1. Convenient for strolling around the city ♪ Popular transportation

● Benichan Bus

[Recommended points]
〇 Bus fare is only 100 yen
〇 Useful for moving around
〇 Operates every 15 minutes

Benichan Bus circulates in the central area, eastern area and western area of Yamagata City.

This time, we will guide you around the central area route.

The bus runs every 15 minutes departing from Yamagata Station, so you can use it easily.

* The fare is 100 yen but becomes 200 yen if you cross areas.

[Itinerary]
Yamagata Eki-mae (Departure) (0 min)
↓
① Senta-biru-mae (3 minutes)
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② Yamagata-jo Sannomaru-seki (4 minutes)
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③ Tokamachi Beni-no-Kura-mae (5 minutes)
↓
Chuo Yubinkyoku-mae (6 minutes)
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⑤ Honcho (7 minutes)
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⑥ Nanokamachi (8 minutes)
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⑦ Shiyakucho Minami-guchi (10 minutes)
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⑧ Hatago-machi Yotsuji (10 minutes)
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⑨ Kajo Koen-mae (12 minutes)
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⑩ NHK-mae (13 minutes)
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⑪ Suzurangai (14 minutes)
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Yamagata Eki-mae (arrival) (17 minutes)

● Bicycle rental

[Recommended points]
〇 Free
〇 Great for short distances

There is a free rental bicycle service for tourists.​ ​

You can rent and return the bicycle at any of the rental stations located in the central area of the city.！

※ This service is only available from mid-April to the end of October and from 9:00 to 17:00.

2. Nine recommended spots near Yamagata station

① Kajo Park

● About 900m from Yamagata Station
● About 7 minutes by bicycle
Approximately 12 minutes by Benichan Bus (3 minutes walk from Kajokoen-mae bus stop)
● About 20 minutes on foot

[Recommended points]
〇 Good for a walk
〇 Long stays are possible because the museums are nearby
〇 Highly recommended during the cherry blossom season
〇 There are benches to relax
〇 Good spot for bird watching

It is a park located in the ruins of Yamagata Castle.
The current castle walls are said to be the original ones built by its 11th lord, Mogami Yoshiaki (1546~1614).

It is a famous spot for cherry blossoms with a yearly sakura viewing event.
The park is lit in the evening during the cherry blossom season and the view of the cherry blossoms projected on the moat is fantastic.

Fireworks are held on January 10 when the Hatsuichi first market of the year is held.

Nearby, there are cultural facilities such as the Yamagata Museum of Art and the Mogami Yoshiaki History Museum, while the park itself hosts the Yamagata Prefectural Museum and the Yamagata City Kyodokan within its grounds.

■ Opening hours
5:00~22:00 (April 1~October 31)
5:30~22:00 (November 1~March 31)

② Yamagata City Kyodokan (Former Saiseikan hospital)

● Approximately 1.2km from Yamagata Station
● In Kajo Park
● 3-minute walk from Higashi Otemon gate

[Recommended points]
〇 Beautiful building
〇 Advanced wooden construction technique
〇 Great for pictures
〇 Free entrance and almost open every day

It is a giyofu style (pseudo-Western) building completed in 1891.
It was made by Japanese craftsmen imitating the Western architecture style and is characterized by a mixture of Western and Japanese designs.

The Kyodokan was formelly the Yamagata Prefectural Hospital Saiseikan, the center of Yamagata’s medical care.
Plans to completely renovate the dilapidated hospital began after 1955 and it was relocated to its current location to serve as a historically valuable building.

Currently, only the first and second floors are open to the public.

■ Opening hours: 9:00~16:30
■ Closed: December 29~January 3
■ Admission: Free

③ Yamagata Prefectural Museum

● About 1.1km from Yamagata Station
● In Kajo Park
● 2-minute walk from Higashi Otemon gate

[Recommended points]
〇 Hosts the national treasure Jomon no Megami statue
(Occasionally it may be out of the museum on a business trip)
〇 Fossils of Yamagatadaikaigyu
〇 Learn about the nature and history of Yamagata

The history of Yamagata prefecture and its animals and plants are on display here, along with fossils.

Of particular note is the Jomon no megami statue, designated a national treasure as of September 2012.

In addition, there are exhibits such as the Yamagatadaikaigyu fossil discovered by elementary school students in 1978. There is fun for children and adults alike.

■ Opening hours: 9:00~16:30 (admission until 16:00)
■ Closed: Every Monday (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday)
December 28~January 3
■ Admission: General: 300 yen, University students: 150 yen for university students

④ Yamagata Museum of Art

● About 1.1km from Yamagata Station
● About 7 minutes by bicycle
About 12 minutes by Benichan Bus (1 minute walk from Kajokoen-mae bus stop)
● About 20 minutes on foot

[Recommended points]
〇 Masterpieces from artists like Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Degas and Kandinsky
〇 Take your time looking at the collection of this regional museum far away from the crowds

The museum is working to enhance its collection and permanent exhibits and research of its collection of works centered on three pillars, which are French, Japanese & Oriental art, and local art.

The permanent exhibition includes the Hasegawa Collection (Japanese art), the sculptures of Shinkai Taketaro and Shinkai Takezo, the Yoshino Gypsum Collection (gems of 19th century French art), and the Hattori Collection (20th century French art).

In particular, the Yoshino Gypsum Collection is recognized as one of Japan’s leading works of fine art by Barbizonists, Impressionists, cubism, abstract paintings, and École de Paris artists such as Millet, Pissarro, Monet, Renoir, Matisse, Chagall and Kandinsky.

■ Opening hours: 10:00~17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
■ Closed: Every Monday & December 28~January 3
* May be closed on other days depending on the exhibition calendar
■ Admission: General: 600 yen, high school student: 300 yen, elementary and junior high school student: 100 yen
* Admission fees for special exhibitions and co-hosted exhibitions may differ.

