayu Karamiso Ramen is a rare dish among Yamagata ramen, which tend to have a light soy sauce-based soup. This ramen is made with a rich chicken, pork, and seafood soup and is topped with spicy miso.

You can adjust the spiciness of the special spicy miso made by adding chili peppers and garlic to Yamagata's red miso to suit your taste. Compared to the main store, where there are often hours of queues, the Higashine store is a hidden gem that makes it easier to avoid crowds. Comparing the different local ramens that represent Yamagata, conversations are sure to flow more, with questions like, "Which did you prefer, this one or yesterday's ramen?"

Akayu Ramen Ryushanghai (Higashine branch)

Approximately 30 minutes by car

Round off your trip to Yamagata with a delightful fruit parfait from "Cherry Cafe Chouchou"

After eating rich ramen, finish off with an incredibly exciting parfait.

At "cherry cafe chouchou," located within the Sagae Roadside Station, also affectionately known as "Cherry Land Sagae," you can enjoy sweets made with seasonal fruits, mainly cherries.

Parfaits made with an abundance of cherries are incredibly photogenic. While many shops only serve seasonal parfaits, the fact that you can enjoy cherry parfaits all year round is appealing. You can also compare it with parfaits filled with strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and other fruits to experience a moment of culinary delight. They also serve light meals, so you can stop by when you're feeling a bit hungry.

Additionally, at the roadside station, you can also enjoy shopping at "kokocherry," which carries over 600 cherry-related products, making it a great place to buy souvenirs from Yamagata.

Taking a commemorative photo with the giant cherry object will surely become a lasting memory of your trip together.

cherry cafe chouchou

Rich nature, gourmet food, hot springs. Yamagata Prefecture is full of charms that can be enjoyed regardless of the season, and even a two-day weekend getaway is enough to experience something out of the ordinary. Spending time together enjoying delicious food and relaxing experiences is sure to deepen your relationship even more.

The charms of traveling in Yamagata are also being introduced by the tourism influencers Ryomai and his wife on JAL's official TikTok! Please take a look at the video.

JAL Official TikTok

Ryomai couple

A travel influencer living in Kansai. She started her social media activities to boost the tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The couple posts about "outings" and "travel spots" that will make you want to go there tomorrow, and has over 500,000 followers on TikTok! (As of August 2024)

TikTok

Instagram

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