■ Introduction of a tour (day trip) to enjoy Imoni stew and autumn leaves

First of all, I would like to introduce three tours focusing on imoni stew and autumn leaves in Zao.

These are also supported by the “Go To Travel Business” and the “Bus Taku Journey” Yamagata Tour Subsidy System, so you can enjoy the tour more profitably than usual ♪

1. Fully experience Yamagata's local Imoni Stew Party Taxi plan

Click here for this recommended experience tour!

From the purchase of ingredients for the imoni stew to making it in the same way as the locals from the beginning to the end is an experience in its own​ included in this plan.

[Features]
・ Experience the same as Yamagata citizens, from purchasing ingredients to renting tools to making the imoni stew.
・ The location is along the Mamigasaki river, the mecca of the imoni stew parties for Yamagata citizens.
・ Purchase materials and rent tools at Yamagata’s local supermarket Yamazawa.
・ The driver from Yamagata will offer advice and help when you make your own stew!

[Dates]
October 6 (Tue.) ~ November 23 (Tue.), 2020
10:00~17:00 (day-trip)

[Flow of the day]
10:00 Yamagata Station East Exit Taxi stand meeting – A driver who knows the local area will guide you all day.
10:30 [Weekday] Otokoyama Sake Brewery (Sake Brewery Tour & Local Sake Tasting)
           [Weekend and holidays] Beni-no-Kura (stop at the souvenir shop)
11:15 Shopping at Yamazawa
          Please feel free to purchase what you want to eat or drink with the imoni stew.
11:45 Visit by the second generation Nabe Taro large pot that was used for Yamagata’s Imoni Festival.
12:00 Imoni stew party start (+ BBQ option available) Enjoy making imoni from scratch.
15:00 Imoni stew party End
15:10 Return the imoni stew set to Yamazawa
15:20 A. Refresh yourself at a hot spring in the city
           B. Shopping at the Yamagata Prefecture Tourist Product Center Good Yamagata for souvenirs
          (Please choose either one on the day)
17:00 Return to Yamagata Station to end the trip

This plan is recommended not only for people from outside the prefecture who have never had an imoni stew party, but also for people in Yamagata prefecture who want to enjoy an imoni stew party while drinking alcohol without worrying about driving or equipment.

2. Autumn Leaves at Zao ★ Guided tour of Dokko-numa pond and Chuo Kogen Area

※ Applications are no longer taken.

A mountain instructor will guide you through the Zao Chuo Kogen area in the middle of the autumn leaves season. ♪
Ropeway round trip＋ lunch at a fashionable lodge​​ included in the plan

[Features]
・ The peak of autumn colors is usually from the beginning to the middle of October in the Chuo Kogen area at an altitude of 1,300 m.
・ From Zao Onsen to Chuo Kogen, take the ropeway for an aerial walk ♪
・ A mountain instructor who is familiar with the mountains of Zao will guide you to the highlights such as the autumnal beech forest and Dokko-numa pond.
・ Lunch at the lodge on the plateau! With drink bar ☆

[Dates]
October 1 (Thu.) ~ November 18 (Sun.), 2020
9:10~13: 30 (day trip)

[Flow of the day]
9:10 Meeting at Zao Onsen Chuo Ropeway Onsen Station to join with a mountain instructor
9:20 Board the Chuo Ropeway
9:30 Arrive at the Chuo Ropeway Torikabuto Station
          Take a walk through the autumn leaves (beech forest, etc.)
12:00 Lunch (Forest inn SANGORO)
13:00 Lift to Chuo Ropeway Torikabuto Station
13:20 Board the Chuo Ropeway
13:30 Arrive at Chuo Ropeway Onsen Station

3. Autumn Leaves at Zao ★ Guided tour of Dokko-numa pond and Chuo Kogen Area (departure and arrival at Yamagata station using taxi)

※ Applications are no longer taken.

“2. Autumn Leaves at Zao ★ Guided tour of Dokko-numa pond and Chuo Kogen Area” is a plan that includes a walk in the hot spring town and a round-trip taxi ride from Yamagata Station.

After trekking at Zao Onsen​, day-trip bathing​ or​ strolling and​ shopping for souvenirs are activities to enjoy ♪

[Features]
・ The peak of autumn colors is usually from the beginning to the middle of October on the central plateau at an altitude of 1,300 m.
・ For the round trip between Yamagata Station and Zao Onsen, use the reserved taxi.
・ Go through the sky from Zao Onsen to the Chuo Kogen by ropeway
・ A mountain instructor who is familiar with the mountains of Zao will guide you to the highlights such as the autumnal beech forest and Dokko-numa pond.
・ Lunch at the lodge on the plateau! With drink bar
・ In the hot spring town, you can go to the hot springs, buy souvenirs, or just stroll around. ♪
・ If you wish, you can also drop in at the Yamagata Prefecture Tourist Product Center Gutto Yamagata on the way back.

[Flow of the day]
9:10 Meeting at Zao Onsen Chuo Ropeway Onsen Station to join with a mountain instructor
9:20 Board the Chuo Ropeway
9:30 Arrive at Chuo Ropeway Torikabuto Station
Take a walk through the central plateau of autumn leaves (beech forest, etc.)
12:00 Lunch (Forest inn SANGORO)
13:00 Lift to Chuo Ropeway Torikabuto Station
13:20 Board the Chuo Ropeway
13:30 Arrive at Chuo Ropeway Onsen Station

* Please select “Plan 1” or “Plan 2” in the afternoon. Please tell the driver of the taxi on the day.

