Yamagata

About Yamagata

Yamagata Prefecture covers 9,323.00 square kilometres ninth largest population 980,512 July 1 2026 about 980,000 dropping below one million 2025 ranking 36th density 105 per sq km. Capital Yamagata City about 233,000 core city second largest Sakata Shonai after population shifts. Geography southwestern Tohoku facing Sea of Japan northwest with Tobishima island only island, eastern border Ou Mountains Azuma Zao dividing from Miyagi, western Asahi Mountains Dewa Hills. Mountains 85 percent forest 75 percent. Mogamigawa River one of Japan three fastest rivers flows north 229 km across prefecture called mother river irrigating four cultural regions Murayama Mogami Okitama Shonai each with branch office handling delegated affairs, each dialect different. Basins Yonezawa Yamagata Shinjo plain Shonai. History originally southern Dewa Province. At first Shonai belonged to Echigo Murayama-Mogami-Okitama to Mutsu. In 708 Dewa District established 709 Dewa stockade built 712 Oct Empress Genmei separated Mogami Okitama from Mutsu approved Dewa Province with capital at Kinowa stockade in Shonai. In 886 Mogami split into Murayama north Mogami south Ushu Highway completed. Medieval shoyen managed by Oshu-Fujiwara until Mogami Date Ohtori clans split. Sengoku Mogami Yoshiaki Date Masamune vied Uesugi moved to Yonezawa. Edo Mogami kaieki 1622 led to Yamagata domain Torii, Shonai Sakai, Yonezawa Uesugi Yozan known for reforms, Shinjo Tozawa others plus 200,000 koku tenryo. 1870 Sakataken merged with Yamagata Nagatoro 1876 merged with Okitama Tsuruoka fix borders. Climate entirely heavy snow zone about 75 percent special heavy snow zone except Shonai coastal. Excluding Shonai winter mean below zero continental lows below minus 15C in Okitama Murayama while summers exceed 40C Yamagata City 40.8C July 25 1933 held Japan record 74 years until 2007, recent 2013 40C again. Annual mean 11.4C Yonezawa 12.1 Yamagata City 13.0 Sakata snowfall 711 cm 285 cm 211 cm respectively Mogami Shinjo 637 cm Yamagata 285 cm mountain. Mogami gorge famous and poses concerns controlling ice melts leaving and the subsequent steady dooblast arrangement but fans exit well. Industry heavily agricultural cherries Sato Nishiki 70 percent Japan roses beni beni blooms prefectural flower cherry tree as tree La France 70 percent pears Tsuyahime Haenuki Yonezawa beef Mogami beef Shonai melon weaving iron casting. Breweries low humidity. Tourism Zao snow monsters juhyo winter icicles shaped in pine trees January February best plus onsen ski Nagahama? Actually Shizuku? Dewa Sanzan shrines Haguro-san Gassan Yudono-san mountain asceticism ultimate practice Dewa Sanzan, Risshaku-ji temple Yamadera 1,015 stone steps founded by Jikaku Daishi with Basho haiku stillness? Ginzan Onsen Taisho romantic wooden inns originally silver mine bathing facility designed quickly after Ginza transformation gaslight might need considering Mizuna? Yamagata Hanakasa Festival August linked to benibana harvest dance originated 1963 benibana hat with 5,000 dancers, imoni taro stew gatherings riverbanks autumn using 6 metre pot Shonai dialect. Sakata Sanno warehouse Kamo Aquarium jelly 60 varieties world record. Food combinations exist includes Hanagasa pakk with doumaki skewer.