Table of Contents
- Hagurosan Five-Story Pagoda | A Wooden Masterpiece with a Thousand Years of History
- Risshakuji Kaizando Hall | A Sacred Site Enveloped in Mountain Serenity
- Ginzan Onsen | A Dreamy Hot Spring Town with Taisho-Era Romance
✔ In Short — Our Top Picks
- Hagurosan Five-Story Pagoda | A Wooden Masterpiece with a Thousand Years of History — A National Treasure pagoda on the Mt. Haguro approach in Tsuruoka; the present structure is said to date from a 1372 reconstruction.
- Risshakuji Kaizando Hall | A Sacred Site Enveloped in Mountain Serenity — The hall honoring the founder of Yamadera (Risshakuji, founded 860); the approach entrance is about a 10-minute walk from JR Yamadera Station.
- Ginzan Onsen | A Dreamy Hot Spring Town with Taisho-Era Romance — A mountain hot spring town in Obanazawa where wooden multi-story ryokan from the late Taisho to early Showa eras line the Ginzan River.
Read on for the appeal, history, and access details of each spot.
- – What is Yamagata Prefecture? –
- Top 3 Must-Visit Tourist Destinations in Yamagata Prefecture
- Frequently Asked Questions
– What is Yamagata Prefecture? –
Yamagata Prefecture is on the Sea of Japan side of the Tohoku region. Much of it is surrounded by mountains, and winters bring deep snow. Its mountains include Mt. Zao, known for its winter snow monsters (ice-coated trees), and Mt. Gassan and Mt. Chokai, long objects of worship.
Yamadera (Risshakuji Temple), which appears in Matsuo Basho’s “Oku no Hosomichi” (The Narrow Road to the Deep North), is a temple where a long stone stairway leads to views over the surrounding valley.
Yamagata produces more cherries than any other prefecture in Japan, and rice, grapes, and sake are also local specialties.
Top 3 Must-Visit Tourist Destinations in Yamagata Prefecture
Hagurosan Five-Story Pagoda | A Wooden Masterpiece with a Thousand Years of History
Highlights of the Hagurosan Five-Story Pagoda
This National Treasure stands among the cedars along the pilgrimage path of Mt. Haguro in Tsuruoka City. It is said to be the oldest five-story pagoda in the Tohoku region.
It is 29 meters tall, a three-bay, five-story structure with a kokera-buki (wooden shingle) roof and an unpainted natural wood exterior.
Next to the pagoda stands the “Jiji-sugi” (Grandfather Cedar), a giant cedar over 1,000 years old designated as a Natural Monument.
History of the Hagurosan Five-Story Pagoda
According to legend, the original pagoda was built by Taira no Masakado between 931 and 938, in the mid-Heian period. The existing structure is believed to have been rebuilt in 1372, in the Muromachi period, by Daihoji Masauji, then head priest of Mt. Haguro.
Records show repairs by Mogami Yoshiaki, lord of the Yamagata domain, in 1608, and in the mid-Edo period Sakai Tadazane, lord of the Shonai domain, is said to have replaced all 16 pillars of the first story.
When the Meiji-era separation of Shinto and Buddhism led to the demolition of many Buddhist buildings, the pagoda survived. It was designated an Important Cultural Property and became a National Treasure in 1966.
Access to the Hagurosan Five-Story Pagoda
- Address: Haguro-machi Touge, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
- Google Maps Link: Location of the Hagurosan Five-Story Pagoda
- On Foot: Approximately 15 minutes on foot from the Zuishinmon Gate, or about 30 to 40 minutes on foot from the summit.
- Public Transportation: The nearest train station is Tsuruoka Station, from which you can take a bus to Mt. Haguro. Shonai Kotsu buses (Haguro-Gassan Line, about 35 minutes from Tsuruoka Station) also provide service to the entrance of the Mt. Haguro pilgrimage path.
Highlights of Risshakuji Kaizando Hall
Risshakuji, commonly known as “Yamadera,” is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Yamagata City. Its halls are scattered across a steep rocky mountainside, and the “Kaizando” (Founder’s Hall) is one of them.
Kaizando honors the temple’s founder, Jikaku Daishi, and houses a wooden statue of him. The small red building to its left, the “Nokyodo” (Sutra Repository), is the oldest structure on the grounds and a Prefectural Cultural Property.
Directly beneath the Nokyodo is a cave (Nyujokutsu) where the remains of Jikaku Daishi are said to be buried in a golden coffin.
History of Risshakuji Kaizando Hall
Risshakuji was founded in 860 (the 2nd year of Jogan) by Jikaku Daishi Ennin, a Heian-period monk who traveled to Tang Dynasty China to study Buddhism.
Meals and incense are still offered to Jikaku Daishi at Kaizando every morning and evening.
Access to Risshakuji Kaizando Hall
- Address: 4456-1 Yamadera, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
- Google Maps Link: Location of Risshakuji Temple
- On Foot: About a 10-minute walk from Yamadera Station on the JR Senzan Line to the entrance of the Risshakuji approach.
Ginzan Onsen | A Dreamy Hot Spring Town with Taisho-Era Romance
Highlights of Ginzan Onsen
Ginzan Onsen is a hot spring town in the mountains of Obanazawa City, where wooden multi-story ryokan (traditional inns) built in the Taisho and early Showa eras line both banks of the Ginzan River.
Several bridges cross the river, and gas lamps light the stone-paved walkways. In winter the lamps glow against the snow.
The town has cafes, snack stands, and souvenir shops, and you can rent Taisho-style costumes to walk the streets.
History of Ginzan Onsen
In 1456, Giga Ichirosaemon from Kanazawa is said to have discovered a silver vein here. The Nobesawa Silver Mine went on to prosper, and at its peak about 25,000 people are said to have lived in the area.
After a flood devastated the area in 1913, Western-style wooden multi-story ryokan were built along both banks of the river from the late Taisho to early Showa period, creating today’s streetscape.
In 1968, Ginzan Onsen was designated a National Health Resort Hot Spring.
Access to Ginzan Onsen
- Address: Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
- Google Maps Link: Location of Ginzan Onsen
- Transportation: The nearest station is Oishida Station on the JR Yamagata Shinkansen, from which a local bus runs to Ginzan Onsen. Check the timetable before you go. In winter, entry for day visitors is managed and private cars are restricted, so day visitors must transfer to a shuttle bus at Taisho Roman-kan; check the official Ginzan Onsen website before visiting.
>> Learn about the dramatic origins of Ginzan Onsen
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