▪️Plan 1: Zao Onsen Plan
13:30 Please spend time in Zao Onsen town
★ Recommended ★ Zao Onsen large open-air bath / Other day trip bath / Zao Onsen town walk / Shigi-no-Yachi pond walk
15:20 Departure from Zao Onsen (taxi)
16:00 Arrive at Yamagata Station

▪️Plan 2: Good Yamagata Plan
13:30 Please spend time in Zao Onsen town
★ Recommended ★ Zao Onsen large open-air bath
14:30 Departure from Zao Onsen (taxi)
15:55 Arrive at Yamagata Prefecture Tourist Product Center Gutto Yamagata to enjoy shopping, etc.
15:35 Gutto Yamagata departure (taxi)
16:00 Arrive at Yamagata Station

■ Introduction of an experience plan that is perfect for a comfortable autumn

Next, I would like to introduce 8 types of activity plans that are full of experiences that can only be done here!

There are lots of interesting activities such as​ grape picking, pottery making, horse riding, miso making, SUP, boat riding, hot spring town walking, and iaido training.

4. Grape picking at Takahashi Fruitland ★ ☆

There are many places in Yamagata prefecture where you can pick grapes, but there are only a few farms where you can do so in October.
At Takahashi Fruitland, you can enjoy grape picking throughout October.

[Features]
Takahashi Fruitland is a very popular tourist orchard founded in 1983, with an endless number of visitors from inside and outside the prefecture.

The HATAKE STYLE café on the premises offers seasonal desserts and lunch menus, including a special fruit parfait, and lining-up is required during summer and autumn holidays.

After experiencing the harvest of grapes grown with organic fertilizer, please enjoy the seasonal taste at the café!

5. Yamadera-yaki experience at Nagase Pottery

Yamadera is not just about the temple!
On the way to the main Konpon Chudo hall, you can also experience pottery with a hand-cranked potter’s wheel at the Yamadera-yaki kiln Nagase Pottery.

[Features]
Experienced owners will carefully guide you, so even beginners can rest assured ☆

You can make up to 2 items using 1 kg of clay (for children, 500 g of clay will make 1 item).

When I showed my work to an acquaintance they asked me “Did you really make it?,” And many people say that they are proud of it.

The finished work will be fired in a kiln and delivered or picked up one month later.

During the experience, the instructor will take a picture of the natural appearance of the work, which is a perfect service.

6. Horseback riding experience while enjoying the mountain scenery

At the Zen Riding Club in Kaminoyama, you can jump out of the riding ground and experience horseback riding in nature. Why don’t you enjoy riding outside while enjoying the autumn scenery?

[Features]
You can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons by riding outside in nature.

Beginners are also welcome! From experienced people to first-timers, you can feel free to ride. (A 1-year-old child can ride)

7. Plenty of sweetness! Gentle taste ☆ Koji miso-making experience

I can’t go back to other miso after eating this ?!
Why don’t you experience making “Koji Miso” using soybeans and rice from Yamagata prefecture?

[Features]
Making miso with a sweet and gentle taste using soybeans and rice from Yamagata prefecture.

The instructor will prepare boiled soybeans, freshly made malted rice with specialized mold, ingredients such as salt, and tools such as tubs, so you can easily make real-tasting miso.

Fermented as the temperature rises in summer, and in autumn you can make your own original miso!

It’s fun to make! It’s delicious to eat! Why don’t you experience making miso?

8. Experience SUP at Mamigasaki river, Yamagata City

You can experience the hottest water sports SUP in Mamigasaki!

[Features]
The Mamigasaki river flows through Yamagata City.

You can experience SUP (standup paddleboarding) from handling to riding using the water surface with almost no flow!
Once you get used to it, you can also try the running water experience using the inflow.

The water quality is good and the experience is in a place where there is almost no flow, so you can experience it safely and securely. Children to adults can enjoy this activity.

9. Mogami River boat descent with the Mogami-kyo Basho Line Sightseeing

The wind you feel on the ship is indescribably comfortable. Why don’t you take a leisurely look at the colorful autumn leaves from the top of the river this season?

[Features]
While listening to the boatman’s guidance and singing through the scenic Mogami Gorge, slowly descend the Mogami river from Furukuchi to Kusanagi over an hour.

Since it is open all year round, you can enjoy the boat ride with confidence even by yourself.

The boat rides in summer and winter are wonderful, but the boat rides in the autumn foliage season are very fashionable.

10. Going with Hiromi Ito, a hot spring sommelier, walking around the town of Zao Onsen

Yamagata Prefecture’s number one hot spring enthusiast will tell you the charm of Yamagata Prefecture’s hot springs.

[Features]
I want everyone in Yamagata to enjoy the hot springs that are the symbol of Yamagata! I want you to get familiar with it! A town walking tour planned with the idea.

You can spend an hour of hot springs that are very useful for hot spring lovers, such as the characteristics of hot springs in Yamagata prefecture, how to read the hot spring ingredient list, how to enter the hot spring that suits you, and free talk with Hiromi Ito…

11. Samurai experience at the birthplace of Iaido

Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture is the birthplace of Iaido.
Why don’t you experience the training of a samurai at Murayama Iai Shinbukan, which is adjacent to the only Iai Shrine in Japan that enshrines the founder of Iaido.

[Features]
There are four types of experience plans, from those that you can enjoy casually to those that you can thoroughly experience.

Plan overview
① [Activity] [Visit] Iai Shrine Samurai Show
② [Activity] Iaido experience
③ [Activity] [Recommended] Iaido samurai experience
④ [Activity] Private lesson of Iaido swordsmanship

Conclusion

How was it?

Make sure to try any activity that seems interesting to you. And if you do, don’t forget anti COVID-19 precautions too.

There are still many experiences that can be done in Yamagata, so we will continue to introduce them as needed!