The Perfect Yamagata Trip with HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA

Yamagata Prefecture (山形県), located in the Tohoku Region, is a highly recommended but underrated place to visit the next time you’re in Japan. While other tourists flock to the hotspots of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, escape the bustle of tourist crowds and enjoy Japan’s unique rural atmosphere and natural beauty in Yamagata! Home to beautiful attractions such as Yamadera, Zao Onsen, and Ginzan Onsen (more on those later), you will be all set for a Japan trip of a lifetime.

Make HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA your one-stop base!

A hallmark of any good trip is a hotel which offers much more than just a place to rest your head. The accessibility, comfort, and experience of the hotel is what makes a great itinerary excellent. And if you’re looking for such an accommodation for your next trip to Yamagata, look no further than the HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA!

As tourists with tight timelines and an unfamiliar grasp of a foreign land, convenience and accessibility is paramount. Whenever I’m travelling, it’s always a relief to know that my hotel is just a few steps away from the main train station—no more further walking or transport swaps at the end of a long day (else my weary feet will complain, “So near yet so far!”).

HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA offers just that—being directly connected to JR Yamagata Station (山形駅) means that you will have the world at your fingertips and an easy way to bed. Furthermore, with three luxuriously cosy rooms offered (Deluxe King Double, Standard Twin Room, Japanese Juniorsuite), you will definitely be in for a treat.

HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA isn’t just a place to stay either—a night here guarantees an immersive cultural experience unlike any other. The hotel, in particular the South Building which has been newly opened in November 2020, is embellished with natural material sourced directly from Yamagata.

Enjoy the different textures of lacquer such as Akebia, Zao stone, and a variety of prefecture-produced wood which serves to create a healing space that will captivate your five senses. In addition, craftwork hailing directly from Yamagata, specially curated by designer Osamu Suto (須藤修), is featured throughout the hotel—deepening the authentic Yamagata experience.

Along with the top-notch service of HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA’s staff, your stay here will be made perfect.

For all the foodies out there—don’t worry, your taste buds won’t be forgotten during your stay at the HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA. For dinner, indulge in local Yamagata cuisine such as Yonezawa beef and Yamagata beef Teppan-yaki. Sourced directly from the prefecture and delicately prepared by skilled chefs, be ready for a gastronomical joyride.

Breakfast too is the pride and joy at HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA. Savour a unique local Yamagata breakfast made with special seasonal foods at the Brasserie&Bar La Gare. What a perfect way to start a day of exploration!

HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA (ホテルメトロポリタン 山形)
Address: 1-1-1 Kasumicho, Yamagata, 990-0039
Nearest station: Yamagata Station (山形駅)

Direct access to popular must-visit spots

And explore Yamagata, you definitely will. Connected directly to JR Yamagata Station, HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA provides unparalleled  access to many popular tourist spots.

Notable examples include Yamadera (山寺), which is only around a 15-minute direct train ride (3 stops via rapid train, 5 stops via local train) away.

A 40-minute direct bus ride whisks you away to Zao Onsen (蔵王温泉), where you can enjoy comforting hot spring baths or ski through snow capped peaks during winter.

For a more old-world atmosphere, Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉), while further, is straightforward to travel too from JR Yamagata Station. A direct train to Oishida Station (大石田駅 ), then a bus transfer there (total travel time around 2.5 hours) will transport you to the world of rural Yamagata.

Yamadera

Mark my words—visiting these three unique Yamagata attractions will make you fall in love with the prefecture. Travel the footsteps of Buddhist priests who lived over a thousand years ago as you ascend 1,000 steps up to Yamadera Temple.

Be awestruck by the beautiful natural scenery which surrounds you every step of the way, and be rewarded with vast, tranquil views which sprawls across the Yamagata horizon at the end of your climb. I highly recommend a visit to Yamadera for a quintessential experience of Yamagata culture, nature and beauty.

Yamadera (山寺)
Address: 4456-1 Yamadera, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata 999-3301

Zao Onsen

Yamagata is famous for its hot springs, so what’s a Yamagata trip without visiting some of its popular onsen villages? Zao Onsen is a hot spring village packed with activities that are suitable for different groups of visitors all year round.

Take the ropeway up for a panoramic view of Mount Zao—some of the slopes are open for skiers and snowboarders to have their fill of adrenaline-pumping winter activities.

Alternatively, take a stroll amongst the Snow Monsters—one of Zao Onsen’s must-see attractions in winter, which are actually snow-covered trees due to the heavy snow conditions in the higher altitudes of Mount Zao. Don’t forget to strike a pose next to these gargantuan trees!

Zao Onsen (蔵王温泉)
Address: Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301

Ginzan Onsen

Nestled in the mountains of sleepy town Obanazawa is the quaint Ginzan Onsen, which was an old silver mine before it became one of Tohoku’s most well-known hot spring villages. A quick fun fact: Ginzan Onsen is said to be one of Miyazaki Hayao’s main inspirations for the famous Studio Ghibli’s film “Spirited Away”! With no modern buildings and wide roads in sight, you’ll definitely feel “spirited away” as you transport back in time with the Taisho Period infrastructure all around you.

While Ginzan Onsen is a great hot spring destination for those visiting Yamagata any time of the year, it is best visited in winter when the old shophouses and hot spring inns are blanketed in snow, and all the retro street lamps are lit at dusk. A truly winter wonderland experience in rural Tohoku!

Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉)
Address: 429 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333

In closing

With the ultimate blend of culture and nature, Yamagata definitely belongs in the top few of anyone’s “To Visit next in Japan” list! And don’t forget to book a stay at HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA—the surefire way to make that perfect Yamagata trip even more seamless. Enjoy!

Receive a Yamagata snack box from JAPAN RAIL CLUB!

Now that you have seen what Yamagata has to offer, why not enjoy a snack box filled with Yamagata snacks by JAPAN RAIL CLUB? Curated by JR East exclusively for June 2024, you can enjoy a “Yummy Yamagata” Omiyage Snack Box from the comforts of your homes, shipped all the way from Japan.

As the name suggests, “Yummy Yamagata” is an all-Yamagata snack box filled with an exciting variety of snacks produced by local makers of Yamagata. With favourites like Sakuranbo Kirara and Oranda Senbei featured in the box, you will be in for a yummy-licious time with JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s June 2024 Omiyage Snack Box.

Here’s an exclusive promo code when you subscribe to JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s Omiyage Snack Box by 30 June 2024: enter “YUMMY12” at the checkout page to enjoy up to 12% off when you subscribe to a 3/6/12-month plan—the wonders of Yamagata await you!