Enjoy Naruko while touring Yamagata! Introducing our recommended tour plans
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The Naruko area is easily accessible from Yamagata Airport, taking about an hour and a half by car, allowing you to enjoy sightseeing while traveling. If you stop off at tourist spots on your way to your destination, you can make the most of your travel time.
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Minamiaoyama Real Estate is a real estate company located in Minato-ku, Tokyo. In addition to our core real estate business, we offer a wide range of services including food and beverage, accommodation, and modern Japanese architecture. With the motto of "Bringing Japan's proud culture and technology to the world," we offer entertainment that can be enjoyed with all five senses, such as accommodation experiences designed in modern Japanese architecture, dining experiences in a cafe modeled after a Western-style building from around 1900, when Western culture is said to have entered Japan, and a Japanese antenna shop that offers sake and traditional crafts.
- Table of Contents
- The starting point of the journey: Yamagata Airport
- [Day 1] Enjoy Yamagata's history and scenery
- [Day 2] Enjoy skiing and local cuisine in Yamagata
- [Day 3] A barbecue using local ingredients while enjoying nature
- If you are planning to visit Naruko from Yamagata, head to Hotel WAMARE Onikobe
The starting point of the journey: Yamagata Airport
Yamagata Airport is connected by direct flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Sapporo.
There are five car rental offices within the airport, making the process smooth. The car rental reception is located in the arrival lobby on the first floor of the terminal building. Additionally, parking at Yamagata Airport is free of charge, regardless of the number of days you park.
If you are heading to Naruko while touring Yamagata, we recommend traveling by car.
[Day 1] Enjoy Yamagata's history and scenery
On the first day, we will head to Yamagata city from Yamagata Airport. In Yamagata city, we will introduce tourist spots where you can enjoy the history and scenery of Yamagata.
Yamagata Prefectural Museum "Bunshokan"
Yamagata Prefectural Museum "Bunshokan" is an English Revival style building constructed in 1916. It served as the prefectural office and assembly building until 1975.
It was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1984, and is currently open to the public free of charge as the Yamagata Prefectural Museum.
Address: 3-4-51 Hatagocho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00-16:30
Closed: 1st and 3rd Mondays, New Year holidays
Price: Free
Access: 30 minutes by car from Yamagata Airport
For more information, please visit the official website.
View the scenery from the sky on the Zao Ropeway
The Zao Ropeway is a ropeway that connects Zao Sanroku Station to Jizo Sancho Station. During the frost-covered season, you can view the fantastic frost-covered fields from the air. You can also enjoy trekking during the seasons of fresh greenery and autumn leaves.
Address: 229-3 Zao Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
Business hours: 8:30-17:00
Price: Adults 1,800-3,500 yen (round trip) / Children 900-1,800 yen (round trip)
Access: About 25 minutes by car from Yamagata Prefectural Museum "Bunshokan"
Please see the official website for detailed opening hours and prices.
[Day 2] Enjoy skiing and local cuisine in Yamagata
On the second day, we will introduce a plan where you can enjoy skiing and local cuisine in Yamagata.
Taste the Yamagata specialty "Tama Konnyaku"
A Yamagata specialty is "tama konnyaku." The flavorful tama konnyaku is eaten with mustard. Just one piece is enough to fill you up, making it a popular local delicacy.
At the long-established Chitoseyama Konnyaku Shop, founded in 1926, you can taste ball-shaped konnyaku made with Yamagata Maruyama soy sauce and miso.
Address: 3-14-1 Matsuyama, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00-18:00
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays
Access: 20 minutes by car from Zao Ropeway
You can also purchase ball-shaped konnyaku as souvenirs.
Iwasaburo (Moriyama Fish Farm), famous for its deep-fried dace
Iwasaburo (Moriyama Fish Farm) is famous for its fried ugui fish. It is packed so you can eat it as a snack while driving.
Address: 203 Oshikiri, Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
Access: About 50 minutes by car from Chitoseyama Konnyaku Shop
They also sell processed foods such as carp and herring, which make perfect souvenirs.
