Yamagata

Ginzan Onsen (Ginzan Hot Spring), Yamagata

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Ginzan Onsen” (Ginzan Hot Spring) where wooden inns built from the end of Taisho to the early Showa era is a popular tourist spot as a retro hot-spring town. There are many tourist attractions that make you feel the history around “Ginzan Onsen” which once had a history of being crowded as a silver mining site. In addition, there are many spots where you can enjoy nature because it is a rich natural land.
This place boasts a deep-rooted popularity as a retro hot-spring town feeling somewhere nostalgic, and it can catch traveling that can not be easily tasted elsewhere.

It was Edo period when Ginzan Onsen opened. People who work at Nobesawa Silver Mine, which was once in this place, are said to be beginning to discover a hot spring that springs into the silver mine. After that, silver mine closed down, but Ginzan Onsen became popular as a hot spring resort. However, during the Taisho Period, the Ginzan Onsen was hit by the flood. Many of the hot spring accommodations have been swept away, the amount of spas discharged dramatically, once it has been closed. However, due to the efforts of local people, a large-scale boring survey was conducted at the beginning of Showa era, and a large amount of hot water was discharged. As a result, Ginzan Onsen has revived as a popular hot spring resort like the present. In addition the inns have been renovated from a traditional three-storied building to a four-story wooden high-rise building, and the romantic cityscape became popular.
There are places of interest other than hot springs. You can enjoy soft drinks with Japanese sweets etc. at sweet dishes “Haikarasan street” in Ginzan hot-spring town. In addition, ramen, soba, curry rice etc. are prepared, and it is also possible to take a relaxing meal. Please enjoy delicious sweets and drinks in a retro style shop suitable for Ginzan hot spring.

Feel nostalgia

The “Ginzan Onsen” (Silver Mine Hot Spring) in Obanazawa-shi, Yamagata is said that it has became a model of “Spirited Away” which is the Japanese famous animated film. A wonderful hot-spring resort feeling nostalgia is spreading out in “Ginzan Onsen”.

Travel back to the Taisho period

This place is a hot spring resorts having good taste that seemed to travel back in time to the Taisho period.
It is famous for a lot of snow and a watermelon of noted product, and known the place where the TV series of “Oshin” was shot. The wooden multilayered hotels form a line and gaslights is burning, it is the place where everyone wants to try to go once.

Lined with historical wooden hotels

Ginzan Onsen is among the green. Along the both sides of the “Ginzan Gawa” (Silver Mine River) flowing through the center of the town are lined with historical wooden hotels which was built from last years of Taisho era to early in the Showa era.

There are many highlights

A vein of silver was discovered in the 16th century, and the Ginzan prospered as “Kogi Yama” (Shogunate Mountain) in the Edo era. It attracts attention now as a hot-spring resort. There are many highlights in the calm and stately cityscape, so people come throughout the year.

Each hotel is lighted up beautifully

Each hotel is lighted up beautifully, too. The contrast with warm color of light and housing parts of the historical wooden building is splendid. Don’t you think it is splendid experience to soak in the hot spring at night while looking at the town with this light?

Information

Name:	Ginzan Onsen (Ginzan Hot Spring)
Adresse:	Ginzanshinhata Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333 Japan
Access:	JR Ohu-honsen Line “Ooishida-eki Station” (30 minutes by car)
Tel:	(+81) 237-28-3933 (Ginzan Onsen Information Desk)
Official site:	http://www.ginzanonsen.jp/

Kamo Aquarium, Yamagata

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Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

There is the world’s best “Jellyfish Aquarium” in the Shonai district of Yamagata prefecture. It is only here around the world that exhibits over 50 different jellyfish. It is also registered in the Guinness Record as the number of exhibition types is the largest in the world. In the jellyfish exhibition room ‘Kuranetarium’ you can see the mystical appearance of a variety of jellyfish, such as jellyfish that self-emits in the dark from a small jellyfish in the growing stage. Among the exhibits, especially recommended is “jellyfish dream theater” which is a water tank with a diameter of 5 meters. The fantastic beauty of 2000 aurelia drifting in a huge water tank does not take away the viewer’s eyes. In “Jellyfish Cultivation Center”, commentary on jellyfish feeding is being done, and it can be seen that jellyfish eat bait. You can feel the comfort like unleashed from the reality when you are watching the jellyfish appearing in silence lighted by the deep blue light. It is a really fantastic world.

