- Time required
- 1 day (Day trip)
After trying out some of the winter sports, come and relax in a hot spring. Here, we introduce an enjoyable 1 night/ 2 day winter itinerary in Yamagata. The second day includes a visit to Yamagata's popular sightseeing spot, the Hoju-zan Rissyakuji Mountain Temple. Enjoy the winter scenery!
-
1
Tokyo Station
-
JR Tsubasa Shinkansen to Shinjo, approximately 2 hours. Recommended ways to get to Yamagata are by the Shinkansen bullet train and scheduled commercial flights.
-
2
JR Yamagata StationChange onto the Yamako bus. Board the bus at bus stop No.1 in front of Yamagata Station.
-
Yamako Bus, approximately 45 minutes
-
3
Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
-
10 minutes on foot
-
4
Zao Onsen Ski ResortThe Zao Onsen Ski Resort offers winter sports on high quality powder snow and enables visitors to enjoy one of the Tohoku region's top snow resort areas! An area of snow covered trees can be seen midway through the trip on the Zao Ropeway's Sancho Line.
-
-
On foot
-
5
〈Lunch〉Zao Ropeway, lunch in the Sancho restaurantSancho restaurant is located above the clouds on the Zao Ropeway, and provides spectacular views of the area. The menu includes many items that feature locally produced ingredients from Yamagata. The warm and delicious cuisine is sure to sooth your cold body.
-
-
Taxi, approximately 5 minutes
-
6
Zao Astraea HotelThe Zao Astraea Hotel is located near the Zao Onsen Ski Resort. The hotel is especially proud of its rotenburo open air hot spring bath, which provides spectacular views over the Zao mountain range. This is sure to sooth away fatigue from winter sports. The cuisine is also delicious and features locally produced Yamagata beef, fresh vegetables and fruit.
-
-
7
Zao Onsen Ski ResortLimited to the winter season: Snow Monster (snow covered trees) Illuminations December 22nd, 2018, to March 3rd, 2019, 17:00 to 21:00 Enjoy mystical views that are quite different from those visible during the day. Tours aboard the new fully heated Night Cruiser mountain train, which travels very close to the snow covered trees, are available while the event is running.
-
-
8
Zao Astraea HotelA shuttle bus is available for trips to the Zao Onsen bus stop (free of charge for hotel guests)
-
-
Shuttle bus, approximately 10 minutes
-
9
Zao Onsen Bus Stop
-
Yamako Bus, approximately 45 minutes
-
10
JR Yamagata Station
-
JR Senzan Line to Sendai, approximately 30 minutes
-
11
JR Yamadera Station
-
5 minutes on foot
-
12
Hoju-zan Rissyakuji Mountain TempleOne of Yamagata's famous temples built in 860 by Jikaku Daishi (Ennin), the third leader of the Tendai Order.
-
-
5 minutes on foot
-
13
〈Lunch〉Enzou Restaurant Yamadera BranchTry Yamagata's famous Imoni Ita-soba noodles!
-
-
14
JR Yamadera Station
-
JR Senzan Line to Sendai, approximately 1 hour
-
15
JR Yamagata Station
-
JR Hayabusa Tohoku Shinkansen to Tokyo, approximately 2 hours
-
16
JR Tokyo Station