⑤ Mogami Yoshiaki History Museum

● About 1.1km from Yamagata Station
● About 7 minutes by bicycle
About 12 minutes by Benichan Bus (1 minute walk from Kajokoen-mae bus stop)
● About 20 minutes on foot

[Recommended points]
〇 Free admission
〇 Must-see for history and/or samurai lovers

This is a historical museum that honors Mogami Yoshiaki, the 11th lord of the Mogami clan that created the foundations of Yamagata.

Mogami Yoshiaki was often portrayed as a “dark strategist” in historical dramas, but in recent years his reputation is changing.

After the battle of Sekigahara, he became the lord of a fief of 570,000 stones and contributed to the development of Yamagata by encouraging safflower cultivation, maintenance of the Mogami river shipping route, and maintenance of the Yamagata castle.

Why did he join the Tokugawa clan instead of the Toyotomi’s?
There are episodes of a sad princess there too.

What was his relashionship with Date Masamune?
Have a look at Yoshiaki’s literary talents.

■ Hours: 9:00~17:00 (last entrance at 16:30)
■ Closed: Monday (or next day of holiday)
■ Admission: Free

⑥ Bunshokan (old prefectural office)

● About 2km from Yamagata Station
● About 11 minutes by bicycle
About 10 minutes by Benichan Bus (5-minute walk from Shiyakusho Minamiguchi bus stop)
● About 30 minutes on foot

[Recommended points]
〇 Beautiful building
〇 Great for photos
〇 Free admission
〇 The clock tower still indicates time!
〇 Concerts in the hall

Bunshokan (old prefectural office) is a brick building in the early modern British renaissance style built in 1926.

In 1984, it was designated a national important cultural property due to its valuable archetype that represents Western-style architecture in the early Taisho period.

You can see the glamorous appearance of the time with its photogenic appearance and decorated interior.

Concerts and theater performances are also held in the adjacent hall, which is widely open to various cultural activities.

■ Opening hours: 9:00~16:30
■ Closed: 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday)
December 29~January 3)
■ Admission: Free

⑦ Yamagata Marugoto-kan Beni-no-kura

● About 800m from Yamagata Station
● About 4 minutes by bicycle
● About 5 minutes by Benichan Bus (1 minute walk from Tokamachi Beni-no-kura-mae bus stop)
● About 14 minutes on foot

[Recommended points]
〇 Rental bicycle station
〇 Tourist information
〇 Sale of fresh vegetables, rice, processed products, etc.
〇 Sale of Yamagata souvenirs

Beni-no-kura is a facility of storehouses belonging to the Hasegawa family, former safflower merchants.

There are restaurants offering attractive Yamagata dishes with the theme of seasonally harvested ingredients for seasonal consumption, a store selling local specialty products, a farmer’s market full of safe, secure and fresh agricultural products including traditional vegetables, venues for holding events and even a tourist information center. Come visit to discover Yamagata’s hospitality.

⑧ Mizuno Machiya Nanokamachi Gotenzeki area

● 1.5km from Yamagata Station
● About 8 minutes by bicycle
Approximately 8 minutes by Benichan Bus (2 minutes walk from Nanokamachi bus stop)
● About 23 minutes on foot

[Recommended points]
〇 Glimpse at the designs of Ken Okuyama
〇 Take a break during a walk

About 400 years ago, to secure the water source of the castle moat, the daily water for the castle town and the agricultural water for the rural area spread to the west of the town, a series of weirs were built to serve as intakes in the upstream area of the Mamigasaki river. From there, waterways were created like a net into the town.

These are known as the Five Weirs of Yamagata.

Gotenzeki is one of these five weirs and was redeveloped in 2010 as a commercial area.

[Shop Guide]
● Iwabuchi Tea Shop
● KEN OKUYAMA CASA
● Specialty Kimono Yukiya
● Soba Restaurant Shojiya
● Itsumo-no-basho
● Yonezawa-ori Fushikian
● Classic Cafe
● Gungendo

⑨ Momiji Park

● About 1.7km from Yamagata Station
● About 8 minutes by Benichan Bus [Higashihara-machi course] (5 minutes walk from Gosho-mae bus stop)
● About 9 minutes by bicycle
● About 25 minutes on foot

[Recommended points]
〇 Beautiful garden
〇 Highly recommended during the autumn leaves season
〇 Have some green tea (separate fee required)

The Momiji Park is a garden beautiful in all four seasons where you can enjoy beautiful colored leaves in autumn.

Next to it is the Seifuso, a branch of the Yamagata City Central Public Hall, and the Hoko-an tea room.

Seifuso
Before the Meiji Restoration, it was used as a temple. It is currently used for artistic and cultural activities. It is a Nationally Registered Cultural Property.

Hoko-an
It is a tea house within Seifuso.
There are various traditional rooms and a seated area to enjoy a tea gathering.

The “tsukubai” relic of the famous Donno tea master, Takashi Masuda (founder of Mitsui & Co.) on display is a very valuable tea instrument.

Every spring, the Donno Tea Gathering is held here and many tea masters from all over the country gather.

The Higama gathering, where you can feel free to enjoy authentic green tea, is basically held every day.
(Excluding days the facilities are closed. Please call for details.)

・ 8:00~22:00
・ Closed on Mondays and New Year’s holidays
* Subject to change due to events. Please call for more information.

3. Summary

What did you think?

These are great central area sightseeing spots easily accessible from from Yamagata Station.

Did you notice that there are many beautiful buildings?

And many of them are free to visit.

The most popular sightseeing spots in Yamagata might be Zao Onsen and Yamadera, but the center of the city is also quite interesting.