Yamagata Travel Guide 山形市

A HISTORIC TOWN SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS

YAMAGATA IS THE CAPITAL OF THE PREFECTURE OF THE SAME NAME, LOCATED IN THE TOHOKU REGION. SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS, BREATHE IN THE FRESH AIR IN A PROVINCIAL ATMOSPHERE AND ENJOY THE POINTS OF INTEREST. YAMAGATA WAS A SIGNIFICANT TOWN WHERE TRADE, CRAFTS AND AGRICULTURE PROSPERED. IT HAS A RICH HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE, AND REMAINS A LIVELY TOWN.

Risshaku-ji, or Yamadera temple

Located in the north east of Yamagata, the Risshaku-ji temple, nicknamed Yamadera (“mountain temple”), is one of the main and oldest Tôhoku temples. 

Founded in 860 by the Tendai Buddhist school, its buildings and grounds extend over Hoju-san mountain in its entirety! It is therefore through a forest of trees more than a century old, punctuated by caves and rocks with strange shapes that we find this beautiful site, full of serenity. 

The famous poet Matsuo Basho, who visited the temple in 1689, dedicated a famous haiku to it: 

“Silence, and penetrating the rock - the cicada's cry”

Risshaku-ji

Our tours in Tsuruoka

  • Duration : 13 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima
  • Included : Visits & meals, English-speaking tour leader, Hotel temple, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan
  • Duration : 14 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Koyasan, Osaka
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan, Hotel temple, Visits & meals
  • Duration : 12 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Mt Fuji (Kawaguchiko), Osaka, Himeji, Kyoto, Nara
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3* Hotels & Ryokan, Visits & meals
  • Duration : 12 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kawaguchiko, Tokyo
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan, Visits & meals
  • Duration : 21 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Koyasan, Osaka, Kobe, Takachiho, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Miyajima
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan, Hotel temple, Visits & meals
See all our other Tours (5)

Latest Articles

Dewa Sanzan

Dewa Sanzan

 

For nearly 1,500 years, the Gassan, Haguro and Yudono mountains near Tsuruoka, collectively called the Dewa sanzan, have been pilgrimage sites in Japan.

 

See All (2)