[Yamagata Station Travel Notes] Take in the magnificent scenery of Yamagata from the station

📍JR Yamagata Station｜Direct access to Yamagata Shinkansen｜Exploring the secrets of Tohoku

Yamagata Station (JR Yamagata Station) is the transportation hub of Yamagata Prefecture and one of the main stops of the Yamagata Shinkansen. The city is famous for its beautiful natural scenery, hot springs and local specialties, especially the Zao tree ice in winter and cherries in summer, which attract many tourists. This time, I decided to start from Yamagata Station and take a simple but charming little trip!

🚉 First stop: Arrive at Yamagata Station

Take the Yamagata Shinkansen and easily reach Yamagata Station from Tokyo or Sendai. As soon as you exit the station, you can feel the unique tranquility and comfortable atmosphere of this city. The station is designed in a simple and elegant style, and there are many local specialty shops inside, such as those selling Yamagata soba, dried cherries, and taro cooking bags. It is a good place to restock on the way.

Kasumiro Park near the station is also a popular attraction. It was once the site of Yamagata Castle and has different scenery in each season. It is pleasant to enjoy the cherry blossoms in spring and the maple leaves in autumn.

🏞️ Second stop: Climb up to the observatory and overlook the entire Yamagata City

If you want to overlook the entire Yamagata area, you can't miss the Yamagata City Health Center Observatory. The observatory is not far from Yamagata Station and can be reached in about 10-15 minutes by bus or taxi.

After arriving at the observation deck, you can overlook the entire Yamagata City, with Mount Zao in the distance. In winter, you can even see the mountaintops covered with snow, creating a magnificent view. This is also a great place to enjoy the sunset and night view. Yamagata City under the afterglow of the setting sun seems to be dyed with a layer of golden color, romantic and peaceful.

🍜 Third stop: Taste Yamagata’s delicacies

Yamagata is famous for its soba noodles, so when you come here, you must try the local Itasoba (板そば). This is a unique way of eating soba noodles, served on a wooden tray, with sauce and freshly grated wasabi, which has a rich and chewy taste. "Soba Mitsuya" near the station is a well-known old shop. The combination of soup and soba is perfect, it is worth a try!

If you like hot soup dishes, then taro hotpot is also one of Yamagata's signature dishes. This dish is cooked with beef, taro, konjac and other ingredients. The soup is rich and warm, which is very suitable for enjoying in autumn and winter.

🌿 Trip Summary

Although Yamagata Station is not as bustling as Tokyo or Sendai, it has its own unique local charm. From the historic Kasumiro Park to the vast views from the observation deck to the local food culture, every corner is worth savoring. If you are planning a trip to Tohoku, you might want to include Yamagata Station in your itinerary and experience the tranquility and beauty of this city!

📌 Tips:
• Winter in Yamagata is cold, so it is recommended to wear warm clothes.
• If you want to go to the lookout, it is recommended to arrive before dusk so that you can enjoy the beautiful scenery both during the day and at night.
• The souvenir shop in the station sells Yamagata’s specialties “dried cherries” and “Yamagata sake”, which are perfect as souvenirs!
Woolen cloth?
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