Yamagata city [山形]

Yamagata city is the prefectural capital and is the central city in Yamagata Prefecture.

It is located on a basin in the easterly center of Yamagata Prefecture.
Sendai city is located about 50 km east of this city.

It is presumed that there was a town in the 8th century around current Yamagata city.

In 1356, original Yamagata Castle was built.
In the early 17th century, Mogami Yoshiaki, the first lord of Yamagata domain, rebuilt the castle and the town.

Since that, Yamagata city has developed as the central town in this area.

Hanagasa Festival in summer and Japan's greatest Imoni Festival in autumn are well-known.

Kajo Park (霞城公園)

Kajo Park is a park located about 0.5 km north of JR Yamagata station.
In Japanese, "o" in "Kajo" is pronounced long, so it is read as "Kajô".

It is originally a site of Yamagata Castle.
The castle was built in 1356, and it becase the biggest castle in Tohoku Region around the early 17th century.

But the castle became old and ruined after that.
The castle was demolished in 1871 by new Meiji government.

The site was used as a military post sice that, and it became the park after World War II.

The shape of this site is nearly square about 500 meters on a side, and moats and stonewalls have remained.

There are some sports facility in this site now, but the castle is scheduled to be rebuilt as a historic place in future.

This park is known as a cherry blossom viewing spot in this area.
There are about 1,500 cherry trees in the park.

The best season for cherry blossom is in the middle of April.
In this period, JR train running near this park is operated slowly so that the passengers can see the cherry blossoms.

Saiseikan (済生館)

Saiseikan is a Western-style building, and is located in the southern part of Kajo Park.

It is the former Saiseikan Hospital built in 1878.
It has unique architecture with truss.
So, it is registered as a national important cultural property.

It was relocated and reconstructed here in 1969, and has been used as Yamagata City Folk Museum.

Bunshokan (文翔館)

Bunshokan is the former Yamagata prefectural office building and assembly hall built in 1916.
It is located about 1.5 km northeast of JR Yamagata station.

It is built in brick and has English-Renaissance-style.

It is registered as a national important cultural property, but the hall, conference rooms and galleries are rented to citizens.

How to get here

By Tohoku, Yamagata-Shinkansen, 2 hours and 30 - 50 minutes from Tokyo.
By JR Senzan Line, 1 hours and 10 - 20 minutes from Sendai.

From Yamagata airport, by route bus, 43 minutes to JR Yamagata station.

Other Tourist Attractions in Yamagata Prefecture

Yamadera (Risshakuji temple) Mount Zao Yonezawa city Mogami River boat tours Sakata city Tsuruoka city Three sacred mountains of Dewa Ginzan hot spring resort

Return to Yamagata Prefecture Return to Tohoku Region