Culture Green Tourism and Sugegasa Hats Imogen Riethmuller An account of a visit to the beautiful village of Iide in Yamagata to make a sugegasa: a traditional Japanese conical hat.
Culture Basho Memorial Hall Museum Laura Welch The temple at Yamadera isn't all there is to see - give your body a rest and let your mind learn about Japan's most famous ha...
Culture Hanagasa Matsuri 2024 Hannah Warren Hanagasa Matsuri is a dance festival which originiated in Obanazawa but is now celebrated across Yamagata every summer.
Culture Shinjo Matsuri 2024 Hannah Warren Shinjo, in Yamagata, hosts this annual festival in which giant floats are paraded through the city.
Culture Tsuruoka Park Rashaad Jorden Tsuruoka Park is a lovely place for a cherry blossom-viewing party.
Culture Wara Craft Master Saito-san Alena Eckelmann Watching a wara (rice straw) craftsman produce sandals and boots like in the old days
9 Culture Chikeiken's Hidden Treasures Alena Eckelmann Chikeiken farmers' restaurant is home to a hatori weaving master cultivating her craft on cold winter days after serving gues...
Culture Kaikoji Temple Justin Velgus The Kaikoji Temple in Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture houses two of the legendary living mummies. These former priests mummified ...
Culture Zenpoji Temple in Tsuruoka Rashaad Jorden Zenpo Temple in Tsuruoka is a place where people go to feel calm and serenity.
Culture The Mummy of Dainichibo Temple Alena Eckelmann The Dewa Sanzan area is a mystical land of mountain ascentics and of "living Buddhas"- monks who mummified themselves in orde...