Yamagata: Sake and Sightseeing 3 Day Package Tour
Sake, sightseeing, and hot springs in the North
Yamagata City, the capital city of Yamagata Prefecture, is a hidden gem for those who want to experience it all- from city scenes to country escapes- without having to spend hours in transit between the two. Yamagata is the perfect place to experience modern Japanese sake and izakaya culture, culinary and cultural activities, and plenty of sightseeing within very easy driving distances of each other. On this specially crafted 3 day, 2 night tour, take in the sightseeing highlights of this area, from hands-on culinary and crafting experiences and a visit to the mysterious mountain temple Yamadera and a stay in a hot springs village near the beloved Mt. Zao, and alongside sake tastings at local breweries and a perfectly calibrated pub crawl with a local guide.
Tour at a glance
Inclusions:
- All lodging and accommodation fees
- Breakfast at hotel/ryokan on Days 1-3
- Lunch all three days
- Dinner on Days 1-2
- English-speaking interpreter-guide on all days
- On-trip remote support via WhatsApp or other instant messaging service
- Custom Google Map with dining recommendations for the area
- Transportation by private charter vehicle
- Guided Kimono Factory tour
- Yamadera entrance fee and guide
- Tea ceremony or wagashi experience
- Guided Benibana Silk Factory Tour
- Guided Historical Walking Tour
- Japanese Mixed Rice Workshop
Exclusions:
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Optional purchases during guided time (local sake, etc.)
- Optional extensions or customizations to trip
We can also provide the following options for an additional fee:
- Add-ons to the tour
- E-bike rental
- Interpretation in languages other than English
Minimum number of participants
2 participants
Maximum number of participants
Please inquire as experience availability depends on number of participants
Cost
From ¥299,000 + tax (per person, based on a 2-person plan estimate)
Tour Length
3 days, 2 nights
Tour availability
April to November
Please note that some experiences are seasonal and may not be available at certain times of year. If an specific activity is unavailable, it will be replaced with another experience.
Tour Start/End Location
Yamagata Station
Important notes
Dietary Restrictions:
Day 1: Mountain Hikes and Sake Flights
Day 1 Tour Highlights
Arrive at Yamagata Station and meet your English-speaking interpreter/guide. Drop off your luggage at the night’s accommodations and walk through the city to your first experience.
With your guide, make your way to the ancient temple of Yamadera for a fabulous guided hike! Enjoy breathtaking views as you make your way 1,000 steps up the side of the mountain to the heart of Risshaku-ji. After lunch, enjoy some of Yamagata’s filling buckwheat soba at a local restaurant near the temple.
Make your way back to Yamagata City for a guided historical walking tour of the downtown area. Learn about the thrilling history of the area, from the Mogami samurai lords to the modern day, from a knowledgeable local guide. After the tour, take some free time in the afternoon to do some exploring and shopping on your own..
This evening, paint the town (benibana) red as you experience the nightlife of this vibrant northern city. In the company of a knowledgeable local guide, sample the delights of the downtown area with a bar-hopping crawl (6 drinks and 3 plates of nibbles included).
Retire to your hotel for the evening.
Day 2: Hirashimizu, and then Zao's Hot Spring
Day 2 Tour Highlights
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer via private charter vehicle to the artisan village of Hirashimizu. Take part in a morning pottery experience at a local kiln which produces incredible works of art. Create your own sake cup or alternate work of art under the guidance of a master potter, and then enjoy some time to shop at their store.
After your pottery experience, enjoy a guided tour of a charming nearby Buddhist temple. For lunch, savor delicious ramen lunch at a nearby shop. Yamagata is home to the most ramen shops per capita in Japan, and each offers their own incredible spin on this delicious dish.
After lunch, visit a kimono maker that has been in business for well over four hundred years and is considered one of Japan’s top three kimono producers. Tomihiro began as an apothecary, but soon found greater success in kimono making. From dyeing to spinning to sewing, every step of the process is still done in house, and Tomihiro’s origins as an apothecary are still evident in their pride and expertise in natural dyeing. The pigments they use to dye their thread are extracted exclusively from natural sources, such as peach tree leaves for an earthy chartreuse, and a vibrant carmine red still derived from real cochineal. Stop in at a local benibana dyer as well to learn about the flower that made Yamagata rich.
Transfer via private charter vehicle to an onsen ryokan on Mt. Zao in the late afternoon.
Enjoy a kaiseki dinner at your onsen ryokan for the night. Have a magnificent kaiseki course dinner, explore the onsen village area by foot, and enjoy a night of relaxing in hot spring baths.
Day 3: Culture and Cuisine in Yamagata City
Day 3 Tour Highlights
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel.
Transfer via private charter vehicle back to Yamagata city for a tea ceremony experience where you will learn the etiquette of Japanese tea ceremony and get the chance to whisk matcha the traditional way yourself. Alternatively, learn to make traditional high-end Japanese sweets used for tea ceremony and religious purposes from a master of the craft. After watching a demonstration by a professional wagashi maker, make 2 different designs of nerikiri sweets and enjoy the flowers of your labor.
Finish your trip to Yamagata with a culinary lesson from a local chef. Learn how to cook local Tsuyahime rice, one of the finest strains in the country, the proper Japanese way to make a filling and delicious seasonal mixed rice lunch.
After lunch, continue your adventures in Japan!
Reservations
You can send a booking inquiry below. After we receive your inquiry, we will confirm if we can accommodate your group and tour dates and contact you from there.
Cancellation Policy
Our cancellation policy for this tour is below. Cancellation fees may vary according to exceptional circumstances.
21 days or more before date of tour
No penalty
20 days to 8 days before date of tour
20% of total price
7 days to 2 days before date of tour
30% of total price
1 day before date of tour
40% of total price
Day of the tour
50% of total price
After start of tour or no-show
100% of total price
