2026 Murayama Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in February)

When it comes to Yamagata Prefecture in winter, most people may only think of the night of Ginzan Onsen or the ice forest of Zao 🌨️ But if you like to enjoy the quiet nature and want to feel the less crowded and more Edo-style Yamagata than the attractions - Murayama City's "Mogamikawa Sanji Funashita" must try! Looking at the large ice and snow canyon like an ink painting, the healing power is almost full 💯 ✨ Itinerary highlights first look The Mogami River is hailed as the “Mother River” by the Japanese, and this route is super fantastic especially in winter: ice and snow-covered canyon forests, and both sides of the river look like a naturally generated national painting. Riding a kayak that retains the flavor of the Edo period is not only a sightseeing tour, but more like a time travel in the past! The authentic river culture atmosphere is maintained along the way, even the souvenirs sold in small shops (lanterns, handmade puppets, pastries) are very tasty 👍 🚤 "Mogami River Three Instruments Funashitaり" attraction recommendations compilation 1. Mogami River Three Instruments Shushita り boat on き field Address: Tominami, Murayama, Yamagata 995-0208 Must-do recommendation: Take a canoe trip across the Mogami River for nearly an hour. The boatman will sing songs in the Yamagata dialect, which is very interesting! In winter, we will send a hand warmer quilt (Japanese-style warm quilt) so that you can enjoy the scenery while warming, not afraid of the cold wind. 2. Small shops around the boat After disembarking, you can find Yamagata specialty handicrafts such as handmade lanterns, fabric dolls and locally limited pastries as you walk around the shops near Yakiba. If you are a collector and like to buy souvenirs, you will not be disappointed here. The atmosphere of each small shop is full of local taste, and there are maps to let you know the story of the entire Mogami River coast. 3. Natural scenery check-in During the boat trip, you can see the ice and snow + sunny day intertwined canyons, rivers and lakes and white mountains and forests merge, feel very healing ~ especially when the sun shines on the snow and water, the reflective scene is directly beautiful to suffocate, mobile phone memory is definitely not enough! 📝Tips Experience blessing - Morning flights are less crowded and better experience (Shushita り mostly operates from 9-16, but it is recommended to check the official website for operating hours of the day in advance). - Have the opportunity to hear the boatman improvising folk songs, feel the joy of the river without knowing much Japanese, if you do not mind the cold, you can choose the open-air seating to feel the most real winter nature. - Don’t miss the small shops in Funashiki, especially recommended to buy lanterns and handmade pastries, both Edo-like and authentic enough, definitely a rare treasure souvenir from a trip to Japan. 🍵 Food recommendations Nearby, you can find an old-fashioned canteen serving traditional Yamagata soba noodles. The hot soba noodles are served with a bowl of ground chicken soup. If you have extra time in the afternoon, try authentic handmade pastries, sweet but not greasy, super suitable for photography. 🎒Small summary/Pre-departure attention - Winter wear to do a good job of cold protection, it is recommended to wear waterproof shoes, down jacket + hat gloves, because the boat is relatively cold. - It is recommended to book online first, during peak or snow seasons sometimes seats are more in demand. In the winter of Yamagata, there are actually more niche games beyond your imagination. Come to the Mokamikawa Three Instruments Shushita, take a look at the scenery passed down from the Edo period, and reap the peace and emotion of the journey treasure. #Murayama City Trip #Winter Day in Yamagata Prefecture #Japan River Transport Culture #Mogami River Funeshita #Ice and Snow Beauty

This trip to Murayama City, I specially chose Yamagata Charming Luxury Camping, I wanted to experience the Japanese countryside at night, live close to nature, and feel the slow pace of life. The hotel is camping-themed, with tents hung with colored lights at night and surrounded by wooded meadows, the air is fresh and serene enough, ideal for getting close to nature. Located in terms of location, Yamagata Charm Luxury Camping is located in the city of Murayama, transportation is suitable for self-drive tours, parking spaces are provided, and you can already feel the slow-life atmosphere far away from the city. The whole camping area is designed with great attention to blending with nature, the tent is surrounded by wooded grasslands and the lighting is very atmospheric at night. The house has heating and cooling facilities, the space is large and very comfortable, and the bathing location also provides an open-air hot spring. Dinner includes barbecue and hot pot for friends or family gatherings. Loved every employee here, always hanging smile, service with heart. Accommodation tip: It is recommended to bring a jacket for camping in Murayama City, the temperature difference between morning and evening is large. #Murayama City Camping #Rural Photography #Yamagata Hot Spring Trip #Nature Parent-Child Tour #Quiet Empty

