What this area is like
Yamadera’s temple halls sit high on a rocky hill, while Zao Onsen is a hot-spring town with winter frost-covered trees. Tendo is famous for shogi pieces, and Kaminoyama is a castle town with hot springs.
Plan your visit
Yamagata is on the Yamagata Shinkansen, about 2 hours 45 minutes from Tokyo; buses run to Zao Onsen.