1-2-3 Sample, Sample-shi, Saitama-ken 000-01230, Japan
1-2-3 Sample, Sample-shi, Saitama-ken 000-01230, Japan
Experience the spiritual heart of Japan through Yamagata’s sacred mountain temples and rejuvenating hot springs. This journey takes you through the mystical Dewa Sanzan (Three Mountains of Dewa) pilgrimage route in the Murayama region, where ancient traditions meet breathtaking natural beauty.
Your stay includes nights at traditional ryokan inns with natural hot spring baths, offering authentic Japanese hospitality. Climb the 2,446 stone steps to Yamadera Temple, one of Japan’s most spectacular cliff-side temples, and witness panoramic views of the Murayama basin below.
The journey continues through Ginzan Onsen, a historic hot spring town that inspired the animated film “Spirited Away,” where gas-lit streets and traditional wooden inns transport you to Japan’s Taisho era. Experience traditional mountain cuisine featuring local specialties like Yonezawa beef and seasonal mountain vegetables.
Conclude your spiritual journey at Risshakuji Yamadera, where the famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho found inspiration for his timeless verses, offering a profound connection to Japan’s literary and cultural heritage.
Mineral-rich waters from 500-year-old mountain sources offer proven benefits for skin rejuvenation and muscle relief. Choose from private baths, mountain-view rotenburo, or Kengo Kuma's architecturally stunning Shirogane-yu.
Winter: Japan's most photographed snow scenes with historic buildings illuminated by gaslight. Year-round: Cherry blossoms, mountain hiking, and spectacular autumn foliage complement the timeless architecture.
Experience living history where yukata-clad guests stroll cobblestone paths, traditional hospitality flourishes in family ryokan, and every meal celebrates Yamagata's pristine ingredients. Discover Ginzan kokeshi crafts and meditative town rhythms.
Your mountain pilgrimage begins at Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata, conveniently located near JR Yamagata Station. After settling in during the evening, experience your first taste of Yamagata’s renowned cuisine with a welcome dinner featuring local specialties including Yonezawa beef and seasonal mountain vegetables.
Accommodation: Stay at Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata, a modern hotel with easy access to transportation and city amenities.
15:30 – Check-in at Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata.
16:15 – Free time to explore Yamagata city center
18:30 – Dinner at Yamagata traditional restaurant (Local specialties including Yonezawa beef)
20:30 – Return to hotel, rest and preparation for mountain adventure
Accommodation: Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata
Begin your spiritual journey with the famous Yamadera (Risshakuji Temple) climb. This thousand-year-old temple complex clings dramatically to cliff faces, requiring a climb of 2,446 stone steps through ancient cedar forests. The temple where poet Matsuo Basho wrote his famous haiku offers spectacular panoramic views of the Murayama valley. After the temple visit, travel to the historic hot spring village of Ginzan Onsen, where traditional gas-lit streets create a magical atmosphere reminiscent of the Taisho era.
Accommodation: Experience traditional Japanese hospitality at Notoya Ryokan, a historic inn in Ginzan Onsen with natural hot spring baths and traditional architecture.
08:30 – Depart hotel by chartered bus
09:15 – Arrive at Yamadera Station area
09:30 – Begin temple climb (Bring comfortable walking shoes and water)
12:00 – Lunch at mountain restaurant near temple (Traditional mountain cuisine)
13:30 – Continue temple exploration and scenic viewing
15:00 – Depart for Ginzan Onsen
16:30 – Arrive at Ginzan Onsen, check-in at ryokan
17:00-18:30 – Free time to explore the historic hot spring village
18:30 – Traditional kaiseki dinner at ryokan
20:00 – Evening soak in natural hot springs (onsen)
Accommodation: Notoya Ryokan, Ginzan Onsen
Journey to the spectacular Mount Zao and witness the mystical Okama crater lake, known as the “Emerald Eye” for its stunning blue-green waters that change color with the weather and season. This volcanic crater lake sits at 1,841 meters elevation, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The scenic drive through the Zao Echo Line provides spectacular mountain vistas, and weather permitting, you may catch glimpses of the famous Zao snow monsters (juhyo) formations. After exploring the crater area, enjoy lunch at a mountain restaurant featuring local specialties before visiting a traditional sake brewery to learn about the region’s brewing heritage.
