This site is an online media that delivers all sorts of trivia about the six Tohoku prefectures, from sightseeing and gourmet spots to local customs, history, and more
In the first part, we took the Senzan Line from Kunimi Station to Yamagata, and took a stroll from Kasumigaoka Park to the nearby Yamagata Museum of Art and Mogami Yoshiaki History Museum, where we got a glimpse of Yamagata's culture and history.In the afternoon, we will head towards Nanokamachi and stroll around the city center
It was around 1pm and I was starting to get hungry so I decided to have lunch
I just vaguely thought, "I want to eat soba noodles," so I hadn't thought about which restaurant to go to
I wanted to eat at a soba restaurant I found while heading towards Nanukamachi from near Kasumigaoka Park, but perhaps I chose the wrong route, as I couldn't find the restaurant
Before we knew it, we had arrived at Nanakamachi Goten Weir
When I arrived at Goten Weir in Nanukamachi and looked at the information board, I saw a sign for "Soba Restaurant Shojiya" and decided to go there immediately
I had previously heard from a friend in Yamagata that "Shojiya is recommended if you want to eat soba," so it was perfect
I sat down and looked at the menu, and saw that there was a limited quantity of "Kanzarashi Soba" (cold soba noodles)
Unlike new soba, soba that has been exposed to the harsh cold of Yamagata has a sweeter taste and is more refined than regular soba. It has a mild, natural soba flavor and is delicious
Thank you for the meal
After eating soba and feeling satisfied, we took a quick stroll around Gotenzeki before heading to our next destination
The Nanukamachi Goten Weir in Yamagata City is one of the "Yamagata Five Weirs" that was built around 400 years ago, in the early Edo period, by Torii Tadamasa, the lord of Yamagata Castle, to ensure water for daily life and agriculture in the city of Yamagata
The Nanokamachi Goten Weir was built to restore the lifestyle of Yamagata citizens at that time, and to serve as a place of relaxation for citizens and a commercial facility that utilizes the waterway
Now let's head to our next destination, Bunshokan
I knew about Bunshokan, but this was my first time going inside
Bunshokan is the nickname for the facility that has been restored and is currently being used as the former Yamagata Prefectural Office and Assembly Hall
Bunshokan courtyard
As I strolled around the building, I was surprised not only by the restored interior, but also by the fact that it was being used as a regular facility by local high school girls
Normally, such a historic building would be subject to strict restrictions and treatment, but high school girls are freely using the facilities in preparation for an art exhibition being held at Bunshokan
I was really moved by this
I think it's great that children can actually touch and use it, rather than keeping it away because it's something to protect
The same can be seen at the former Yamagata Prefectural Assembly Building next door, where the Yamagata Philharmonic Orchestra practices, which can be viewed from the second floor
I thought that this was a rare experience, so I listened carefully for about an hour
It's a luxurious time
I was very satisfied, so I decided to do some shopping and head home
We stopped off at "gura," a new spot that opened in 2018 in Hatagocho, very close to Goten-zeki Weir, where we stopped for lunch
"Gura" is a space centered around a stone storehouse that has been restored using stone from the Meiji era, an earthen storehouse that is over 100 years old and has been restored through earthquake-resistant reinforcement, and a plaza that functions as a park in the city
Here we stopped by the craft shop inside gura
The craft shop was a wonderful place where traditional Yamagata crafts were connected with crafts from around the world and could actually be purchased
There are many items on display, such as kura-patterned tableware and carpenter tables made using the master craftsmanship of shrine carpenters, as well as traditional textiles and handkerchiefs made with handicrafts that reflect the techniques passed down from the Dalarna region of Sweden, the culture and nature of the land, and more
All of the products are wonderful, so if you're visiting Yamagata, this is a place you should definitely stop by to buy souvenirs
It was around 6pm so it was time to head home
On the way back, I stopped off at a coffee shop in front of the station that I had been wanting to try for a while, and then had a quick beer at a yakitori restaurant in front of Yamagata Station that a friend recommended
Yamagata is a great place
Looking back on the day, I feel like I've traveled back in time from the Edo period to the present day
Like the high school students at Bunshokan, Yamagata is really good at coexisting with its culture and history, and I think that's wonderful and enviable
There were no cultural or historical barriers whatsoever, and I felt like it was more of an educational experience than a trip
There were so many other places I wanted to go, but that's all for this trip!
Next time I'll head somewhere other than Yamagata City
I'm a member of the Neft editorial team. I love alcohol, music, and travel, and on weekdays I indulge in drinks after work, and on weekends I travel to nearby places whenever I have free time.
My goal is to one day travel abroad to explore connections with Tohoku for a Neft feature! I work hard every day towards that goal.
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