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All Japan Yamagata

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Yamagata

3 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Yamagata, Japan

Updated October 31, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in Yamagata

Yamadera, the mountain temple of Yamagata.

Yamagata, Japan

Yamadera Temple Complex

The Buddhist temples of Yamadera, built into a mountain side, feature a viewing deck with sweeping views.
One of the most scenic, yet lesser-visited sights in Yamagata.

Yamagata, Japan

Tarumizu Sanctuary

A sacred place for ascetic training, set in a honeycomb-walled cliffside cave deep in the woods.

Yamagata, Japan

Night-Crying Sumo Wrestlers

A quartet of temple guardian statues that allegedly cry at night for being forbidden from wrestling.
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A closer look at the stone

Shiroishi, Japan

Shinseki Shiroishi (God Stone of Shiroishi)

A town's namesake rock has served as a spiritual matchmaker for hundreds of years.
23 miles from Yamagata
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