Winter getaway to Yamagata| Exploring Ginzan Onsen, Zao monsters, Yamadera

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Winter getaway to Yamagata| Exploring Ginzan Onsen, Zao monsters, Yamadera | JAPAN TRAVEL VLOG

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Experience the magic of a Yamagata winter, from soaking in Zao Onsen and seeing its snow monsters to the nostalgic charm of Ginzan Onsen and the thousand steps of Yamadera.

2 plans · 7 places · 3 experiences

Plan · 2 places · Yamagata, Japan

Zao Onsen Winter Getaway

“We spent our first day and a half in Zao Onsen, staying at a traditional ryokan, enjoying the onsen, and going up the ropeway to see the snow monsters.”

1
Sakaiya Morino Hotel
Japanese inn · Yamagata
4.3
Streamlined rooms in an understated hot spring hotel with mountain views, dining & a bathhouse.
Wald Berg, 889-1 蔵王温泉清水坂 Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan
- Traditional Japanese room — A traditional Japanese ryokan room with a really nice view of the cable cars and snowy scenery outside.
- Green tea — Complimentary green tea provided by the hotel for afternoon tea, perfect for relaxing in the room.
- Wagyu shabu shabu — Delicious wagyu shabu shabu, included as part of the dinner at the ryokan. They also kept bringing out many small, tasty dishes.
- Japanese-style breakfast — A Japanese-style breakfast with a wide variety of dishes, all made with local ingredients. It was very tasty and offered many different things to try while enjoying a cozy view.
Experience · 1 place
Soaking in a hot onsen with snow falling
There's nothing quite like the feeling of soaking in a hot onsen while the cold snow falls around you. I went for a last dip in the morning, and it was the best feeling to warm up before starting the day.
1
Sakaiya Morino Hotel
Japanese inn · Yamagata
4.3
Streamlined rooms in an understated hot spring hotel with mountain views, dining & a bathhouse.
Wald Berg, 889-1 蔵王温泉清水坂 Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan
Traditional Japanese room — A traditional Japanese ryokan room with a really nice view of the cable cars and snowy scenery outside.
Green tea — Complimentary green tea provided by the hotel for afternoon tea, perfect for relaxing in the room.
Wagyu shabu shabu — Delicious wagyu shabu shabu, included as part of the dinner at the ryokan. They also kept bringing out many small, tasty dishes.
Japanese-style breakfast — A Japanese-style breakfast with a wide variety of dishes, all made with local ingredients. It was very tasty and offered many different things to try while enjoying a cozy view.
2
Zao Ropeway
Mountain cable car · Yamagata
4.2Closed · opens tomorrow 8:30 AM
Creator's voice
The ropeway takes you up the mountain to see the Zao snow monsters. It's also popular for skiing, but the views from the top are worth the trip even if you don't ski.
Zao Ropeway Sanroku Station, 229-3 Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan
- Zao snow monsters — Unique natural formations created by heavy snowfall and freezing winds, shaping the trees into unusual 'monsters'. The view from the top is worth the trip, even if the weather makes them hard to see clearly.

Plan · 1 place · Yamagata, Japan

Ginzan Onsen Day Trip

“Ginzan Onsen was on my bucket list, and we did a day trip there, enjoying the fresh tofu, exploring the town, and waiting for the magical evening lights.”