Glamping facility in Yamagata 🏕️ Introducing dinner and breakfast at Yamagata Glamping! 🍖 ※Due to photo restrictions, the order is breakfast ▶ dinner. The portions for both dinner and breakfast were larger than I expected! I thought even a man would be full 😂 Of course, you can bring your own food! I recommend bringing your own food depending on your appetite. 🫶 〜〜〜〜〜 🥖Breakfast 〜〜〜〜〜 Photos: 1-5 🥖Rice flour panini A bun from a local bakery. It was fluffy and fragrant even before baking, and I wanted to eat it as is. 🤤 It was also delicious with egg and cheese filling...!!! 🥗Flower salad A crisp lettuce-based salad with edible flowers? It was also decorated with funagata mushrooms, and looked very stylish! 🥣 Funagata Mushroom Soup This soup was made with funagata mushrooms from Yamagata Prefecture, and you just pour hot water over it to drink! It was creamy and delicious! 🍐 Yamagata La France Juice The juice was like a condensed version of La France, and it was absolutely delicious! 🤤 Maybe the portion was a little small? I thought it would be a lot, but it was just the right amount for breakfast!!! ~~~~~~ 🍖Dinner ~~~~~~ Photos: 6-10 🍕Komeyakata's Round Pizza This was a Japanese-style pizza topped with mochi, seaweed, and cheese, and drizzled with soy sauce!!! It was freshly baked, and the cheese and mochi were perfectly stretchy and delicious!!! 🍖Yamagata Beef Steak & Bone-in Franklin & BBQ Vegetable Skewers The main dish, marbled Yamagata beef, was especially tender and delicious🤤 The bone-in franklin was also larger than I expected, and I was completely full!!! 🍄Ajillo It contained Yamagata Prefecture-grown funagata mushrooms, and I wanted to eat them with a baguette, so I recommend buying some extra.🫶 🍨MOGY-yamagata ice cream- The vanilla was fluffy and light, and delicious🥄 It was the perfect after-dinner treat!!! Maybe dinner was a little on the small side? I bought a lot of snacks, but the portions were a lot more than I expected. 😂 I think even a man would be full. This is the last post for Yamagata Glam🏕️!!! If you're interested, please check it out. ---- 📍Access 🚄Yamagata Shinkansen Tokyo to Murayama Station: Approximately 3 hours 🚕Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Murayama Station or 🚗Approximately 5 hours from Tokyo 🏕️Price From ¥44,880 for two people, one night with two meals (from ¥22,440 per person) *For overnight stays, starting from ¥33,000 for two people, you can bring your own BBQ. Please note that there are restrictions on activities. 🕰️Business Hours Check-in: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM Check-out: 10:00 AM ---- #JapanTravel #Glamping #YamagataGlam #YamagataGram #BBQ #YamagataTourism #YamagataTrip

Glamping facility in Yamagata 🏕️ I'd like to introduce the room I stayed in at Yamagata Glamp, "MOON" 🌕!!! At glamping, there's no air conditioning or heating in the rooms. Like regular camping, the temperature determines how comfortable you feel! Yamagata Glamp 🏕️ is fully air-conditioned, so you can stay comfortably inside the dome. 🤤 It was great being able to enjoy glamping in any season!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✔️Great things about the room ~~~~~~~~~~~ ⚫︎With air conditioning and heating, the glamping dome is comfortable no matter when you stay. ✨ ⚫︎The lights are moon-shaped 🌕, which is cute!!! The "MOON" room is based on a star and moon motif, so the lights were moon-shaped. I think the other rooms have their own unique charms, so I'd love to try them all! ⚫︎You can sleep in a fluffy bed 🛏️ It has two semi-double beds, so it can accommodate 3-4 people! If you want more space to sleep, we recommend renting an additional futon (for a fee). 🫶 ⚫︎A bottle of water and drip coffee are provided per person. ☕️ ⚫︎A dedicated BBQ room is provided. 🍖 Salt, pepper, oil, and kitchen paper are also provided, which was very convenient!!! 〜〜〜〜 The "MOON" rooms are the closest to the front desk and hot springs. ♨️ If you prefer proximity, we recommend booking a "MOON" room! ---- 📍Access 🚄Yamagata Shinkansen: Tokyo to Murayama Station (approx. 3 hours) 🚕Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Murayama Station or 🚗Approximately 5 hours from Tokyo 🏕️Price From ¥44,880 for two people with one night and two meals (from ¥22,440 per person). *For overnight stays, you can bring your own BBQ for ¥33,000 for two people per night. Please note that there are restrictions on activities. 🕰️Business Hours Check-in: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM Check-out: 10:00 AM ---- #JapanTravel #Glamping #YamagataTrip #YamagataSightseeing #RoomTour

