Hello, everyone. Welcome all the way to the northeast of Japan, Tohoku. How many times have you been to Japan? On this tour, we hope you will fully enjoy this genuine provincial area. First, we are going to the Zao Ropeway to enjoy seeing “Zao’s Juhyo,” or Zao’s frozen trees, which are well-known throughout Japan. Now, we would like to give you some interesting information about Zao’s Juhyo. Please listen and relax while enjoying the lovely scenery from the windows.
Juhyo are formed when Aomori white fir trees, a member of the conifer family growing in the sub-alpine zone, are entirely covered with snow and ice. As cloud droplets (super-cooled water droplets) within clouds hit the tree branches and leaves, they freeze, forming shrimp-like shapes; snow builds up in between the tail gaps of the shapes, gradually hardening. As this phenomenon repeats again and again, finally the breath-taking figures emerge.
In wintertime, northwest seasonal winds blowing in from Siberia collect a lot of water vapor from the warm Tsushima current in the Japan Sea, forming snow clouds.These snow clouds rise at the Asahi mountain range, resulting in a large amount of snow. The clouds then pass through the Yamagata basin, and again rise at the Zao mountain range, bringing with them even more snow.The inside of the snow clouds at that stage contains a lot of cloud particles which have become super-cooled water droplets; these do not freeze even if the temperature is under 0 degrees Celsius when they are mixed with snow.
In January and February, it is seldom bright and sunny in the Zao area. Winds often blow from the northwest or west at an average speed of 10 to15 m/s. As far as the ambient temperature is concerned, the average is minus 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. You could say it is truly “the world of blizzards.” The Juhyo gradually take shape under these kinds of circumstances.These mystic frozen trees, “Zao’s Juhyo,” will definitely exceed even your wildest expectations.It takes about 60 minutes to get to the Zao Ropeway, so until then please sit back and enjoy watching the gorgeous views. Thank you.
Thank you for your patience, everybody. We are getting to the place where we have been looking forward. We have arrived at the Zao Ropeway. At the summit, there are several restaurants and souvenir shops for your convenience. It is very cold outside, so please do not forget to take your coat and make sure you keep warm. Also, please be sure to bring your ropeway ticket with you. We are going to stay here for approximately two hours. After the tour, please finish shopping or going to the bathroom, etc., then come to the exit of the building. Our taxi driver will be waiting for you. I hope you will have a fantastic time and return with many fond memories.
How was the Zao’s Juhyo? They are labeled as “Snow Monsters,” and even Japanese are moved to see this incredibly rare scenery. Now we are going to today’s accommodation, “Akayu-onsen.” Akayu-onsen takes pride in its long history as a hot-spring health resort, and was was opened more than 900 years ago. Originally Akayu-onsen was discovered by Minamotono Yoshitsuna in the Japanese year Kanji 7, or in 1093. He was traveling with his elder brother, Minamotono Yoshiie, who was directing wars in order to unify the Oushu area, a part of northern Tohoku. From that time, this area was controlled by the warlord Date, and then it became a domain of the warlord Uesugi. Later, in the era of the Yonezawa domain, the hot spring was labeled Hakoyu and carefully maintained for the lord’s personal use. The area prospered as the officially approved place for entertainment and pleasure. In this town of hot springs, you will see vestiges of a hot spring utopia that flourished as a post town on the OushuHighway. You will also experience the warm hospitality that has thrived here since the old days of hot spring health resort.
By the way, you may be wondering about today’s dinner plans. I will explain soon. Before dinner, there are some hot footbath spas nearby. Walking around the town wearing yukata, or simply-made kimono, would also be a fun activity. Now let’s depart for Akayu-onsen. It takes about 45 minutes. Please relax and enjoy the stunning scenery until our arrival.
Thank you for your patience, everyone. We are getting to the place where we can have a great fun and serenity. Now, we have arrived at today’s accommodation, “Akayu-onsen.” Please check that you have all your belongings with you before getting off.
Tonight’s dinner is a traditional Japanese dish using a lot of fresh seasonal ingredients. This Japanese-style hotel has 4 floors with elevators. There is a big bath on the 1st floor. Banquet rooms and the place where you will have breakfast tomorrow morning are on the 2nd floor. Breakfast will be served in a large hall on the 2nd floor. From 7:30 a.m., you can enjoy as many as 4 types of freshly-made rice cakes as you would like. Theyare: Ozouni-mochi, a Japanese New Year’s Day traditional soup dish; Anko-mochi, which is rice cake with sweetened bean paste; Natto-mochi, which is rice cake with Natto, or fermented soybeans; and Karami-mochi, which is rice cake with grated radish.
