Yamagata, Japan

Yamagata is in the northeastern Tohoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu. Yamagata prefecture is often described as 'hidden' Japan. Well off any tourist route, Yamagata nevertheless has a wealth of experiences for those with the will to seek them out. Home to amazing unspoilt scenery, ancient temples, world class skiing, wonderful local food, summer festivals and some of the best onsen (hot springs) in Japan, Yamagata is a real change for the visitor who believes that Japan is best understood in the municipal centres of Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto. Surrounded by beautiful, often snowcapped mountains, Yamagata is a thriving industrial city with a sizable student population, making for a livelier nightlife and more youthful vibe than in comparable inaka (rural) cities. Most travellers use it as a base for day trips to Yamadera, Tendô and Takahata, as well as the skiing, bathing and hiking region around Zao Onsen.