[Yamagata Prefecture] 2024 Edition “Tohoku Autumn Leaves Driving Map” - 3 recommended driving courses and surrounding gourmet selections in Yamagata Prefecture!

In Yamagata Prefecture, the autumn leaves have already begun and are in full bloom around highland drive courses such as the Zao Mountain Range and the Azuma Mountain Range, but they will gradually start to appear in the countryside.

In this article, we will introduce three courses where you can enjoy autumn leaves driving even in November, and recommended gourmet food in the surrounding areas.

Mogami Gorge (Tozawa Village - Shonai Town: National Route 47)

The 16km stretch of the middle Mogami River from Furuguchi, Tozawa Village to Kiyokawa, Shonai Town is called " Mogami Gorge ," and you can enjoy a drive through the autumn leaves on Tsuruoka Kaido (National Highway No. 47), which runs along the river.

The national highway runs parallel to the JR Rikuu West Line, and it is a scenic driving route with mountains full of autumn leaves of Japanese maple and maple looming on both sides of the Mogami River.

Mogami Gorge also has a boat ride where Matsuo Basho is said to have ridden.You can enjoy the autumn leaves from the river surface, and the boat is designed so that you can board the boat even during your drive.

You can enjoy the scenery of the autumn leaves reflecting on the river surface while being bathed in the refreshing river breeze, which is completely different from the view from the train window.

Mogami River Basho Line boat ride

It's a leisurely boat ride down the river for about an hour through the autumn leaves spreading on both banks of the Mogami River, with the boatman's tourist information in a Mogami accent and a boat song as background music.

There are three flights a day throughout the year, and during the autumn leaves season, the number of flights increases to four times a day until November 10th (Sunday), and a heated boat operates from December to March.

Furuguchi Port (Tozawahan Ship Bansho) in Tozawa Village Kusanagi Port (Kawanoeki Mogamikyo Kusanagi) near Shiraito Falls, but there are three ways to return to the car:

• Return to Furuguchi Port by bus: Operates according to the ship's arrival time
• Return to Furuguchi Port by boat: It is an exhilarating activity to sail back with the engine at full throttle.
• Have your car transferred to Kusanagi Port: You can get off the ship and resume your drive.

Please note that car transfers are by reservation only.

Hongokai Ferry Site where Matsuo Basho boarded , and routes from there are also established.

Mogami River Basho Line boat ride <Information>

• Name: Mogami River Basho Line boat ride
• Operation period: All year round
• Boarding location: Furuguchi Port (Tozawa clan ship guard station) / 86-1 Furuguchi, Tozawa Village, Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture
• Disembarkation location: Kusanagi Port (river station/Mogami Gorge Kusanagi)/1525-2 Furuguchi, Tozawa Village, Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture
• Contact: Mogami Gorge Basho Line Tourism Co., Ltd.
• Phone number: 0233-72-2001
• URL: Mogami River Basho Line boat ride official website
• URL: River Station Mogami Gorge Kusanagi Official Website

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Another boat ride “Mogami River boat ride Yoshitsune Romantic Sightseeing”

The route departs from a takaya located between Furuguchi and Kusanagi, visits the Sennin-do Temple on the opposite shore, which can only be accessed by boat, and then returns to the takaya.This route also includes a boatman as a guide and a boat song.

Sennin-do (Togawa Shrine) is said to have been founded by Hitachibo Kaison, a vassal of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, and is also known as matchmaking spot shrine

Plans are also available where you can enjoy soba and imoni, including the `` Mogami River Boating Gourmet Pack Soba Restaurant Lunch Course you can enjoy at Sennin-do .

Mogami River boat ride Yoshitsune Romantic sightseeing <Information>

• Name: Mogami River Boat Ride Yoshitsune Romantic Tourism
• Operation period: All year round
• Boarding (disembarking) location: Furuguchi, Tozawa Village, Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture (boarding reception is at JR Takaya Station)
• Contact: Mogami River Boat Ride Yoshitsune Romantic Sightseeing
• Phone number: 0234-57-2148
• URL: Mogami River Boat Boating Yoshitsune Romantic Tourism Official Website

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Fillet cutlet burger at “Parlor Shiraito Falls”

The fillet cutlet burger served at the parlor of Shiraito Falls Drive- in on the opposite shore of Shiraito Falls rice girl pig " The fillet cutlet is sandwiched between the buns.

``Yone no Musume Buta'' is a tender, delicious meat with light and sweet fat, and you can enjoy the fillet cutlet burger sandwiched between the fillet cutlet, cabbage, cucumber, and plenty of tomatoes in the parlor while enjoying the view of the Mogami River and Shiraito Falls. You can taste it.

Overwhelming presence! “Taki Burger” and “Five-storied Pagoda Burger”

The parlor's popular menu is a tower-like burger made by stacking fillet cutlet burgers.The " Taki Burger " has three burgers, and the " Five-storied Pagoda Burger ", as its name suggests, has five burgers stacked high, creating a visual impact. is quite intense.

What's more, the menu also includes 1 liter size melon sodas, which is just amazing.

A detailed report on this amazing tower-shaped burger is posted on a local website called `Sho Naitsu!! that introduces the Shonai region

Shonaitsu!!

