Yamagata’s top 3 destinations
Travelife Magazine Publisher Christine Cunanan, a 20-year-resident of Tokyo, shares her favorite sightseeing spots in one of Japan's lesser-known prefectures.
Yamagata is famous for its natural beauty, with beautiful mountains, lush forests, and a gorgeous coastline. Unknown to many tourists who bypass this northern prefecture in favor of more famous destinations like Tokyo and Kyoto, Yamagata is full of history and there is a direct link between Yamagata and Kyoto via a sea route often taken by the shogun from these districts.
Yamagata is also famous for its cherrie, pears and beef, as well as for producing the most delicious rice in Japan. It's only a bullet train ride away from Tokyo. Travelife recommends the top three things to see in Yamagata.
1. The Sankyo storehouses of Sakata
Sakata City flourished due its safflower trade during the Edo Period (1603-1868). At one point, it was considered one of Japan's most important port towns together with Osaka. The city is still full of old buildings and architectural details that point to its once prosperous and historical past, and a must-see is the row of traditional late 19th century storehouses along the river that were once used to keep rice. Some of these storehouses are still being used today, while others have been converted into tourist information centers, souvenir shops and restaurants serving local seasonal produce.
2. Dewa Sanzan: The three sacred mountains
In terms of natural beauty and spiritual history, few mountains in Japan can equal the three sacred mountains of Yamagata known as the Dewa Sanzan: Mount Haguro (414m), Mount Gassan (1,984m), and Mount Yudono. These mountains are beautiful in every season and are very important pilgrimage sites for followers of certain Shinto and Buddhist sects. In particular, Mount Haguro is famous for its lovely five-storey pagoda, which has been designated an Important Cultural Asset of Japan, and for the 2446-step stone staircase up to its peak, which is reportedly the oldest stone staircase in Japan. It's also the home of the Yamabushi, a religious sect that believes in attaining spiritual enlightenment through physical endurance and sacrifice. Other ancient temples and shrines dot the mountains, which have been the object of devotion of religious ascetics for over 1,400 years.
3. Ginzan hot springs
This hot springs (onsen) village is difficult to reach but the journey is worth it. You will find yourself in a mountain town that is almost like a movie set, reminiscent of Japan in the 1920s and 1930s. Some of the Japanese inns that line the main road and river were indeed built in this era and they are still operational even today. A stay in one of these old-fashioned inns, complete with antique furniture, handmade beddings and ancient gas lamps, is a truly unique experience that will be difficult to replicate elsewhere.
The Ginzan hot springs have long been drawing lovers of nostalgia from all over Japan. However this little town became famous internationally as the setting for the Japanese movie Oshin, about a young girl who was forced to endure much hardships in life.
Getting to Yamagata
From Tokyo, Yamagata Prefecture is a one-hour flight on Japan Airlines. From Osaka, it is a 1.5 hour flight. You can also take the Yamagata Shinkansen (bullet train) line from Tokyo direct to Yamagata, and it will take between 2.5 hours to 3 hours.
TRAVELIFE Magazine is the Philippines' leading travel & lifestyle publication. www.travelife.biz