As this is a Japanese-style hotel, please take off your shoes at the entrance and give them to the staff. When walking on corridors, please use slippers, and take them off inside your room. I hope you will enjoy this lovely, well-known hot spring. Thank you.
Good morning, everyone. Did you enjoy the hot spring and their food yesterday ? I hope so! And did you enjoy the heavy snow train, “Yamagata Railway, Flower Nagai Line?” It’s always fun! Today, we are going to join a workshop to try safflower dyeing.
In the past, safflower was recognized as “a hundred times as valuable as rice and ten times as gold.” The safflower produced in Shirotaka, named Benimochi, was carried down along the Mogami River and sent to the ancient capital, Kyoto, by Kitamaebune (cargo ships that sailed the Japan Sea in the Edo era). In Kyoto, Benimochi was used to add more vivid coloring to clothing and cosmetics .
Ninety-nine percent of the coloring in safflower is yellow, and the remaining 1 percent is crimson. This crimson color, or aka in Japanese, is unique to Japan.
Today, we would like you to experience genuine safflower dyeing using traditional Benimoshi. First, make patterns as you like on a handkerchief, then put it into dyeing liquid. Please don’t be nervous: Everyone can make something beautiful on their first try! You will have your original, a one-and-only handkerchief in the world, to carry proudly! Please enjoy this marvelous experience.
We are staying here for about an hour. After the dyeing activity and looking around, please finish shopping or going to the bathroom, etc., and then come to the exit of the building. Our taxi driver will be waiting for you. Now, please have a great time!
Thank you for your hard work. How did you feel about doing the dyeing? Please take the small items you were handed back home as mementos. Let’s move to the next destination, “Mezami-no-sato Sightseeing Commercial Museum,” where we will have our lunch. It will take nearly 30 minutes to get there .
Now, let me explain today’s itinerary. After arriving at Michino-eki Iide “Mezami-no-sato Sightseeing Commercial Museum,” we will have a lunch of high-quality Japanese Kuroge-Wagyu beef. There are tax-free shops so that you can enjoy shopping freely. As you may know, you will be exempted from taxation on purchases of over 5,000 Yen. Please note, however, that there may be items that do not fall under the category of the exemption. For details, inquire at the shop counter.
After lunch, we will move to “Snow Park Donden,” a nearby leisure center where you can enjoy playing in the snow. You can even drive a snowmobile on your own! After playing in the snow for a while, we are going to a farmhouse-style guesthouse to stay today.
Have you ever imagined what it is like to have dinner in a traditional Japanese farmhouse? Well, today you will see! It will be nice to chat with the mom of the guesthouse, while enjoying the unique ambience and a delicious meal.
Please understand that they may not speak English well. If so, it would be a good idea to try using the translation software through the Wi-Fi available in the whole house. The Wi-Fi password is posted in the living room, so feel free to use it. Let’s get started enjoying genuine country life today! Please enjoy the wonderful scenery until our arrival.
Again, thank you very much for your patience, everybody. Now we have reached Mezami-no-sato Sightseeing Commercial Museum. Museum staff will come soon to escort you to the lunch venue. Hall clerks will show you to the table. Please wait for a minute.
We are staying in this “Mezami-no-sato Sightseeing Commercial Museum” for about one and a half hours. Please enjoy the lunch and shopping. After having lunch and looking around the souvenir shops on the 1st floor, please come to the museum front door. Our taxi driver will be waiting for you. Now, please have fun!
Did you like the meal in “Mezami-no-sato Sightseeing Commercial Museum?” We hope so. Next, we are going to “Snow Park Donden.” This leisure park is very popular with tourists from Taiwan, and you can play in the snow. There are three activity options: .
No matter what others say, the first choice must be the “snowmobile riding experience,” in which you can actually drive a snowmobile. Do you ride motorcycles? If so, you will have no problems at all. The snowmobile has only a brake and an accelerator. The staff will carefully show you how to drive and start the engine, so you do not need to be worried.
For practice, please drive around the oval course in the park twice so as to get used to it. Do try to lean your weight toward the direction you intend to turn. Once you have the knack, you will feel like a fully-qualified snow rider. If there aren’t any others practicing, you can keep driving as much as you would like. Please remember to wear a helmet!
The second choice is the “banana-boat towing & riding experience.” You can imagine the figure of a banana-boat, can’t you? Yes, it is a banana-shaped boat, simple as that. In this Iitoyo-machi area of YamagatapPefecture, however, it has quickly changed into popular snow-playing equipment . While it depends on the snow conditions, normally two or three people can ride on one boat. Once you have experienced the thrilling feeling of skidding through the corners, you might become sort of addicted to it.
