Oishida Festival Matsuri
The small town of Oishida goes all out during their Oishida Matsuri, a summer festival featuring fireworks and exuberant traditional dance.
Locations
Each prefecture, area, city and town all have their own unique characteristics. Explore each area's hidden wonders by its location here.
Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata City / Murayama Region
As capital of the prefecture and home to Yamagata’s largest metropolitan population, Yamagata City has no shortage of activities, cuisine, nightlife, and lodging accommodations, as well as a variety of sightseeing and historic points of interest to keep visitors busy. The Murayama region includes Yamagata city and other cities and many of this region’s top sightseeing locations are found here.
Sakata, Tsuruoka / Shonai Region
Blessed with towering mountains, vast open plains, and long stretches of rich coastline in Tsuruoka city and a highly influential historic port with delicious seafood and historical, cultural gems in Sakata city, the Shonai Region has an absolute treasure trove of hidden gems to explore.
Okitama Region
The Okitama Region is an area of southern Yamagata, consisting of the municipalities and surrounding agricultural lands of the Okitama Basin, cradled to the south, east, west by vast mountain ranges. Okitama is replete with not only the quintessential scenic and culinary charms of the pastoral Japanese countryside, but also pristine wilderness, as shown in cities in the region like Nagai City.
Mogami Region
The north of Yamagata Prefecture also has stunning gems to be discovered.
Ginzan Onsen
Ginzan Onsen is a picture perfect hot spring town nestled in the mountains in the deep countryside of Yamagata Prefecture.
Visiting Ginzan Onsen in the Winter
Info on access to and lodging in Ginzan Onsen in winter, how to make reservations for the popular Twilight Bus tour, and more!
Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
Stretching along the Sea of Japan for over three hundred kilometers, Niigata Prefecture feels a world away from the crowds and rush of Tokyo. And yet, it is accessible by bullet train from Tokyo in just a little over an hour. Niigata is probably best known for snow and sake, but is also home to lesser-known attractions that make a visit here a fascinating journey for those seeking deep experiences and memorable moments off the beaten path.
Other prefectures
Mototaki Falls
Mototaki Falls is a waterfall located in an atmospheric mossy ravine of the Mount Chokai Geopark in the Tohoku region of Japan.
The Tohoku Kizuna Festival
The Tohoku Kizuna Festival, a collaboration event combining the Tohoku region’s 6 most famous summer matsuri into one giant celebration!
Zao Snow Monsters
Snow Monsters are synonomous with winter on Mount Zao—read on to find out how to access them, the best times to visit, and more!
Sendai City
Sendai is the capital of Miyagi Prefecture. As the largest city in Tohoku, it also serves as the gateway to this off-the-beaten-path region.
Mt. Zao
Rising over 1,800 meters along the border between Yamagata and Miyagi, Mount Zao is a popular ski, hiking, and hot springs destination.
Nakajimadai
Nakajimadai is a beautiful beech forest and wetland area featuring easy nature trails. It is located at the base of Mount Chokai in Akita.