Yonezawa, Yamagata - Experience Local Cuisine And Traditional Crafts!

Yamagata Prefecture's Uesugi Shrine in Yonezawa is famous for bringing luck to its visitors. There are also many sightseeing spots and stores with retro atmospheres in the area surrounding this popular shrine. If you take a walk around this neighborhood, you can savor the local Japanese wagyu beef – Yonezawa beef, and also take part in special Yonezawa textiles workshops.

It takes about two hours by Shinkansen to reach Yonezawa Station from Tokyo Station. Today, we introduce a special model travel itinerary full of delicious cuisine and cultural discoveries in Yonezawa using the JR EAST PASS(Tohoku area). This is an ideal plan to consider, especially if you are already traveling in Yamagata Prefecture.

9:00: Depart from Yonezawa Station by City Bus

If you wish to make the most out of the great destinations in Yonezawa, we recommend using the city bus for your transportation (see the bus schedule, machine-translated page available).

A one-way ticket for adults (junior high school students and older) costs 200 yen, and 100 yen for children (elementary school students and younger). One bus departs from Yonezawa Station every hour. If you’re carrying heavy or bulky luggage with you, we suggest leaving it in the coin lockers at the station before boarding.

9:30: Visit Uesugi Shrine and Improve Your Luck!

Yonezawa Ekimae to Uesugi Jinjamae, about 12 minutes by bus

It is said that Usegui Shrine (Uesugi Jinja), built in 1871, enshrines Sengoku era (1467-1590) shogun Kenshin Uesugi.

Kenshin Uesugi is considered a war hero and is remembered for his admirable military achievements. Due to this connection, Uesugi Shrine is thought to bring victory in matches, games, and duels to visitors. It is often visited by those about to take entrance exams, applicants, and athletes entering tournaments.

Kachimamori is a lucky charm (omamori) popular with people who come to this shrine.

Picture courtesy of Yamagata Prefecture
The magical atmosphere of Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival (shown above), held every year in mid-February, features a display of more than 300 lanterns placed in in the snow.

Uesugi Shrine

1-4-13 Marunouchi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture 992-0052

10:45: Find Popular Yonezawa Textiles at Origin!

Uesugi Shrine to Yonezawa Textile Direct Sale Store Origin, about 8 minutes by foot

This area is particularly known for Yonezawa textiles. The origin of Yonezawa textiles dates back to the mid-Edo period, and is connected with the 9th Yonezawa han (*1) daimyo, Yozan Uesugi.

During this period, the Yonezawa han was struggling economically. The textile industry was created as a countermeasure against the financial trouble.

Visit Yonezawa Textile Direct Sale Store Origin to find out more about these special textiles. You can buy beautiful Yonezawa-crafted items, which feature a special layered textile-coloring technique.
*1 Han: an area of land governed by a feudal lord during the Edo Period. A daimyo is the feudal lord of a certain han.

Coasters, table runners, scarfs, bags, and other items are all made with Yonezawa textiles.

Inside the facility you can view the materials and tools needed for making Yonezawa textiles and learn about the process. You can even partake in a weaving workshop and learn how to create these textiles yourself.

A well-known Japanese apparel brand, UNITED ARROWS, introduced a special Yonezawa Textiles series which was very popular.

Yonezawa Textile Historical Museum

1-1-87 Montomachi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture 992-0039

12:00: Popular Sake Brewery—Toko Sake Museum

Yonezawa Textile Direct Sale Store Origin to Toko Sake Museum, about 5 minutes by foot

Toko Brewery is the oldest sake brewery in Yonezawa and has been producing sake since 1597. It was the main supplier for the Yonezawa han.

The museum was built in order to help visitors understand the history and significance of sake making. A large-scale brewery was reconstructed in 1984.

The historical charm of the brewery attracted the attention of the well-known Japanese cosmetics and skincare brand SK-II. In 2013, the brewery was used for filming a commercial for SK-II. Many international visitors came to visit after the advertisement was released.

You can stroll around the museum freely. There is an explanation in English inside the facility for visitors who don't understand Japanese.

You can find gifts and souvenirs for sale in the museum, including around 20 types of Japanese sake. You can even taste some of the sake before purchasing. Choose the variety you like the best for a gift for yourself or for someone special.

In the upper left corner of the picture features Toko Hana no Keiji junmai Daiginjo. This is a sake made from rice milled to 50% of its weight, and contains no added sugar or alcohol. The bottle is designed by Tetsuo Hara, a famous Japanese manga artist responsible for “Hokuto no Ken,” a series that was very popular in the 1980s. For this reason, many of this artist's fans also visit the brewery.

Toko Sake Museum Toko Sake Museum

2-3-22 Omachi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture 992-0031

13:15: Try Tender Yonezawa Beef at Yoshitei!

Toko Sake Museum to Yoshitei, Yonezawa Beef and Sankai Restaurant, about 5 minutes by foot

Yonezawa beef is a well-known specialty of Yonezawa. We suggest Yoshitei, Yonezawa Beef and Sankai Restaurant (Yonezawagyu Sankai Ryori Yoshitei). This is a restaurant offering sankai dishes (dishes using fresh ingredients picked from mountains). It is a favorite with locals and opened in 1989.

Shown above is the Kiku Course for two, priced at 5,940 yen (including tax) per person.

At this restaurant, you can savor Yonezawa beef in three ways: with steak, shabu shabu, or sukiyaki.

Sukiyaki is a popular choice and features tender rib roast meat. The restaurant puts a lot of effort into the presentation of the meat and serves it neatly folded. As a result, the outer layer of the meat roasts well when put over the flame, but the inner layer remains rare. You can enjoy the perfectly balanced flavors and the rib roast in different ways.

The beef, as well as other ingredients, are all Yonezawa-produced, including the Welsh onions, konjac jelly, and mizuna (water greens). All ingredients are high quality and always served fresh.

The spices used to prepare the dishes are all hand-picked spices of fine quality. In addition to the local Hirayama Magobe Eshoten soy sauce, the chefs use Hidaka konbu (edible kelp) from Hokkaido for the dashi broth.

Yoshitei, Yoshitei, Yoshitei

1-3-46 Montomachi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture 992-0039

14:30: Creative Workshops at Dye and Weave Studio Wakuwaku-kan

Jonan-Icchome to Gobyojo-Nishiguchi, about 8 minutes by bus; after that, about 5 minutes by foot

At Dye and Weave Studio Wakuwaku-kan, you can test your weaving skills or try dyeing fabric with safflower.

In the weaving activity, you will learn how to make original silk coasters and tablecloths using a traditional loom. If you take part in dyeing, you can dye silk scarfs and cotton handkerchiefs using safflower.

Both activities take between 30 to 60 minutes. You don’t have to worry if you don’t understand Japanese well, as there are instruction sheets in English provided.