Visit Yamagata Prefectural Folk Museum (Bunshokan), a historic brick building evoking the Taisho era and filled with luxurious decorations and furniture. An English-speaking guide is available with advance notice.

Explore the ruins of Yamagata Castle and surrounding park, and tasting dondonyaki (a famous street food in Yamagata, like a savory pancake), yakisoba, or other street foods.

Stop for lunch at one of the many ramen establishments in the city. Yamagata City consumes more ramen than any other city in Japan, and is known as a “Holy Land of Ramen.”

In the afternoon, enjoy a tea ceremony experience. Under the instruction of a local master, observe the preparation of a perfectly brewed cup of matcha tea and attempt to prepare one on your own.

Stroll through a traditional Japanese-style garden, featuring a pathway around a central koi pond and a picturesque tea house.

Stop by some shops to check out the local crafts, then part with your guide and spend the rest of the evening shopping and wandering in the downtown area of ​​Yamagata City.

Have a dinner of your choosing in the station area, then return to your hotel to relax and prepare for the next day’s adventure.

Attention Anime Otaku!

Yamagata Bunshokan was used as a set for the filming of the highly-acclaimed live-action Rurouni Kenshin films.

NOTE: For the 3-night 2-day plan, the sample itinerary shown here as Day 1 and Day 2 will be condensed into a single day, with one guided experience.