The third choice is sliding down the giant slide. The slide’s height reaches 12 meters and it is 50 meters long. You will feel both exhilarated and refreshed sliding down on a snow tube. You will have such fun in the park, I am sure!
Thank you for your patience, everyone. Now we have arrived at “Snow Park Donden.” Park staff will escort you , so please wait for a minute. We are staying here for nearly one hour. After enjoying the snow, please finish shopping or going to the bathroom, etc., then, come to the front entrance. Our taxi driver will be waiting for you. Now, please enjoy!
How was playing in the snow? We hope you have lots of great memories!. Next, let’s go to “Mezami-no-sato Sightseeing Strawberry Farm.” This is today’s other big event. Getting there will take only about 10 minutes. Please take in the scenery until arrival.
Again, thank you for your patience, folks. We are approaching the spot where your sense of taste will be delighted. We have arrived at “Mezami-no-sato Strawberry Farm.” Farm staff will come and escort you to the place for strawberry picking, so please wait for a minute.
We are staying in here for approximately 30 minutes. Within this time, you can eat as many strawberries as you would like. Please . feel free to eat to your taste buds’ content! After the picking experience, please finish shopping or going to the bathroom, etc., then come to the front exit. Our taxi driver will be waiting for you. Please enjoy picking and sampling these delectable strawberries.
Thank you, everybody. How was the strawberry picking? Were the berries as delicious as you hoped? In Japan, strawberry cultivation was originally most prosperous in Ibaraki Prefecture but, as you may not have known until today, superb strawberries are available in the northeast of Japan, too.
Now, let’s move to today’s accommodation, “Farmhouse-style guesthouse.” It takes about 40 to 50 minutes to get there. Until arrival, please keep enjoying the marvelous views .
Thank you very much for your patience. We have arrived at today’s accommodation “Farmhouse-style guesthouse.” Please check that you have all your belongings with you before getting off. Thank you. The design of the farmhouse-style guesthouses is similar to that of typical Japanese houses. Inside, there are two rooms for guests, so please decide among yourselves who will use which room.
As far as bathing is concerned, you can use the shower room in the guesthouse. Also, you are absolutely welcome to use the outside hot spring. Dinner is scheduled to be served about one hour after your arrival. We will be coming to meet you at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning. Until then, please make yourself at home and have a good rest. Please enjoy your stay. Thank you.
Good morning everyone. Did you enjoy speaking with the guesthouse people and eating their genuine country dishes? How did you feel about the farmhouse-style guesthouse? If you liked it, please introduce it to your friends at home. Now, we are departing for today’s first sightseeing spot, “Uesugi Shrine.” It will take about 60 minutes to reach the destination.
Please listen to today’s itinerary while enjoying the scenery. Now, we are heading for “Uesugi Shrine” in Yonezawa City, which is well-known as having been “Uesugi feudal domain,” hundreds of years ago.
This shrine is very popular and attracts the largest number of visitors to Yamagata Prefecture. We will visit the shrine and take some breaks. You can enjoy shopping in “Uesugi Joshien,” where spit-roasted Yonezawa beef, Yonezawa beef croquettes and Tama-konjac are available, along with other items. Please enjoy tasting them all!.
The 10th lord of Uesugi domain was Yozan Uesugi, who left these very famous words of wisdom: “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. If it isn’t accomplished, you aren’t trying to do so.” This is interpreted to mean that when you start something with strong will, your dream will come true. It is one of the most well-known proverbs in Japan.
Next, let’s study how to visit a Japanese shrine according to standard protocol.
First, after entering, clean your hands and mouth using the water in the pool. Next, prepare some money for an offering. You may use something as small as a 5-yen coin. “Five yen” is pronounced, “go en” in Japanese, and “go en” also means “good chance or good destiny.” Throw the coin into the wooden money-offering box.
Then, wave the rope to ring the bells. Lastly, greet and show respect to the god according to “two-bows, two-claps , one-bow” manners. First, bow twice, then clap hands twice, and put your hands together, making a wish in your mind, silently. Finally bow once. After that, please enjoy walking around the shrine at your leisure.
After the shrine, we are setting off for the Takahata winery, which is located in Takahata-machi, Yamagata prefecture. Takahata-machi is blessed with fertile land, rich in natural resources.
Founded in 1990, the Takahata winery has been beloved by many people inside as well as outside of Yamagata as a unique spot where visitors can enjoy not only wine, but also sightseeing. Inside the winery garden, vast vineyards and flower fields spread, and visitors feel the blessings of nature in any season of the year. In the winery shop, you can try their original Takahata wine. Why not sample a few so that you can find your own favorite?