If you stay at Yamagata Glam🏕️, you can also enjoy complimentary hot spring baths at the neighboring Kurhaus Goten.♨️ Many glamping and camping resorts only offer shared showers! Personally, I thought the hot spring baths were a really nice extra.🫶 I remember the water was about 41°C, which was not too hot, but lukewarm enough to be comfortable. The men's and women's baths are switched at night, and the baths and scenery change, so I recommend bathing at least twice a day, between your check-in and check-out days. ~~~~~~~ 🕰️Bath Hours ~~~~~~~ 3:00 PM - 12:00 AM 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM *Free entry with a special wristband. *Bath hours differ from those for day-trip guests and guests staying at Kurhaus Goten. ~~~~~~~~ ♨️Goten Onsen ~~~~~~~ Water Quality: Sodium-Calcium Chloride Hot Spring Benefits: Cuts, burns, chronic skin conditions, frail children, chronic gynecological conditions, neuralgia and other muscle pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, bruises, chronic digestive conditions, hemorrhoids, convalescence, sensitivity to cold, and general health promotion In addition to the open-air bath with a beautiful view, there is also an indoor bath and sauna. 🙆♀️ ※Photography is prohibited at Kurhaus Goten, so we received special permission to take these photos. 📷 #JapanTravelGuide #glamping #yamagatataglam #glamping #YamagataTourism #YamagataTrip #HotSprings

Glamping facility in Yamagata 🏕️ Yamagata Glam Dogs are welcome, too! This glamping experience is perfect for the whole family! 🫶 In the summer, there are plenty of free activities, like water yo-yos and water guns, so it's perfect for families with children!!! ~ ... ⚫︎Free board game rentals available🃏 〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜 ✔️Important Points 〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜 ⚫︎The shampoos in the large bath are rinse-in shampoos, so we recommend bringing your own shampoo and conditioner.◎ Also, skincare sets are not provided, so you must bring your own.🙆♀️ ⚫︎Insects are more prevalent in warm weather, so be sure to bring insect repellent spray!!!! ⚫︎The provided beds can accommodate up to four people, but adding an extra bed will provide more space and make sleeping more comfortable.😴 ⚫︎We recommend bringing a cooler to keep alcohol and soft drinks cool, or renting a refrigerator for ¥2,200.🥤 ---- 📍Access 🚄Yamagata Shinkansen Tokyo to Murayama Station Approximately 3 hours 🚕 Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Murayama Station or 🚗 Approximately 5 hours from Tokyo 🏕️Price One night with two meals for two people starts at ¥44,880 (¥22,440 per person) *For overnight stays, the price starts at ¥33,000 for two people per night, with BBQ facilities available. Please note that there are restrictions on activities. 🕰️Business Hours Check-in: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM Check-out: 10:00 AM ---- *Photography is prohibited in the open-air bath at Kurhaus Goten, but we received special permission to photograph it. 📷 #JapanTravel #yamagataglam #Yamagatagram #Glamping #glamping #YamagataTourism #YamagataTrip

#Sign up for tripbest July Hotel Tester The scenery of Seijingin is simple and harmonious. The white fine sand and carefully placed stones interweave to create a tranquil picture. Every detail in the garden reveals the Japanese people's love for nature. The mossy stones in the distance and the neatly trimmed trees complement each other, making people forget the hustle and bustle of the city in this quiet space.

A visit to Murayama is a treat for both food lovers and nature enthusiasts. The **pizza shop in Murayama** offers a delightful experience with its freshly baked, flavorful pizzas. The crust is perfectly crispy, and the toppings are abundant, making each bite a savory pleasure. It’s a cozy spot to grab a bite and enjoy some local flavors, and the welcoming atmosphere makes it a great place to relax after exploring the area. After satisfying your appetite, head over to **Tendo Park**, a beautiful and spacious area perfect for a peaceful walk or enjoying the outdoors. With its well-maintained gardens, trees, and open spaces, it offers a relaxing escape and stunning views, especially during the warmer months. The park is perfect for a leisurely stroll or simply enjoying the beauty of nature, making it a must-see in the area. Nearby, a charming **coffee shop** adds to the experience. It’s the ideal spot to unwind after a walk in the park. With a cozy interior and excellent coffee, it offers a warm, inviting atmosphere. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the peaceful surroundings make it a perfect place to relax and recharge before continuing your day. The combination of delicious food, scenic beauty, and a great coffee shop makes Murayama and Tendo a wonderful destination for a day trip. Whether enjoying a tasty pizza, taking in the views at Tendo Park, or sipping a coffee nearby, it’s an experience worth repeating.

Yamagata Prefecture, January 2024 Experience a boat ride down the Mogami River 🚣 The boatman will tell you stories and sing you songs as you slowly float down the river! There are plenty of things to see along the way, including shrines and waterfalls ⛩️ In winter, the boat is equipped with a kotatsu table, so you don't have to worry about the cold ❄️✨ It's highly recommended because it can be enjoyed in any season! 📍Spot Mogami River Basho Line Boat Trip, Yamagata Prefecture 🚃Access 7-minute walk from Furukuchi Station on the JR Rikuu West Line 🅿︎Parking Free parking available 💰Cost ¥2,800/person one way (Generally, this is a one-way trip, with the return trip by bus. I chose the round trip, so the boat was private for the return trip 😌) #0YenTravelJanuary2025 #YamagataTourism #MogamiRiver