Yamagata Prefecture · Japan
Where to stay in Yamagata
Yamagata is a city in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, home to about 247,000 people. This guide covers 1 hotel in Yamagata.
- Places to stay in this guide
- 1
- Nearest airport
- GAJ18 km · Yamagata Airport
- Currency
- JPYyen
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Language
- Japanese
About
About Yamagata
Yamagata is the capital city of Yamagata Prefecture located in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. As of 1 August 2023, the city had an estimated population of 242,505 in 103,165 households, and a population density of 636 persons per km2.
Yamagata has been best known by outsiders for Mount Zao's hot springs and Yamadera for centuries.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Yamagata
See
- Yamagata Castle
- Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum
- Yamagata Prefectural Museum
- Bunshōkan
- Yamagata Museum of Art
- Kyōdokan
- Seifū-sō
- Museum of Yamagata University
- Karamatsu Kannondo
- Yamagata Prefectural Arts and Literature Museum
- Yamagata City Industrial History Museum
- Seikai Kunii Contemporary Calligraphy Memorial Museum
Do
- Yamagata Traditional Kokeshikan
- Hanagasa Festival
- Japan's Top Imoni-kai Festival
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Places to stay in Yamagata
1 place to stay from the chains this guide covers, each linked to its own website.
| Place to stay |
|---|
| Toyoko Inn Yamagata-eki Nishi-guchi hotel |
Where to stay
More hotels in Yamagata
20 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| ヒルズサンピア山形 | 4.8 km | |
| ホテルメトロポリタン山形 | 1993 | 1.3 km |
| Active Resorts Miyagi ZAO | 23.8 km | |
| Comfort Hotel Yamagata | 1.2 km | |
| Gokan No Yu Tsuruya | 10.9 km | |
| Hotel Koyo | 13.8 km | |
| Hotel Route-Inn Yamagata Ekimae | 1.4 km | |
| Meigetsuso | 13.7 km | |
| Omiya Ryokan | 10.9 km | |
| Richmond Hotel Yamagata Ekimae | 1.5 km | |
| Senkeien Tsukioka Hotel | 12.3 km | |
| Takamiya Hotel Rurikura Resort | 11.5 km | |
| Takamiya Ryokan Miyamaso | 10.9 km | |
| Takasagoya Ryokan | 10.9 km | |
| Wakamatsuya | 11.0 km | |
| Yamagata Kokusai Hotel | 1.3 km | |
| Yoshidaya Ryokan | 10.9 km | |
| Zao Kokusai Hotel | 11.5 km | |
| Zao Plaza Hotel | 10.8 km | |
| Zao Shiki no Hotel | 11.5 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Yamagata
Yamagata has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C; July is the wettest, with about 196 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Yamagata: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Yamagata Airport (GAJ), about 18 km from the city centre in a straight line; Sendai Airport (SDJ, 52 km) and Shonai Airport (SYO, 78 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Most of the town is centered around the JR station in the middle of town. Yamagata has a bus route, taxis, and bicycles for rent. Most of the most popular tourist destinations have bus routes that run to various areas around town including the areas further out, such as Yamadera and Zao Onsen. On weekends and holidays during the open season, some of the Zao Onsen buses terminate at the Okama Crater. Yamako Bus (山交バス) timetables can be found here (English). For Yamadera, it may be more convenient to travel by train to Yamadera Station.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
GAJ · Yamagata Airport
SDJ · Sendai Airport
SYO · Shonai Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Yamagata
Eat
Yamagata is known for its ramen. The specific type said to originate here is hiyashi ramen which is characterized by its cold broth. As such, it's especially popular in the summertime, although you can eat it year-round. Yamadera is known for tama-kon, balls of konnyaku (a firmly chewy gelatin like substance made from ground konjak 'devil's tongue' roots) cooked in soy sauce and served on a stick. You can buy them at the base of Yamadera as it's said that eating them will give you the stamina to reach the temple atop the mountain. Be aware that the mustard they put on it is Japanese-style mustard, much hotter than Western varieties.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Yamagata: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Yamagata?
Yamagata has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C; July is the wettest, with about 196 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Yamagata?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Yamagata Airport (GAJ), about 18 km from the city centre in a straight line; Sendai Airport (SDJ, 52 km) and Shonai Airport (SYO, 78 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Yamagata?
yen (JPY).
Nearby
Destinations near Yamagata
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.