You will find not only famous local specialties but also ingredients uniquely suitable to the wine. We are sure you will find the wines enjoyable . Please feel free to wander around and try as many as you like! After visiting the Takahata winery, we are scheduled to move to the restaurant, “Yoneori Sightseeing Center” for lunch. “Yoneori Sightseeing Center” is known for being especially careful in their strict selection of local ingredients for their dishes.
We would like to express our utmost welcome by serving you a delicious dish, the ingredients of which we have used to their fullest. When you arrive, please do try the taste of Okitama district. , After the meal, please feel free to look around the various souvenir shops, which are similar to those at the Takahata winery.
In the shops, there are a lot of souvenirs produced in Yamagata Prefecture. In particular, in the agricultural product outlet corners, fresh farm products produced in Takahata-machi and specialties made from these products are available. How about looking for a memento of the tour in Yoneori Sightseeing Center?
After visiting the center, we are going to Kaminoyama City to today’s accommodation, “Kaminoyama-onsen Tsukioka Hotel.”
Historically, “Kaminoyama Castle” is reknowned as an impressive structure. However, today’s castle is not the original; it was reconstructed recently, in the Showa period (1926~1989). From its observatory, you have a bird's eye view of the mountains of Zao and Kamioka City’s built-up area. Please enjoy this marvelous panorama.
Within a five-minute walk from the castle, there remain several old samurai residences, “Buke-yashiki,” and their appearance shows signs of the Edo era (1603~1868). Please enjoy this fascinating cultural heritage, too.
Today’s accommodation, “Tsukioka Hotel,” is historic; its foundation goes back to the Edo era and it remains famous for its splendid garden. Please be sure to take an open-air bath to feel refreshed and relaxed.
Now, please enjoy the scenery until our arrival at Uesugi Shrine.
Again, everyone, thank you very much for your patience. Now, we are in front of Uesugi Shrine. There is no fixed schedule here, so please look around freely.
We are going to stay here for about one hour. After the tour, please finish shopping or going to the bathroom, etc., then come to the Uesugi Joshien toilet facility building. Our taxi driver will be waiting for you in front of the building. Now, have a wonderful time!
Thank you, everybody . What did you think of walking around Uesugi shrine? We hope you enjoyed learning about the fascinating history of Uesugi’s castle town. Then, let’s move to the next tour spot, “Takahata winery.”
It will take approximately 30 minutes to reach the winery, so please relax and take in the views during the drive.
Thank you for your patience. We have arrived at Takahata winery. There is no fixed schedule here, so please look around freely. Please enjoy wandering about, choosing souvenirs and tasting some wine.
We are going to stay here for about 45 minutes. After the tour, please finish shopping or going to the bathroom, etc., then come to the shop exit. Our taxi driver will be waiting for you. Now, please have a great time.
Thank you very much, everyone. How did you feel about the visit to the Takahata winery? We hope you have a lot of special memories to take home with you. Now, let’s go to “Yoneori Sightseeing Center,” the place where we are having lunch today. It takes only about 15 minutes to get there. We will be arriving soon, so please be prepared.
Thank you for your cooperation and welcome to Yoneori Sightseeing Center. The center ‘s clerk will escort you to the lunch place, so please wait for a minute. Hall staff will show you to the table, so please wait a minute.
We are staying here for one and a half hours in total for lunch and shopping. After finishing lunch and shopping, please come to the front. Our taxi driver will be waiting for you. Now, please enjoy your time here!.
Did you enjoy the lunch at Yoneori Sightseeing Center? Now, we are taking you to the famous castle in Ushu, “Kaminoyama Castle.” It will take about 40 minutes. Please enjoy the drive.
Thank you for your patience, folks. We have arrived at Kaminoyama Castle. There is no fixed schedule here, so please look around freely. Please remember to take your admission ticket with you.
We are going to stay here for about 60 minutes. It takes only 5 minutes on foot from Kaminoyama Castle to Bukeyashiki, so please enjoy both. After the tour, please finish shopping or going to the bathroom, etc., then come to the center exit. Our taxi driver will be waiting for you. Now, please enjoy the castle and Bukeyashiki.
Thank you, everybody . What kind of impression did “Kaminoyama Castle” and the “Samurai Residence” leave with you? Actually, the old samurai residence is now designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Kaminoyama City. Next, let’s move to today’s accommodation, “Kaminoyama-onsen・Tsukioka Hotel.”
It takes only about 10 minutes to the hotel, so please wait a little.
Thank you very much for your patience. We are now at “Kaminoyama-onsen.” Please check that you have all your belongings with you before getting off.
As I mentioned, “Tsukioka Hotel” is an historic traditional Japanese hotel founded in Edo era and well-known for its lovely gardens. Please be sure to take an open-air bath to feel refreshed and relaxed. Please enjoy this famous hot spring. We are sure that you will never forget the experience!