Yonezawa Travel Guides

The Yonezawa area offers sightseeing spots such as Yakushiji Temple, Hayama, and Shiraito Falls, sightseeing events such as grape picking, Yonezawa Uesugi Festival and Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival, and local delicacies such as soba noodles, sake lees soup, and pickles.

This section introduces tourist information on the Okihama region, including Yonezawa City, located in the south of Yamagata Prefecture, and Nanyo City, Akayu, located in the north of Yonezawa City. The Okihama region is an area full of hot springs, gourmet food, and historical attractions.

Recommended sightseeing spots in the Okihama region include Namegawa Onsen, Ubayu Onsen, and Onogawa Onsen, which suddenly appear in a mountainous area rich in nature. Onogawa Onsen is called the village of fireflies and is a rare place to see fireflies in their natural habitat.

Nagai City in the Okitama region is known as a town of fruits and flowers, and has a cherry blossom corridor and azalea park where azaleas can be viewed. In addition, the Ancient Hill exhibits earthenware and clay figures from the Jomon period, including uniquely shaped clay figurines, and is a fun place for children.

Yonezawa is known as the castle town of the Uesugi clan, and there are many sightseeing spots in the area, including Uesugi Shrine, Uesugi Museum, and Uesugi Castle Historical Park. The area is also associated with Maeda Keiji, a general in the Warring States period, and even today, there is Keiji Shimizu, which is rumored to be related to Maeda Keiji, and Rikiishi, a stone said to have been lifted up by Keiji.

The Miyasaka Archaeological Museum exhibits Keiji's armor and other items, and is a popular tourist attraction for Keiji fans. Taking advantage of the climate, the region has a thriving pastureland and livestock industry, and Yonezawa beef is widely known as a brand name. In addition, Yonezawa is famous for its wine production, fruit jams, and dressings, which take advantage of its location as a fruit-producing region. These products are good to buy as souvenirs.

Akayu is known for its many famous hot springs, which attract many tourists. Some hot springs are said to be effective for skin diseases and women's diseases, while others have been in operation for more than 900 years since the Heian period (794-1192). There is also a famous hot spring that is still loved by the locals as a place for the lords to bathe.

Akayu ramen is popular among ramen connoisseurs. Some people even visit the area for Akayu Ramen.

The Okitama region of Yamagata Prefecture is rich in nature and full of gourmet foods. There are also many hot springs and historical sightseeing spots, making it an area that both children and adults can enjoy. If you are planning to visit Yamagata Prefecture, the Okihama region is full of places to see, so why not visit?