Your Autumn Trip to Tendo City in Yamagata Prefecture!
Complete Tendo Travel Guide ~ Day 1 ~
Do you still remember that we have taken you to Tendo City in Yamagata Prefecture this summer? The delicious cherries and relaxing hot springs in Tendo are amazing!!
This time, we will take you to Tendo City again to see what's interesting in Autumn!
Interesting facts about Tendo City
Yamagata Prefecture is located in the southwest corner of Tohoku (northeast) region of Japan, facing the Sea of Japan. Among the 35 cities in Yamagata Prefecture, you can find Tendo city which is famous for their crops and hot springs. Let's look at some interesting things about Tendo City first.
01. Delicious fruit and vegetables
Yamagata has the top cherry and pear production in Japan! You can also try fruit picking here!
02. Top Shogi (Japanese traditional chess) piece production in Japan
Every April in Tendo City at the special human shogi show people puts on the warrior costumes and performs a show just like chess pieces moving on a big chess board! In Tendo City, you will be surprised by seeing shogi everywhere! Road signs, pavement, maps, light on taxi, what else??
03. Famous natural hot springs
In Tendo City, besides shogi and fresh fruits, we can't miss out the famous hot springs!!
About the Transportation
By Shinkansen
Depart from Tokyo Station: Tokyo Station <-> Tendo Station
(It takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes by the Tsubasa train)
Depart from Osaka Station: Osaka Station <-> Tokyo Station <-> Tendo Station
Depart from Sendai Station: Sendai Station <-> Uzenchitose Station <-> Tendo Station
JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)
(Information from homepage)
The JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) is a special
discounted pass available only to customers visiting Japan (with a short-term
visa no longer than 90 days) and holding a non-Japanese passport. It allows unlimited rides on all JR East
train lines in the JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) designated area.
Start with a trip from Narita Airport or
Haneda Airport to Tokyo, for example, then ride around, and maybe hop aboard
the Shinkansen or a limited express to Aomori or Sendai. In addition to JR East
lines, the JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) allows rides on some non-JR trains in the
Izu and Nikko areas. While in Japan, take advantage of this great offer to see
a lot more for a lot less.
Prices: 20,000 yen (Adults, 12 and older), 10,000 yen (Children, 6 to 11)
Valid: 5 flexible days within 14 days
Homepage: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass_t/index.html
By Airplane
From Tokyo Haneda Airport, it only takes 1 hour flight to get to Yamagata Airport.
From the Nagoya Airport, only 1 hour and 5 minutes is needed.
From the Osaka Airport, it takes 1 hour and 25 minutes to go to Yamagata Airport.
After arriving in Yamagata Airport, we highly recommend you to get your rental car to go to Tendo City.
NISSAN Rent A Car
Address: 3008 Kashiwabara-Shinrin, Hanyu, Higashine,
Yamagata
Tel.: 0237-47-2311
Hours: 08:30 - 18:30
Reservation Page: https://nissan-rentacar.com/reserve/eng/
Arriving in Tendo Station
In about 2 hours and 40 minutes, you can get to Tendo Station from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen train.
Japanese Comics and Animation
In Tendo, you can notice lots of posters of this comic "March comes in like a lion" (３月のライオン) since the main character of the story is a 17-year old professional shogi player.
Complete Tendo Travel Guide ～ Day 1 ～
A. Tendo Station East Exit
->
B. Tendo Shogi Museum (天童将棋資料館)
->
C. Handmade buckwheat noodles experience (and lunch)
->
D. Jakushouji (若松寺)
->
E. Tendo Hotel
Tendo Shogi Museum (天童将棋資料館)
As we have mentioned above, Tendo has the largest shogi piece production in Japan. Here at the shogi museum, you can learn everything about this traditional Japanese chess game.
Q: Where and when was shogi start?
A: It was developed and started in India since B.C. 300 to 200.
Q: How many types of shogi are there?
A: There are 6 different types according to the way they were made.
Q: What is human shogi?
A: It is a special event in Tendo!
Every April in Tendo City at the special human shogi show people puts on the warrior costumes and performs a show just like chess pieces moving on a big chess board!
