Yamagata prefecture in the Tohoku region and along the Sea of Japan offers natural beauty through hot springs (Onsen), vast agricultural lands, and mountain ranges throughout the four seasons.
We traveled from Tokyo to Yamagata during winter, and it was a surreal experience. During my last travel to Yamagata, I got a chance to learn more about Yamagata culture and events. With interaction with local Yamagata residence, I found Yamagata is much more than the winter season. It has so much to offer all around the year or all four seasons.
Here, I listed Yamagata’s famous festivals and places to see. You can choose based on the season of your travel to Japan Tohoku region. This Yamagata Travel guide and events schedule infographic will help you plan your trip to Yamagata on your choice season. If you like culture photography, event photography, and landscape photography, you must bookmark this page.
Spring Season of Yamagata
March
Yamagata Hina-no-Michi
April
Mamigasaki Cherry Tree Line Illumination
Famous cherry blossom spot along the riverbanks of Mamigasaki river in Yamagata city. Nearly 200 cherry blossom trees are lite-up at night (18:30-21:00) during the festival.
Kajo kan-o Kai Cherry Blossom Viewing
Kajo park, an urban park built on former grounds of Yamagata castle, is popular cherry blossom seeing spot in Yamagata city. Visitors enjoy the full blooming during spring of around 1500 cherry blossom trees.
Zao Echo Line opens
Zao Echo Line is a scenic mountain tourist road traverses between Miyagi and Yamagata Prefectures, also divides the east and west Zao mountain ranges. It closes from early November to the end of April due to heavy snowfall during winters. When it opens in April, visitors enjoy the snow corridors lined by huge snowy walls. This tourist road is also famous for lush greenery during summers and coloured foliage during autumn.
May
Yakushi Festival Plant Fair
It is one of the three largest plant fair in Japan, having history of more than 400 years. Shops along the path leading to Yakushi temple which is 1200 years old, from 8-10th May every year. This fair started in Edo period after the huge fire at Yamagata to compensate it with more greenery in the city.
Yamadera Hie-jinja Shrine Sanno Festival
Hie Shrine holds its Sanno festival on May 17 every year. Visitors see the enormous ginkgo tree which is a national monument and largest ginkgo tree in Yamagata city.
Omoshiroyama Momijigawa River Gorge opens
This flat, narrow hiking train along the Momijigawa river gorge connects Omoshiroyama to Yamadera temple. Most of the hikers take the 1.5 hour trails to its end and return back to Omoshiroyama, however you can extend your hike and end the trail at Yamadera.
Summer Season of Yamagata
June
Cherry Picking
Yamagata prefecture known for export of its juicy ruby cherries, and covers almost 70% of total Japan’s total cherry produce. They organises cherry-picking festival in around 10 different cities during late May to June every year, and is well known for all-you-can-pick cherry parties. Visitors also enjoy all-you-can-eat 30 mins or 60 mins sessions cherry parties. Remember to try various cherry mixed food snacks, ice-creams and liqueurs.
Deshio Monju-do Temple [Murakizawa Hydrangea Festival]
Deshio Monjudo at Murakizawa holds Hydrangea festival at the end of June every year. Almost 40 species of 2500 plantation lined the stone pavement of temple.
Yamagata Cherry Festival
This 2-day event organised at Yamagata city, where one can enjoy local saviour. Family events, live music and fireworks displays are done to encourage participation. You can taste nearly all types of cherry mixed products like liqueurs, ice creams, jellies, etc. during this festival.
July
Takase safflower fields/ Yamagata Safflower Festival
Visit to Safflower fields of Takase village at Yamagata is filled with rich natural beauty. These flowers are used for dyeing and processing and has been passed on through 450 years. It is recognised as Japan Agricultural Heritage site.
Hojusan Illumination
Hojusan Risshakuji Temple is a beautiful spiritual tourist place located at Yamadera, outskirts of Yamagata city. The path to reach the top hall of the temple are illuminated during this event.
August
Hanagasa Summer Festival/ Yamagata Prefecture Local Products Market
Yamagata Hanagasa Festival
Popular as one of the four major Japanese festival of Tohoku region, is a 3-day event from August 5-7th every year. Hanagasa refers to the hat decorated by flowers and are worn by about ten thousand dancers. These hats are dyed red from safflower for the festival parade.
Yamagata Fireworks Display
Every year Yamagata prefecture’s biggest fireworks display is organised near Su river in Yamagata city. Large crowds visit the city during the event and enjoy busy street stalls around the park and other view points. They have fireworks showcasing anime characters, displays text messages and more.
Autumn
September
Japan’s Biggest Imoni-kai Festival
Everyone look forward to annual Imoni festival celebrated in Yamagata city on first Sunday of September. Famous as “Nihon Ichi Imoni-Kai” or literally “The Number One Imoni-Kai in Japan”. Crowds gather near the banks of Mamigasaki river to participate in Imoni, which is cooked in a gigantic iron pot of six meters diameter and being stirred by mechanical construction equipment. It’s a well organised event with ticketing system and staggered Imoni pickup times.
Omoshiroyama Kogen Cosmos Berg
Omoshiroyama Trail near the Yamadera Temple covers by Cosmos flower, and visitors enjoy this beautiful hike through narrow valleys
Imoni parties
Families and friends hold intimate Imoni parties several times through the fall season. One can even purchase special Imoni-Kai kits from grocery stores which contains everything you need for one day outing to river like rentable pot, firewood, chopped vegetables and other ingredients.
Autumn leaves in the Zao mountain range
From late September, leaves start turning shades of yellow and red from mountaintops of the Zao mountain ranges. Zao Ropeway and Zao Echo line are the recommended spots for autumn foliage.
