Day One Japan

Yamagata (山形県)

At Yamadera, climb from the temple at the foot of the mountain to a cliffside lookout, then see the same hillside from the Basho museum across the valley.

Open the full walk in Google Maps
The Konpon Chudo hall at Yamadera’s Risshakuji Temple
Yamadera · Cp9asngf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and framed for this page

Getting to Yamadera

From Yamagata Station (山形駅)

Take a JR Senzan Line (仙山線) train toward Sendai (仙台) that stops at Yamadera Station (山寺駅). Cross the river from the station and follow the signs for the Risshakuji Temple approach.

Yamadera Station (山寺駅)

Look for JR Senzan Line (仙山線) toward Sendai (仙台) and confirm the train stops at Yamadera (山寺駅). Official transport information

Wood-trimmed Yamadera Station and its front entrance
Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized
Public transport in Google Maps JR East Yamadera Station timetable

Three stops in order

  1. 1. Yamadera (山寺（立石寺）)

    Start at Konpon Chudo (根本中堂), the main hall at the foot of the mountain. Continue toward the entrance for the stone stairway to the upper temple.

    Walk in Google Maps Map of the stop Yamadera Tourism Association’s guide

  2. 2. Godaido Hall (五大堂)

    Take the upper temple path to the wooden viewing hall for a view across the valley. Return down the same stairway.

    Walk in Google Maps Map of the stop Visit Yamagata’s Godaido guide (Japanese)

  3. 3. Yamadera Basho Memorial Museum (山寺芭蕉記念館)

    Cross back to the station side of the river and visit the museum about the poet Matsuo Basho. The museum area looks back toward the temple.

    Walk in Google Maps Map of the stop Yamagata City’s Basho museum guide (Japanese)

The upper temple involves a long stone staircase. The lower hall and the museum are separate stops if you are skipping the climb.

Transport and visitor information checked .