In addition, there are various events such as sea lion show and black-tailed gulls feeding experience, so you will not get bored.
Also, at the shop, you can buy original goods unique to the Kamo Aquarium, such as jellyfish manju, sweet bean jelly, jellyfish stuffed animals.
In the restaurant, menus related to jellyfish are also offered, such as ‘Echizen jellyfish set menu’, ‘jellyfish ramen’ and ‘jellyfish ice’. You can enjoy a delicious meal while watching the Sea of Japan at the restaurant.
When you are in Yamagata Prefecture, why don’t you visit Kamo Aquarium where you can meet mysterious jellyfish?

The small aquarium in Tsuruoka-city, Yamagata is widely known around the world.
“The Tsuruoka City municipal Kamo aquarium” which put on displays the jellyfish of approximately 50 kinds. The number of the displaying of jellyfish is the best in the world and was enrolled in the Guinness Book of World Records.

When you enter the display booth in the dark, you feel as if you lose your way in the deep sea. The Jellyfishes lit up colorfully float leisurely.

“The Dream theatre of Jellyfish” with a diameter of 5 meters is so beautiful as to become a key element of this aquarium. The scene which the moon jellyfish of approximately 2,000 floats cannot help cheering. You must absorbed in seeing it, forgetful of everything.

Other than the jellyfish, it is full of pleasure including sea lion show that is popular among children and feeding of the black-tailed gull. And there is the restaurant serving the healthy dish which used the jellyfish, especially jellyfish ramen and jellyfish ice are popular!

Information

Name:	Kamo Aquarium
Adresse:	Okubo 657 Imaizumi, Tsuruoka-city, Yamagata 997-1206 Japan
Access:	JR Uetsu-honsen line "Tsuruoka-eki Station” (30 minutes by bus) Please refer the official web page.
Tel:	(+81) 235-33-3036
Price/Charge:	1,000 yen (Adult) 500 yen (Junior High School Students or Under) Free (Preschool Children) Please refer the official web page.
Official site:	http://kamo-kurage.jp/

Risshaku-ji Temple, Yamagata

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Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Unique locations built to cling to the cliffs and their wonderful spectacular scenery

Hojusan Risshaku-ji Temple, which is built along the mountains of Yamagata City in Yamagata Prefecture. Today JR Senzan-sen Line is opened nearby, and there is convenience of transportation from Yamadera station within walking distance, so many visitors come. As is also the station name, Hojusan Risshaku-ji Temple is a so-called “Yamadera” (mountain temple), which may be more commonly recognized. The whole mountain looks like a temple, and the atmosphere such as “Yamadera” is wonderful.

risshakuji_nokyodo4 — i.samurai-japan.co

Yamadera’s official name is Risshaku-ji Temple, a venerable temple that lasts more than a thousand years. This place has been collecting faith as a temple that separating bad relationships from long ago. Unique locations built to cling to the cliffs and their wonderful spectacular scenery are often taken up in magazines and television. Recently, its uniqueness became a topic, and it became widely known abroad also through SNS etc. It is now a popular spot for tourists from abroad.

Risshaku-ji temple, which became an official temple of Emperor Seiwa, was founded in AD 860 by Jikaku Daishi Ennin who completed the doctrine of Tendai Sect. It is also called “Yamadera” (mountain temple), and is the representative Holy Mountains of Tohoku district.

risshakuji_nokyodo2 — istartedsomething.com

You can enjoy the atmosphere of four seasons

It is also known Basho Matsuo having written the following phrases here.
“Shizukasa ya, iwa ni shimiiru, semi no koe” (””How still it is here– Stinging into the stones, The locusts’ trill.”)

