# Things to see in Yamagata (Japan): 41 places and when to go

> Yamagata is a city in Japan with around 272,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 41 places in and around it, mainly Snow (10), Museums and art (9), Nature (8). The best known are Yamagata Castle, Kaminoyama Castle and Yamagata Museum of Art. The best time to come is February to May and October to November; also possible: December to January and June to September. In June there are 14 h 39 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 21. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/yamagata/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** Japan · 38.2705, 140.32
- **Population:** About 272,000
- **Places:** 41 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [Snow](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/nieve/) (10) · [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/museos/) (9) · [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/naturaleza/) (8) · [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/montana/) (8) · [Hot springs](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/termal/) (8) · [Food and drink](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/gastronomia/) (2)
- **Best time:** February to May and October to November.
- **Also possible:** December to January and June to September.
- **Nearest airport:** NRT Narita, 279 km as the crow flies
- **Highest point:** Byōbu Dake, at 1,825 m.

## What to see in Yamagata

The places in and around Yamagata, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Yamagata Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/castillo-de-yamagata/): Castle in Yamagata city, Japan · 1.8 km
- [Kaminoyama Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/castillo-de-kaminoyama/): Building in Kaminoyama, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan · 13 km
- [Yamagata Museum of Art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/yamagata-museum-of-art/): Art museum in Yamagata, Yamagata, Japan · 2.0 km
- [Yamagata Prefectural Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/yamagata-prefectural-museum/): Museum in Yamagata, Yamagata, Japan · 2.0 km
- [Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/zao-onsen-ski-resort/): Building in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan · 14 km
- [Miyagikyo distillery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/miyagikyo-distillery/): Building in Aoba-ku, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan · 29 km
- [Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mogami-yoshiaki-historical-museum/): Museum · 2.1 km
- [Byōbu Dake](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-byobu/): Mountain in Japan · 24 km
- [Omoshiroyama](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-omoshiro/): Volcano in Yamagata, Yamagata and Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, Japan · 20 km
- [Yamadera Basho Memorial Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/yamadera-basho-memorial-museum/): Museum in Yamagata, Japan · 11 km
- [Dewazakura Museum of Art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/dewazakura-art-museum/): Art museum in Tendō, Yamagata, Japan · 9.9 km
- [Kurobuse Yama](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-kurobushi/): Mountain in Japan · 27 km
- [Akiu Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/akiu-jinja-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan · 30 km
- [Aone Western-style House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/aone-yokan/): Museum · 23 km
- [Kurobushi Kogen Snow Park Jangle Jungle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kurobushi-kogen-snow-park-jangle-jungle/): Ski resort · 27 km
- [Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/miyagi-zao-eboshi-resort/): Ski resort · 24 km
- [Miyagi Zao Shiroishi Ski Resort](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/miyagi-zao-shiroishi-ski-resort/): Ski resort · 28 km
- [Miyagi Zao Sumikawasu Snow Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/miyagi-zao-sumikawasu-snow-park/): Ski resort · 21 km
- [Mount Chitose](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mount-chitose/): Mountain in Yamagata-city, Japan · 5.4 km
- [Mount Daitō](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-daito/): Mountain in Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, Japan · 18 km
- [Mount Koshiki](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-koshikidake/): Mountain in Higashine and Murayama, Yamagata prefecture, Japan · 27 km
- [Zaōsan Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-zao-jinja-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan · 18 km
- [St. Mary](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/st-mary/): Building in Kawasaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan · 18 km
- [Asahi Shizenkan Snow Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/asahi-shizenkan-snow-park/): Ski resort · 24 km

And the other 17, by what you come to do:

- **Hot springs**: [Dai-Rotenburo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/dai-rotenburo/), [Kami-yu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kami-yu/), [Kawara-yu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kawara-yu/), [Kawasaki Town Health and Wealfare Center Yasuragi no Sato](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kawasaki-town-health-and-wealfare-center-yasuragi-no-sato/), [Sagae Hanasaka hot spring Yu-Cherry](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/sagae-hanasaka-hot-spring-yu-cherry/), [Shimo-yu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shimo-yu/), [Shinzaemon no Yu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shinzaemon-no-yu/), [Zaoonsen Genshichiroten](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/zaoonsen-genshichiroten/)
- **Museums and art**: [Goto Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/goto-museum/), [Sake museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/sake-museum/)
- **Nature**: [Mount Minamibyobu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-minami-byobu/), [Mount Shirataka](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-shirataka/)
- **Stargazing**: [Tohoku University Zao Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/tohoku-university-zao-observatory/)
- **Snow**: [Water Jump Miyagi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/water-jump-miyagi/), [Zao Liza World](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/zao-liza-world/), [Zao Sarukura](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/zao-sarukura/)
- **Food and drink**: [Zao Brewery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/zao-brewery/)

## When to go to Yamagata

The best time to visit Yamagata is **February to May and October to November**; also possible: December to January and June to September. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 37 |
| February | Best time | 10 h 34 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 42 |
| April | Best time | 13 h |
| May | Best time | 14 h 05 |
| June | Possible | 14 h 39 |
| July | Possible | 14 h 25 |
| August | Possible | 13 h 29 |
| September | Possible | 12 h 14 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 59 |
| November | Best time | 9 h 53 |
| December | Possible | 9 h 21 |

In June there are 14 h 39 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 21. In February, 33 of the 41 places are at their best.

When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to Yamagata

The nearest main airport is Narita International Airport (NRT, Narita), 279 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=38.2705%2C140.32)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=38.2705%2C140.32)

## Other towns nearby

- [Fukushima](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/fukushima/): 32 places · 61 km
- [Sendai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/sendai/): 63 places · 61 km
- [Tsuruoka](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/tsuruoka/): 28 places · 64 km
- [Sakata, Yamagata](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/sakata/): 10 places · 83 km
- [Kōriyama](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/koriyama/): 12 places · 96 km
- [Niigata](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/niigata/): 27 places · 119 km

And all of Japan, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in Yamagata?

The best known: [Yamagata Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/castillo-de-yamagata/), [Kaminoyama Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/castillo-de-kaminoyama/), [Yamagata Museum of Art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/yamagata-museum-of-art/), [Yamagata Prefectural Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/yamagata-prefectural-museum/), [Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/zao-onsen-ski-resort/). In all, 41 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit Yamagata?

February to May and October to November; also possible: December to January and June to September. In June there are 14 h 39 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 21.

### How do you get to Yamagata?

The nearest main airport is Narita International Airport (NRT), 279 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=38.2705%2C140.32) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Yamagata as the destination and these 41 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).