08:00 – Breakfast at ryokan
09:00 – Depart for Mount Zao via scenic Zao Echo Line
10:30 – Arrive at Zao Sumikawa area, weather and road condition check
11:00 – Visit Okama crater lake viewing area (Weather dependent)
12:30 – Lunch at Zao mountain restaurant (Local mountain cuisine)
14:00 – Explore Zao visitor center and surrounding trails
15:00 – Optional: Zao ropeway experience (weather permitting)
16:00 – Visit local sake brewery with tasting
17:30 – Return to Ginzan Onsen
18:30 – Traditional dinner at ryokan
20:00 – Evening onsen bathing and rest
Accommodation: Notoya Ryokan, Ginzan Onsen
Begin your final day with an early morning walk through Ginzan Onsen’s atmospheric streets, perfect for photography in the soft morning light. Visit the local museum to learn about the area’s silver mining history that gave the town its name. After checking out, journey to Tendo, famous for its traditional shogi (Japanese chess) pieces and cherry blossoms. Experience a hands-on workshop creating your own shogi piece as a unique souvenir. Conclude your spiritual journey with a farewell lunch featuring local specialties before returning to Yamagata Station.
Final departure: Return to Yamagata Station for onward travel connections.
07:00 – Early morning walk in Ginzan Onsen (Photography time)
08:00 – Breakfast at ryokan
09:30 – Check-out and visit Ginzan Onsen Museum
10:30 – Depart for Tendo
11:30 – Arrive in Tendo, visit shogi piece workshop
12:00 – Hands-on experience making traditional shogi pieces
13:00 – Lunch at local restaurant (Regional specialties)
14:30 – Depart for Yamagata Station
Taste Japan's fruit kingdom! From world-famous Sato-nishiki cherries to premium La France pears, experience seasonal harvest adventures year-round.
Master the way of the samurai at iaido's birthplace. Learn authentic sword techniques and warrior philosophy from 6th-dan masters.
Discover 300-year-old sake breweries and modern wineries. Create your own premium beverages using Yamagata's pure mountain water.
Learn traditional soba-making from 5th-generation artisans. Experience the craftsmanship behind Japan's most beloved noodles.
Savor Japan's premium wagyu beef. Meet local farmers and learn the secrets behind this world-renowned culinary treasure.
Yamagata produces 76% of Japan’s premium cherries, with legendary Sato-nishiki variety born in Murayama. Experience hands-on fruit picking with multi-generational farmers who share cultivation secrets passed down through centuries. From melting La France pears to giant watermelons, taste fruits so exceptional they’re gifted to royalty.
Train at iaido’s sacred birthplace under 6th-dan master Yoshihiro Abe. This isn’t performance – it’s authentic warrior training in mental discipline and spiritual focus through 400 years of unbroken lineage. Experience the meditative martial arts that defined Japan’s samurai class and transform your cultural understanding.
Discover 300-year-old sake brewing secrets at historic breweries like Furusawa, where master brewers blend tradition with modern precision. Participate in the entire process using Yamagata’s pristine mountain water. Create your personalized blend and understand the terroir that produces international award winners.
Learn from 5th-generation soba artisans whose families perfected buckwheat noodle-making for over a century. Master delicate techniques where flour becomes philosophy and noodles become meditation. Create authentic soba carrying centuries of wisdom in every hand-cut strand.
Meet passionate cattle farmers who treat animals like family, creating world-renowned wagyu through exceptional care and generations of breeding expertise. Learn grading systems, traditional cooking methods, and experience exclusive farm-to-table dining that honors this agricultural artistry.
Experience authentic Japanese culture in Yamagata’s hidden valleys, where traditional masters still preserve ancient arts and timeless wisdom.
Witness the emerald jewel of Zao's volcanic crater. This sacred lake changes colors with the weather, creating nature's most mysterious mirror in the clouds.
Visit the world's only shrine dedicated to "air" itself. This transparent temple mirrors the seasons, offering a unique meditation on nature's invisible gifts.
Discover where Yamadera's founder meditated. Just 25 minutes beyond the temple, honeycomb rocks hide ancient spiritual chambers in mystical silence.
