Tight Travellers

By tighttravellers, June 2026

Japan has become increasingly popular, and the hype is 100% worth it; great cities, food, people, and also great beaches, mountains, countryside. You are obviously planning your trip to Japan, let’s see if we can predict your route. Is it looking something like: Tokyo (with a day trip to Mount Fuji), Osaka, Kyoto, Nara? If it is, we hate to say it but you’re a sheep.

This is known as the ‘Golden Route’; a popular travel route for tourists in Japan. Perfect for overtourism, higher prices, tourist traps, and even contributing to local economic strain – there’s a reason the locals in Kyoto hate tourists. If you want to explore off the beaten path in Japan, there’s so many places to visit, this blog will focus on Yamagata Prefecture.

If you’re looking for places in Japan that still feel a bit untouched, Yamagata is definitely one to add to your Japan itinerary. A proper mix of stunning natural landscapes, hot springs, and rich cultural heritage.

But first, here’s a mini need to know guide

When to visit

Like the rest of the north, it completely changes depending on when you visit:

• Spring: Cherry blossoms with mountain backdrops — a bit quieter than the usual hotspots, which makes it even better
• Summer: Great for hiking and exploring the mountains, plus coastal views along the Sea of Japan
• Autumn: Bright autumn colours across the valleys and temples — easily one of the most underrated spots for foliage
• Winter: Heavy snowfall turns Yamagata into a ski destination, with snow-covered villages and proper winter scenery

How to get there

• By train: You can take the shinkansen from Tokyo to Yamagata in around 2.5–3 hours. It’s one of the easiest ways to get there and is covered by the JR Pass
• By car: If you’re already driving through Northern Japan, Yamagata is an easy addition. The mountain roads and scenic routes around here are unreal
• By plane: There are domestic flights from Tokyo to Yamagata Airport, which can save time if you’re on a tighter schedule
• By bus: Highway buses are available and usually cheaper, but take longer than the train

Us tight travellers did a 3.5-week road trip around Northern Japan so we may be biased, but driving is definitely the best option!

Things To Do in Yamagata

1. Ginzan Onsen: If you’ve heard of anything about Yamagata, chances are it is Ginzan Onsen. We did plan a visit oursen and drove all the way to the car park – but we were immediately put off by the masses. Multiple coaches sat idle in the car park, and almost every car parking space taken. The town does look nice, but we asked ourselves, would it look nice lined with hundreds of people all trying to get the perfect insta photo? Probably not. And of course we weren’t staying there – that would break the bank! So, we skipped and went in search for some less touristy spots, because people just ruin everything.

If you’re planning a trip though, here’s a little need to know to save a few quid. The price of the shuttle bus changes through the day, we went in February: the morning shuttles cost 800 yen, dropping to 500 yen mid-morning, then doubling to 1000 yen from 2 pm onwards. A tiny detail, but it’s always nice to avoid feeling ripped off while standing in the freezing snow.

2. Yamadera: a Buddhist temple located 1000 steps up a mountain – slog! This is definitely worth a visit and is perfect for tight travellers. It costs 500 yen to enter the temple, and for that you get a stunning forest walk, a viewpoint at the top, and rich history.

3. Mount Zao: a volcanic mountain range with hot springs and ski resorts. Perfect for visiting all year round; in summer you can visit the Okama Crater, but in winter it is home to the snow monsters (kidding, they’re just frozen trees).

Check out our road trip map for recommendations across 11 prefectures.

Driving around Northern Japan is fun… until you realise just how many little detours, obscure shrines, and riverside cafes you might miss. That’s why we made The Ultimate Northern Japan Road Trip Map – 286 points of interest, all tried, tested, and totally off the beaten path.

If you want to see Yamagata properly (without the crowds), this map is like your cool friend who knows all the secret doors and shortcuts.

*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you. Thanks for taking the time to read and helping us keep the blog going!