Link

We tried the famous "super large menu" of Tozawa village "Parlor Shiraito Falls" [Editorial department vs special feature...

https://shonai2.fun/tokushu-oz-20220508/

- Tozawa Village has one of the best "big gourmet dishes" in Shonai - Editorial Staff O I've heard about it, but what is it actually like? Editorial Staff S: There are several types, and it seems difficult for one person to conquer them all.Editorial Staff H: Okay! The entire editorial department should go and investigate! ! rajah

Parlor Shiraito Falls <Information>

• Facility name: Parlor Shiraito Falls (Shiraito Falls Drive-in)
• Location: Inside Shiraito Falls Drive-in, 1496-1 Furuguchi, Tozawa Village, Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0234-57-2146
• Business hours: Monday to Friday 10:30 to 15:00, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:30 to 16:00
• Closed: Wednesday
• URL: Parlor Shiraito Falls official website

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Gassan Hanagasa Line (Nishikawa Town - Tsuruoka City: National Route 112)

The 30.9km National Route 112 Bypass between Nishikawa Town and Tsuruoka City is also known as Gassan Road, and is a famous autumn leaves drive that has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Roads

The autumn leaves along the road begin to change color from mid-October and can be enjoyed until early November.

Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono turn color around the road as they descend to the foothills, and the scenery is reflected in the tunnel of autumn leaves and the blue surface of Lake Gassan.

Large fountain at Lake Gassan

Lake Gassanko is a dam lake created by the Sagae Dam on the Sagae River, a tributary of the Mogami River, and is the largest in Yamagata Prefecture.

This lake has a large fountain that is said to be the largest in Japan and the 4th largest in the world, and the shape of the water that gushes out changes depending on the season, called Spring Mai '', `` Summer Mai '', and `` Autumn Mai It is being

The fountain erupts once an hour from 10:00 to 17:00 every day from April to November, and during the dark hours, the lake is lit up, creating a fantastic sight on the surface of the lake.

Roadside Station Nishikawa “Gassan Meisuikan”

The Gassan Meisuikan Roadside Station in Nishikawa Town, located at the foot of Mt. Gassan , is home to a Gassan Beer factory and a day-trip hot spring.

Malt and hops from Germany and the Czech Republic are brewed using spring water from Mt. Gassan, and two types of beer are brewed: refreshing Pilsner and aromatic Münchner.

You can sleep in your car at the roadside station, so why not enjoy a hot spring bath and then enjoy a local beer at a restaurant with a view of the beer factory to soothe your fatigue from driving?

Roadside Station Nishikawa＜Information＞

• Facility name: Roadside station Nishikawa Gassan Meisuikan
• Location: 2304 Mizusawa, Nishikawa-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0237-74-2100
• Business hours: Toilet available 24 hours, shop/direct sales/restaurant 9:00-17:00
• Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays (12/31, 1/1)
• URL: Roadside Station Nishikawa (Nishikawa Town General Development Co., Ltd.) Official Website

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Gassan Beer's "local beer simmered beef" and "local beer soft serve ice cream"

Beef simmered in local beer Roadside Station Nishikawa , and the beef simmered in beer has a texture that melts in your mouth.

Also, among the soft-serve ice creams sold at this snack corner, there is a rare soft-serve ice cream that contains beer wort and has a barley scent, and since it is non-alcoholic, drivers can also enjoy it.

Mt. Chokai Blue Line (Yusa Town - Hirogata Town, Akita Prefecture: Yamagata Prefectural Road No. 210, Akita Prefectural Road No. 131)

This is a mountain sightseeing road that climbs all at once from near Fukiura on National Route 345 along the Sea of ​​Japan to 1,100 meters above sea level on the side of Mt. Chokai.

From Ohira Observation Deck, which is near the highest point, you can enjoy the autumn leaves spreading from the foot of the mountain to the Shonai Plain, as well as a panoramic view of Tobishima and Sado floating in the blue Sea of ​​Japan, as well as the Oga Peninsula.

You can also enter from National Route 7, and along Prefectural Route 210 (Chokai Park Fukiura Line) on the Yamagata side, there are especially many beech forests, so you can enjoy driving through the colorful autumn leaves.

The park is closed in the winter from early November to late April due to snowfall, so please check the road traffic information if you plan to go out in November.

Chokai Blue Line <Information>

• Contact: NPO Yuzachokai Tourism Association
• Phone number: 0234-72-5666
• URL: Yamagata Shonai tourism site

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Yusa's local cuisine "Nikumochi"

In Yuza Town, it is a soul food that has been eaten for a long time as a mochi dish on special occasions, when people gather together, and when entertaining people.

It is a zoni-like dish made by boiling pork, burdock, konnyaku, green onions, and fried tofu in kelp soup stock, seasoning with soy sauce, mirin, and sake, and adding round mochi (rice cakes).In Yusa, it is preferred over Yamagata's famous imoni. It is being

Although it is a home-cooked dish in Yusa, some restaurants in the town serve it, and 2-bowl packs containing 2 round mochi cakes are sold as souvenirs at places such as Roadside Station Chokai Furat It has been.

Nikumochi＜Information＞

• Name: Roadside Station Chokai Flat
• Location: 308-1 Kanno, Sugari, Yusa-machi, Akumi-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0234(71)7222
• URL: Roadside Station Chokai Flat official website

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summary

It is said that the autumn leaves in Yamagata Prefecture start and end relatively early compared to the six prefectures of Tohoku, but you can still enjoy a drive through the autumn leaves until around mid-November.

However, due to the region's heavy snowfall, many roads in mountainous areas are closed from November onwards, so we recommend checking road information before heading out.