Tendo Shogi Museum (天童将棋資料館)
Address: 1-1-1 Honcho, Tendo City, Yamagata
Location: 1F of JR Tendo Station
MAP CODE：62374772*76
Tel.: 023-653-1690Hours: 09:00 - 18:00 （Closed on 3rd Monday every month, 31 Dec, 01 Jan)
Admission: 300 yen (adults), 200 yen (High school and other students), 100 yen (Elementary and Jr. High)
Homepage (Jap.): http://www.ikechang.com/navi1.htm
Google Map
Unique Experience in Tendo
After visiting the Shogi Museum, we come to "Tendo Kogen Family Land" (天童高原ファミリーランド） where we will experience buckwheat noodles making and have our lunch.
In winter, this family land will become a ski resort!
Handmade buckwheat noodles experience
Be careful with the knifes! Professional teacher will help you anytime.
The buckwheat noodles are actually made with DEWAKAORI's buckwheat which is grown in Tendo Kogen. It does smell way better than other buckwheat.
"Tendo Kogen Family Land" (天童高原ファミリーランド）
Address: 1321 Tamugino, Tendo City, Yamagata
Tel.: 023-657-3628
MAP CODE：62 358 339 * 57
Period: May to October
Prices:
1 to 4 persons - 2,500 yen each (1 teacher)
5 to 8 persons - 2,000 yen each (1 teacher)
9 to 12 persons - 1,500 yen each (1 teacher)
13 - 16 persons - 2,000 yen each (2 teachers)
Plus 500 yen if you want to eat the noodles there after class
Homepage (Jap.): http://tendokogen.or.jp/soba2016/
Google Map
A famous temple with 1300 years history
There are two famous temples where people go and make wishes for their love affairs! One is the Izumo Taisha Temple in Shimane Prefecture. The other one is Jakushouji (若松寺) in Yamagata Prefecture.
01. Ring the bell and make a wish
02. Amazing view from the observatory
03. Shake hands with the "Chief Monk"
It is said that shaking hands with the
"Chief Monk" of the temple can bring you good matchmaking chance!!
Because of this saying, many young Japanese people come
to Jakushouji and hope that they can get some luck on their love
affair. (Note: Since the Chief is famous and busy, all visitors are required to
make an advance reservation if they want to meet him.)
Address: 2205-1 Yamamoto, Tendo, Yamagata
Tel.: 023-653-4138
MAP CODE：62 410 200 * 58
Free parking is available
Free admission
Homepage (Jap): http://www.wakamatu-kannon.jp/
Google Map
The Biggest Hotel in Tendo - Tendo Hotel
The spacious lobby is one of the amazing thing about this hotel. Sitting there and enjoy the sun outside. I don't wanna move anymore....
Let's check out the guestroom now!
Traditional tatami style guestroom with an indoor balcony where you can sit and enjoy the views outside.
Autumn leaves and snow are covering the mountain outside. So pretty!
Put down your luggage and let's get to the hot springs!
Surrounded by autumn leaves, enjoy your best hot springs time at Tendo Hotel.
You can use the indoor and outdoor hot springs anytime of the day as you like. Just note that 10 am to 11 am is the cleaning time which is closed.
Next let's check out the food provided
Japanese style set dinner and hot spot!
After party?!!
At the hotel, there is an Izakaya restaurant where ramen and Japanese alcohols are provided. Why don't you have a bowl of hot noodles and a glass of Japanese sake there!! Try the famous Dewazakura and 14th Generation sake!
Draft beer: 741 yen + tax
Dewazakura sake: 620 yen + tax
14th Generation sake: 4,000 yen + tax
HOROYOI Tei Izakaya Restaurant （居酒屋ほろ酔い亭）
Opening hours: 19:00 - 23:30 (L.O. 23:00)
There is one thing that we think that is pretty amazing which is the hotel provides free Yakult drink and snacks to the guests. Just feel free to use those as you like!
With the service, nice rooms and hot springs, delicious food and wine, Tendo Hotel is the best place for you to stay when you visit Tendo!!
Tendo Hotel
Address: 2-1-3 Honcho, Kamata, Tendo, Yamagata
Tel.: 023-654-5511
MAP CODE：62376668*63
Check-In: 15:00
Check-Out: 10:00
Homepage: http://www.tendohotel.co.jp/
Reservation Page: http://www.japanican.com/en/hotel/detail/2437002/?aff=rsv
There are more interesting places in Tendo that we want to take you to! Join us again next time for the 2nd day of our autumn trip in Tendo!!
In the meantime, check out the following blogs on Tendo
# Travel ♪ Your Autumn Travel Guide to Tendo City in Yamagata Prefecture!!
# Travel ♪ An Amazing Hot Spring Experience in Yamagata Prefecture - Our Story in Tendo City! Part I
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