Derek Yamashita - Creative Director

Shonai Sakura

Our top 9 spots for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in the Shonai region of Yamagata Prefecture: at parks and temples, along rivers, and more!

Held annually since 1609, the Sakata Matsuri is Sakata City’s biggest event. It boasts parades, performances, and hundreds of street vendors.

This dance festival is held in downtown Sakata; hundreds of dancers fill the streets and dance to Sakata Jinku, a traditional folk song.

The Yamagata Snow Festival, held in Sagae City, is one of Yamagata Prefecture’s biggest winter events and boasts a great fireworks display.

Every winter, the young boys of Shonai brave subzero to participate in this intense religious and cultural ritual.

At the Sakata Ika Tsuri Festival, onlookers cheer on the fishermen of Yamagata as they depart on their first squid fishing trip of the year.

The Akagawa Fireworks Festival of Tsuruoka is counted among the 10 best fireworks festivals in all of Japan.

The Matsuyama Cultural Heritage Museum in Sakata, Yamagata is a museum introducing the history and local cultural traditions of this town.

Sakata Beika offers self-guided tours of its senbei rice cracker factory, plus fun food experiences like fresh senbei grilling and seasoning.

Kaikoji Temple in Sakata is home to two sokushinbutsu, Buddhist monks who mummified themselves while alive through a grueling 9-year process.