Experience · 1 place
Footbath with fresh tofu
Right outside the tofu shop, there's a footbath where you can enjoy your fresh tofu while soaking your feet in warm water. It's a perfect way to relax and watch the snow and river flow by.
3
Ginzan Onsen
Obanazawa
Creator's voice
A magical, nostalgic hot spring town in Yamagata, said to be one of the inspirations for 'Spirited Away'. The old wooden hot springs line the Ginzan River, and the gas lamps create a golden glow at night. It's about 1.5 hours from Yamagata Station by shinkansen and bus.
Ginzan Onsen, Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan
Fresh tofu — A quick snack of fresh tofu, a specialty of Ginzan Onsen. You can enjoy it with a warm footbath right outside the store while watching the snow and river.
Old wooden hot springs — The charming old wooden hot spring inns lining both sides of the Ginzan River, making you feel transported back in time. The whole town is covered in snow, adding to the magical atmosphere.
Gas lamps at night — The little gas lamps that light up the streets and shops after sunset, turning the whole town golden and adding a nostalgic, magical feel to Ginzan Onsen.
Eggplant soba — The number one menu item at a retro and cute shop in Ginzan Onsen. It looked so good and warm, and the eggplant was incredibly flavorful and delicious, leaving me satisfied and full.
Souvenirs — Many cute souvenirs available for shopping in Ginzan Onsen, perfect for killing time until the town lights up at night.
Hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows — A hot chocolate with roasted marshmallows from a cute cafe in Ginzan Onsen. The marshmallows were crispy on the outside and absolutely delicious, perfect for warming up on a snowy day.
3
Ginzan Onsen
Obanazawa
Creator's voice
A magical, nostalgic hot spring town in Yamagata, said to be one of the inspirations for 'Spirited Away'. The old wooden hot springs line the Ginzan River, and the gas lamps create a golden glow at night. It's about 1.5 hours from Yamagata Station by shinkansen and bus.
Ginzan Onsen, Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan
- Fresh tofu — A quick snack of fresh tofu, a specialty of Ginzan Onsen. You can enjoy it with a warm footbath right outside the store while watching the snow and river.
- Old wooden hot springs — The charming old wooden hot spring inns lining both sides of the Ginzan River, making you feel transported back in time. The whole town is covered in snow, adding to the magical atmosphere.
- Gas lamps at night — The little gas lamps that light up the streets and shops after sunset, turning the whole town golden and adding a nostalgic, magical feel to Ginzan Onsen.
- Eggplant soba — The number one menu item at a retro and cute shop in Ginzan Onsen. It looked so good and warm, and the eggplant was incredibly flavorful and delicious, leaving me satisfied and full.
- Souvenirs — Many cute souvenirs available for shopping in Ginzan Onsen, perfect for killing time until the town lights up at night.
- Hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows — A hot chocolate with roasted marshmallows from a cute cafe in Ginzan Onsen. The marshmallows were crispy on the outside and absolutely delicious, perfect for warming up on a snowy day.

Also in this video

4
Tokyo Station
Transit station · Chiyoda City
4.3 (134,459)
Creator's voice
The main hub for catching the shinkansen to various parts of Japan, including Yamagata prefecture.
Tokyo Station, 1 Chome Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
- Ham and cheese croissant — A classic ham and cheese croissant, perfect for breakfast on the shinkansen ride.
- Raffaello — My favorite Raffaello chocolate, a sweet treat for the train journey.
5
Zao Onsen
Yamagata
Creator's voice
A famous onsen town and ski resort in Yamagata, about an hour from Yamagata Station. Known for its hot springs and the unique 'snow monsters' in winter.
Zao Onsen, Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301, Japan
6
Yamagata Castle
Hotel · Yamagata
3.9
Creator's voice
A historic castle in Yamagata city. It's a beautiful spot, especially when it's snowing.
Hotel Castle, ホテルキャッスル山形 B1F 4 Chome-2-7 Tokamachi, Yamagata, 990-0031, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Climbing 1,000 steps to Yamadera's mountain temple
I climbed about 1,000 steps to the top of Yamadera's mountain temple, even with the steps covered in snow. It was a challenging climb, but the reward was a stunning, amazing view from the summit. I managed to make it down without falling, despite the pouring snow.
7
Yamadera
Buddhist temple · Yamagata
4.5 (9,388)Closed · opens Monday 8 AM
Creator's voice
Famous for its mountain temple, which requires climbing about 1,000 steps to reach the top. The view from the summit is stunning, especially with snow.
Risshaku-ji Temple (Yamadera), 4456-1 Yamadera, Yamagata, 999-3301, Japan

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