A Brand New Travel Experience in Tendo City!

Last time, we have shown you many interesting spots in Tendo City. Today, we will take you to this amazing city again to experience the beautiful nature, the local food and culture. Ready for a brand new travel experience in Japan? Let's go!

A Must-See Sightseeing Spot in Yamagata Prefecture

Yama-dera is named after the common name of the temple of Risshaku-ji, founded 860 AD by the priest Ennin, who is better known in Japan by his posthumous name, Jikaku Daishi. The temple is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty and Historic Site. (Information from wikipedia)

Have you heard about the traditional Japanese poetry "Haiku". It is a very short form of Japanese poetry indeed. For all the Haiku poetry, a word which represents the four seasons has to be used. Also, the writer has to reflect his or her emotions and feelings in the Haiku. One of the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan is Matsuo Basho. He is also recognized as the greatest master of Haiku. In order to get more ideas, he started travelling around and his best collection of poets, Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North), was written during his 150 days journey in the northeast part of Japan.

Matsuo Basho also visited Yama-dera, and he was amazed by the beautiful nature here. One of his masterpieces was written here in Yama-dera!

Stone steps that help you to get rid of your problems!

There is a long stone steps in Yama-dera where consists of 1015 stone steps!! You will be able to see the main temple if you succeed climbing to the top! There is a saying that you can get rid 1 of your problem when you move 1 step upward. Sounds good?

Surrounded by the cedar trees, you can slowly work your way up to the top. Let's make a wish at the main temple which is located at the top of the long stone steps. Turn around here and you will be surprised by the amazing view you can see from here!

It is a great hiking place for those who want to get some fresh air in nature and relax from their busy city life. Entrance fee: 300 yen for adults.

Godai-do was built on a cliff where you can get a great view of the countryside of Yamagata. Look how gorgeous the view is!

Access

It takes about 20 minutes from Yamagata Station to the Yama-dera Station by JR Sendai Line.

If you visit Tendo hot spring street before going to Yama-dera, you can take trains from the Tendo Station to the Yama-dera Station. It takes about 50 minutes to get there. Fare is 320 yen. Please note that you need to get transfer at Uzenchitose Station.

Yama-dera
Address: 4456-1 Yamadera, Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture
Tel.: 023-695-2002
Fees: 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for Junior High School and High School Students,
100 yen for children 4 years old or above
For group of 30 persons of above: 240 yen for adults, 160 yen for Junior High School and High School Students, 100 yen for children 4 years old or above
Homepage (Japanese): http://www.rissyakuji.jp/
Yama-dera Tourism Association (Japanese): http://www.yamaderakankou.com/index.html

Since we have this special chance to come to Tendo City, we need to try the cherry picking here. Actually you can find many fruit picking farms in Tendo City too.

Ohsyo Fruit Trees Garden
Address: 1303 Oaza Kawarago, Tendo City, Yamagata
Tel.: 023-657-3211
Hours: 8:30-17:00 (Last Entrance 16:00)
Fruit Picking Time: 30 minutes
Entrance Fees: 1,620 yen for adults, 1,420 yen for children,
1,200 yen each for group of 15 or above
Holiday: Vary
Homepage: http://www.ohsyo.co.jp/index.htm

Cherry is not your cup of tea? How about some other special souvenirs?

At Ohsyo Fruit Trees Garden, besides seasonal fruits, you can also buy souvenirs like sausages, fruit juice, and even Japanese wine!

Yamagata sake (Japanese rice wine) is very famous because it is made with the Yamagata water and rice. Also, Yamagata is a snowy area and the water is especially good for brewing wine! The sake produced by Dewazakura Sake Brewery actually won the championship in the International Wine Challenge! Wanna taste it??

A special dessert that you can’t miss!

Don't forget to visit the Oh!Show!Cafe!! You can taste their seasonal fruit sundae which is the Cherry Sundae of course! 4 to 7 different types of cherries are used! Wow!

☆Seasonal Fruit Sundae – Oh!Show!Cafe
Price: 700 yen each

Oh!Show!Cafe
Address: Ohsyo Fruit Trees Garden
Tel.: 023-657-3211
Hours: 0900-1500
Holiday: No holiday from June to August, Closed every Wednesday from September to October
Homepage (Japanese): http://www.ohsyo.co.jp/kanko/softcream.htm

Cherry picking – Mid of May to Early July
Grape picking – Early August to Mid of October
Peach picking – Early August to Early September
Apple picking – Mid of October to End of November

Reminder
1) Make a reservation for fruit picking
Hours: 0900-1700
Information Page (Japanese): 
https://ohsyo.sakura.ne.jp/reserve/?_ga=1.267323338.57268247.1467950275
(Online reservation for cherry picking in 2016 is not accepted now. Please contact farm before you make a visit at 0120-15-0440.)
Reservation for fruit picking in August and after (Japanese)
https://ohsyo.sakura.ne.jp/reserve/index2.php
Discount coupon for fruit picking (Japanese)
http://www.ohsyo.co.jp/kanko/cupon.htm

A City Getaway – Hot Spring Hotel in Tendo City

Waiting for us ahead is our Japanese style hotel room! Northeast part of Japan is famous for the hot spring and that's why you can find many nice hot spring hotels in Tendo City!! Come on, time to take a hot spring bath!

If you are looking for more privacy, you can reserve rooms with private hot spring which you can enjoy a quiet and relaxing bath with your family and loved ones.

Guestrooms mixed with Japanese style and Western style. What's more to that? You get a great view of the nature like the mountains and river right outside your window!

Actually not just in fruit farms, you can also try the Japanese cherries at the hot spring hotels!! It is even an all you can eat service!! Can you believe it??!!

At the hot spring hotel “Hotel Itiraku”, 24 hours cherries all you can eat is especially provided to guests who stay in guestrooms with outdoor hot springs! The cherries provided are actually replaced frequently to make sure the freshness of this seasonal fruit!

Fresh Ingredients and Delicious Local Cuisine

With the nice weather and natural resources, food in Yamagata is very fresh and delicious!

Hotel Itiraku
Address: 2-2-21 Kamatahoncho, Tendo City, Yamagata
(15 minutes walk from the Tendo City Station)
Prices from 14,900 yen to 51,650 yen
Tel.: 023-654-3311
Homepage: http://www.itiraku.com/foreign/en.html

Make Your Own Shogi Piece

Are you interested in the Japanese traditional chess shogi? As we have mentioned earlier, Tendo City has the top position of producing shogi's chess pieces in Japan. Actually 95% of the shogi chess piece is produced here in Tendo City!!

Every April in Tendo City at the special human shogi show people puts on the warrior costumes and performs a show just like chess pieces moving on a big chess board!

Interested in making your own shogi piece?

Eishundo
Address: 1-3-28 Kamatahoncho, Tendo City, Yamagata
Access: 10 minutes walf from JR Tendo Station
Hours: 0800-1700
Homepage (Japanese): http://eishundo.web.fc2.com/

Shogi Piece Making Class
Fees: 860 yen
Hours: 0900-1600
Ages: Elementary 3rd grade or above
Reservation is required
Reservation hotline: 023-653-2843
(For group of 6 or above, please inform staff when making reservation)
Email: eishundo@silver.ocn.ne.jp

An Entertainment City – Tendo City

If Yamagata is your next destination, don't miss out the great entertainment city, Tendo City, where you can enjoy the hot springs, beautiful nature, super fresh local food, and fruit picking! You can learn about the shogi culture and Ukiyo-e in Tendo City too!

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See you there! 🙂