Marugoto Yamagata Matsurido Wasshoi Festival
Every year towards the end of harvest season, Shinjo festival is held in Shinjo city of Yamagata prefecture. Traditional parades with impressive floats and dances create lively and memorable ambience for attendees unique in many ways.
October
Yamagata Marugoto Marathon
Every year Yamagata city organise Marathan for runners to participate and boost the local economy.
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival [Held every other year]
A weeklong festival held biannually in Yamagata city to promote Asian filmmaking and create meets with their western counterparts. Events and programs not only just do simple screening but also help emerging young filmmaker’s from Asia to present their raw vibrant talents. There are discussions and forums on diversity of filmmaking, independent, nonfiction films, and documentary basics.
Yamagata Biennale [Held every other year]
Started in 2014, it is a biannual event held on Tohoku University of Art and Design. Japan and its language exhibited through novel innovative creative arts both by local artists and some breathtaking pieces by renowned artists.
Autumn leaves in the Omoshiroyama Kogen/ Momijigawa River Gorge
There is a famous hiking trail connecting Omoshiroyama station to Yamadera station. it starts from the bridge near to Omoshiroyama station, goes ground steep to hiking downstream besides Momijigawa river. This natural river gorge is gorgeous having wonderful fall foliage surrounding on both sides of river. You can also enjoy variety of waterfalls cutting big and small stones and streaming blue water of the river. Visitors prefers taking the 1.7 kilometres trail and comes back to the Omoshiroyama station. However, if you want to cover the whole trail passing through pine forest, grass field and Japanese village, it will be extra 5.8 kilometres to Yamadera temple.
Autumn leaves at Yamadera Temple
Yamadera temple is famous for hiking through 1000 stone steps along the mountain side to the top. One can enjoy the autumn foliage all along the hiking trail which takes around 40-45 minutes.
Hojusan Illumination
Hojusan Risshakuji Temple is a beautiful spiritual tourist place located at Yamadera, outskirts of Yamagata city. The path to reach the top hall of the temple illuminated during this event.
Horetsu Shrine Reitai Festival Ancient Japanese Polo
Horetsu Shrine celebrates a festival every year during October with traditional rituals.
November Season of Yamagata
Autumn leaves in Momiji Park
This park situated in Yamagata city, and famous for beautiful mamiji (maple) trees in vibrant autumn foliage. History of this park dates back to 1665 when lord Matsudaira Tadahiro ruled.
Michinoku Kokeshi Doll Festival
Kokeshi festivals are unique event in Japan bringing enthusiasts to collect new kokeshi dolls, learn their origins and meet the great craftsmen. You can even try making kokeshi during this festival. Not only Yamagata-style koskeshi was on sale, but other famous ones like Hijoris, Nambus are also available.
Yamagata City Traditional Crafts Festival
The traditional arts and crafts of Yamagata prefecture promoted by Yamagata city office to promote local artists and products.
Winter Season of Yamagata
December
Snow Monsters Illumination
Zao mountain area covered by rare to watch huge Winter/Snow monsters which attracts tourists around the world. The magnificent monsters glittering in the daylight can be leisurely appreciated by 2 ropeways and observation desks between the stations. During evening, Winter Night Cruising car are available which takes you to Snow monster Illusion Corridor Tour and watch the illuminations closely.
Zao Onsen Ski Resort opens
Mt. Zao in winter is majorly famous as largest Ski resort with good quality powder snow, 14 slopes, 12 courses and 32 lifts. Skiing at Zao Area highly recommended if you are visiting from mid-December to February.
Zao Snow Monster Festival
This festival held at Zao Onesn area, featuring the Zao Onsen mascots, Yamagata Prefecture mascots and some other mascots. Taiksi-kun, Muhyoko-chan and Jukkii-kun (husband, wife and child) are Zao Onsen’s Snow Monster family mascots.
January
Yamagata City Hatsuichi Market
This is a very old market event dedicated to Ichigami, God of Markets, started back in seventeenth century. Visitors enjoy about 400 stalls selling trinkets for good luck, candies and local products.
Winter Festival
Yamagata Winter Fireworks organise at Kajo Park every year, showcasing anime characters, displays text messages and more.
Snow hiking
Zao mountain is also famous for snow trekking to enjoy the white beauty of snowy fields and famous snow monsters. Hikers climb up to the top of Mt. Jizo to see the Buddhist Jizo statue buried till its shoulder from the snow.
FIS Ski Jumping Ladies’ World Cup Zao
Yamagata Onsen Resort is famous to organise FIS certified ski jumping World Cup ladies every year since 2012.
February
Yamadera Kokeshi Doll Snowman Festival
Risshaku-ji temple hold an annual event of kokeshi doll snowman festival. Participants required to do prior application to enjoy the event. Unique Treasure hunt in the snow arranged for children to actively involve in team activity.
Zao Snow Monster Festival Torchlight Parade
February is the best time to enjoy the Zao Snow Monsters, since they start to melt by March. Zao Onsen arranges the festival weekend every year where skiers parade by gliding down the mountain holding glowing torches. There are displays of mascots and fireworks during evening.
Important Point to Remember
- Yamadera steps and stairs are steep recommend to use winter trekking shoes.
- Tripod and drones are now allowed at some places, so please check the sign and respect the guidelines.
- Check out Yamagata Toursim Official ( Japanese but translation available) website for latest news.
- Looking for hotel and flights booking option, Tohoku tourism website has covered most of options.
- Be Responsible traveller and avoid littering. Help to protect environment by Reducing Plastic Pollution.
