Transport Information

Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to JR Yamagata Station and transfer to Yamagata bus for a 40min bus ride to Zao Onsen Station.

Enjoy the best of Yamagata City, just 15 min from Yamagata Station

After getting off the Yamagata Shinkansen at Yamagata Station, transfer to the bus heading towards Zao Onsen. While waiting for the bus and Shinkansen, we explored the station in search of interesting gourmet finds to pass time.

Spot No. 1：Otoyama Brewery (男山酒造)
The secret to delicious sake – quality rice and water, both of which Yamagata is blessed with. As a result, not only is sake from Yamagata highly esteemed in Japan, its fame is also recognized worldwide. Most notably, Kansei Gan Nen (寛政元年,1789) has received numerous awards. Visitors can visit Otoyama Brewery to learn all about sake. We were lucky to have dropped by during the time they were about to start brewing, so we could witness the entire process from fermentation, sedimentation to sterilization. As we had no knowledge of sake prior to this visit, it was quite an eye-opening experience. The brewery is a must-go, especially for sake enthusiasts. Although it is open all year round, January to March is the best period to drop by. Reservations are required so do secure your spot before coming down!

Spot No. 2：Beni no Kura (紅の蔵)
Torn down and rebuilt to a near excellent condition, Beni no Kura not only offers plenty of dining options, you can also find a myriad of Yamagata souvenirs here. Expect to find Yamagata brewed sake, wines, handicrafts and various Yamagata snacks. Not sure which type of sake to buy? Fear not, there are sake-tasting stations available in the shops that you can try for a mere 100 yen.

Spot No. 3：Shoji-ya (庄司屋)
Authentic Yamagata soba is famous for its thick chewy texture. If you would like to try Yamagata soba, we recommend Shoji-ya with a 150-year-old history. At their Nanokamachi Gotomizu (七日町御殿堤) branch, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery while slurping up noodles. We had the popular Aimori Banten (相もり板天), which included two types of soba with different textures and crispy tempura deep-fried to golden perfection.

Spot No. 4：Bunshokan (文翔館)
Just a short distance from Nanokamachi (七日町) lies the elegant Bunshokan (文翔館) building. This area was actually the site of the Yamagata Prefectural Governmental Assembly (山形県庁と県議会), but has been designated as an important cultural asset of the nation and was henceforth converted into Yamagata Prefectural Museum. As one of the few architectural remnants of the Taisho Era, this area is highly protected, and its third floor is preserved as its original state. In fact, the Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno movie was shot here, making it a must-see spot for fans of Rurouni Kenshin !