Akakura Onsen Ski Resort: Fun for the whole family
Akakura Onsen Ski Resort is a ski resort that can be enjoyed by anyone from families to experts. It is divided into beginner to advanced courses, so you can choose a course that suits your level.
Address: 3480-1 Tomizawa, Mogami-machi, Mogami-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
Business hours: 8:30-16:30 / Night business 17:00-21:00
Price: Enjoyment Pack 4,500 yen
Access: About 20 minutes by car from Iwasaburo (Moriyama Fish Farm)
For more information, please check the official website.
[Day 3] A barbecue using local ingredients while enjoying nature
On the third day, enjoy a barbecue in the natural surroundings. The barbecue using local ingredients is delicious.
Naruko's Rice Project Musubiya: Delicious Yukimusubi rice balls
At Musubiya, you can enjoy onigiri rice balls made with locally grown "Yukimusubi" rice. Many of the ingredients are locally grown, allowing you to fully enjoy the flavor of the ingredients.
Address: 77-84 Hoshinuma, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Business hours: 11:30 - 13:30
Closed: Wednesday
Access: 20 minutes by car from Akakura Onsen Ski Resort
Currently, it is only available for take-out, so we recommend eating your rice balls while looking at the magnificent view.
The Dragon God's Shrine, dedicated to the water god of Katanuma
There is a dragon god legend about Katanuma, and on the middle of the outer rim of the swamp on the south side of the swamp there is a dragon god shrine dedicated to the water god of Katanuma.
Address: National Route 108, Naruko Onsen Yanagi, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Access: 7 minutes by car from Musubiya
Every September, an event called the Katanuma Dragon God Festival is held in Katanuma, where you can experience Japanese culture such as votive performances and Kagura dance.
Naruko Dam: Experience packrafting
Naruko Dam is the first arch dam in Japan to be built entirely by Japanese engineers. The dam embankment is open to the public, offering a spectacular view, and in autumn you can enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage.
Address: 2-8 Iwabuchi, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (Naruko Dam Management Office)
Access: 8 minutes by car from Ryujin Shrine
At Naruko Dam, there are also tours where you can experience packrafting.
Enjoy a barbecue at Lake Arao Park
If you want to enjoy a barbecue, we recommend Lake Arao Park. The spacious grounds include a campground and a barbecue area.
Address: Onikobe Todoroki, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
Camping fees: Day trip/Adults 400 yen, Children (elementary school students) 200 yen *Preschoolers free
Access: 10 minutes by car from Naruko Dam
If you are planning to visit Naruko from Yamagata, head to Hotel WAMARE Onikobe
Hotel WAMARE Onikobe, located in the Naruko Onsen area of Onikobe Onsen, is a ryokan that can be rented as a whole building.
It can accommodate up to 14 people, so you can enjoy a relaxing stay with your family or friends without worrying about others.
The interior of the inn is decorated with traditional crafts such as Naruko Kokeshi dolls, Sendai chests, and Iwayado chests, making it an inn where you can experience the history, culture, and traditions of Tohoku.
It is a great base for enjoying the hot springs of Naruko Onsen, and also a great place for tourists from Yamagata to visit Naruko.
Please consider staying at Hotel WAMARE Onikobe. It is also the perfect base for traveling around the Tohoku region.
Official website: https://www.wa-mare.com/stay/onikoube/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotel_wamare_onikoube/?locale=ja_JP
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572488806538
Minamiaoyama Real Estate is a real estate company located in Minato-ku, Tokyo. In addition to our core real estate business, we offer a wide range of services including food and beverage, accommodation, and modern Japanese architecture. With the motto of "Bringing Japan's proud culture and technology to the world," we offer entertainment that can be enjoyed with all five senses, such as accommodation experiences designed in modern Japanese architecture, dining experiences in a cafe modeled after a Western-style building from around 1900, when Western culture is said to have entered Japan, and a Japanese antenna shop that offers sake and traditional crafts.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
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