Here is blessed with a richness of nature, and you can enjoy the atmosphere of four seasons.

Heart-touching moment only the person who arrived at there can taste

It is said that you can be purified greed and dirt by climbing every one step of stair of the mountain. When you arrive at the top of the mountain, you can feel a heart-touching moment which only the person who arrived at there can taste.

risshakuji_nokyodo1 — commons.wikimedia.org

Sacred atmosphere unique to an ancient temple

The round trip of the summit of the mountain from foot will take about 2 hours, if it is a slow pace. A fast person seems to go and come back in approximately one and a half hours.
It seems that the air which Basho felt is differed from very much since there are many tourists and they are not quiet, and the voice of locusts may not be heard, but a sacred atmosphere unique to an ancient temple can be experienced, and a brilliant view can also be enjoyed.

Information

Name:	Risshaku-ji (Risshaku Temple)
Adresse:	Yamadera 4456-1 Yamagata-city, Yamagata 999-3301 Japan
Access:	JR Senzan-sen line "Yamadera-eki Station” (7 minutes walk)
Tel:	(+81) 23-695-2843
Price/Charge:	Mountain climbing fee 300 yen (Adult) 200 yen (Junior High School Students) 100 yen (4 years old or Older) Entrance fee to the Treasure Hall 200 yen (Adult : High School Students or Older) 100 yen (4 years old or Older) Entrance fee to the Konpon-chudo Hall 200 yen Please refer the official web page.
Official site:	http://www.rissyakuji.jp/

Zao Frost Covered Tree Festival (Snow Monsters), Yamagata

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Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

The rare scene appearing only in winter

Especially in Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort equipped with large and various courses even in Yamagata, “Zao Juhyo Matsuri” (Frost Covered Tree Festival) is performed every winter.
The beautiful frost-covered trees which nature made has a wonderful form just like long humps. February when it grows greatly becomes especially best time to see.
It is introduced as “Snow Monsters” in CNN of America, frost-covered trees of Zao is world-famous. Backed by this rare scene appearing only in winter, there are full of memorable events like a firework display, torch ski, etc.

The light spreads and brings on a fantastic atmosphere

The frost-covered trees, which fog and clouds freeze and clings to trees, is a true symbol of a severe winter.
The period of the whole “Zao Frost Covered Tree Festival” is from the end of December to the beginning of March.
Moreover, “Torch Ski” will be performed in February. This is the event which can see 1000 persons’ ski with a torch. The light of the torch reflects in snow, and it seems that light spreads and brings on a fantastic atmosphere.

The frost-covered trees being lit up is directed fantastically

From the beginning of February to the beginning of March, frost-covered trees is lit up at night, and also it will be directed fantastically.

360-degree panoramic of frost-covered trees opening under eyes

The “Zao ropeway” in the Zao Onsen Ski Resort is sponsoring lighting. You can go to the field of frost-covered trees by the ropeway and can overlook them from the observation deck of mountaintop Station. In addition, from the car of the ropeway of the 18-passenger, you can appreciate 360-degree panoramic of frost-covered trees opening under eyes.

Gorgeous fireworks shine in a clear night sky

The beautiful fireworks of winter are launched by the skiing slope during the period. Gorgeous fireworks shine in a clear night sky and pure white snow. Why don’t you look at fireworks while enjoying night skiing and silver frost?

Information

Name:	Zao Frost Covered Tree Festival (Snow Monsters)
Address:	Zaoonsen Yamagata, Yamagata 990-2301 Japan
Access:	JR Yamagata-shinkansen Line “Yamagata-eki” station (40 minutes by bus)
Tel:	(+81)23-647-2266 (Yamagata-shi Tourism Information Center)
Official site:	http://www.kankou.yamagata.yamagata.jp/

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