Why I want to go to YAMAGATA 🏔️⛩️ (Tohoku, Japan)

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

Awesome job Amy

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thank you!! 😁

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

Bo or amy

[@WildCatMiyuu]

As Mike and I are starting to think about our next trip to Japan, we are most tempted to do Tohoku in the autumn foliage season (late oct-early nov). Haven't started planning though.

[@cakeswithfaces]

That would be lovely! There'll be so many beautiful spots. You could make the most of the Tohoku regional rail pass. Japlanning's always so much fun - but there are so many options..!

[@WildCatMiyuu]

​@@cakeswithfaces Yes, if we take the train the Tohoku rail pass is probably the best option. But when we travelled through Kyushu by car, I had such a great time. So maybe we'll drive again. Depends how deep in the countryside we wanna go. We do like going off the beaten paths. I remember the lovely cherry blossom festival at Oka castle ruin in Taketa. It's a very local event and I think most people there had never seen foreign tourists xD Lovely half day though, with a samurai parade going from the castle all the way to the town centre.

[@garrytuohy9267]

I was wondering where that Onsen was. I will have to add it to my list and the travel times are very helpful,

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes I'd seen so many pictures of it too but didn't realise exactly where it was, except that it was somewhere that gets snowy!

[@MzuMzu-nx1em]

Awesome pictures

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's beautiful scenery!

[@MzuMzu-nx1em]

@@cakeswithfaces takes a good eye and artistic taste for pictures like those

[@MzuMzu-nx1em]

@@cakeswithfaces this video is inspirational, I like to go backpacking, it's a bit risky because part of the fun is having no idea wherever you end up sleeping 😴, Those look like beautiful and safe places to admire .

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@MzuMzu-nx1em I'm sure you end up with some great (and unexpected!) experiences and surprises that way!

[@MzuMzu-nx1em]

@@cakeswithfaces i had some luck in the past , almost had a fight with a wild dog once but the major have been amazing experiences

[@pattiegensteiner5174]

Thanks for all the details. I'm planning a long weekend there next month and you NAILED IT!!!😍

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ooh have an amazing time!! You'll have to let me know which were the best bits!!

[@convulsi0n123]

i love yamadera!

[@cakeswithfaces]

It looks so beautiful! Have you been there?

[@convulsi0n123]

@@cakeswithfaces yes i have been there twice and mt haguro to pray for my cat! It was peaceful and beautiful! There are several yummie eateries around yamadera too!

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@convulsi0n123 Sounds great! Good to know they're both as good as they look!

[@gazhvys9543]

Awesome video Amy ! I wish I could go there !

[@cakeswithfaces]

Hope you can make it there one day!

[@mechcam796]

I just wanna be able to go to Japan. Lol. But I want to go to Aomori and Hakodate on my next trip.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Haha me too!! I can definitely recommend Hakodate, it's a lovely town!

[@mechcam796]

@@cakeswithfaces Tokyo is ok, but saw the beauty of Japan when I went out to nikko the country side is where it’s at.

[@Yuna77_]

Thanks for the great video🤍

[@cakeswithfaces]

Hope it gives you some travel inspo!

[@katemckay6173]

Last time I went I was in aizu wakamatzu for a couple of days and I wish we got a car, we didn't get to see everything we wanted because the buses weren't as good as I had read. We got a car down south in Yamaguchi and it was so worth it

[@cakeswithfaces]

Good to know, thank you!

[@michaelsim4440]

Very good video.. thank you

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thank you!!

[@primokarma9841]

I would just like to go anywhere in Japan tbh

[@cakeswithfaces]

Haha same here!!

[@BaladeduSakura]

Tohoku is an amazing area in Japan. I love It. Yamadera was a great experience and take your time in this small city. We can see all the temples complex from the other side of the city.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Sounds good! Good to know it's as good as it looks!

[@rangercarnage]

Hi Amy! always looking forward to your videos. I would love to visit the wooden pagoda... and those cedar trees are just so picturesque!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah that's lovely to hear, thank you! I love how the wooden pagoda's so ornate but also natural-looking.

[@flight324]

Mt Haguro looks so awesome . There is not many videos on it . Would love for you to explore and show us .

[@cakeswithfaces]

It always amazes me how we don't hear much about these amazing-looking places like that! Hopefully I can go there one day and I'll definitely make a video to fill that gap!

[@GiseliRodas]

New Subscriber!! Your videos are great ;) Keep it up with the great videos

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much! Enjoy the videos!

[@ckey1764]

Hey! Have you booked anything yet? My flight has been moved twice already, this time to late November. Looking forward to travelling this year (once Japan allows tourism!) and.. I will be carrying the travel guide you’ve put together! 🙂 Thank you for the video!!

[@cakeswithfaces]

I'm holding off booking anything until we know when the borders are opening for tourists (thankfully I got a full refund for my May 2020 trip). I can't wait to go though and will definitely be rescheduling when I can! Fingers crossed for November for your trip - you'll have to send me a pic if you take my book with you!

[@yennywidjaja4503]

Hi Amy, i plan to go there on early march. is yamagata also still snow too? Is it better to stay near yamagata station and have a day trip to zao mountain on day 1 and day trip to ginzan onsen on day 2. I've only have 3 day 2 night for that. Thank you

[@cakeswithfaces]

The snow monsters at Zao are at their best between mid February and mid March, so that's a perfect time to go! AT Ginzan onsen the snow continues until mid March. It'll be beautiful there! I think that'd work! I often stay near a station, even if it's not the city centre, because it's easier to go on day trips. Japan Guide has really good instructions on how to get to both places: Zao: www.japan-guide.com/e/e7926.html Ginzan Onsen : www.japan-guide.com/e/e7975.html

[@rossb9984587]

I wanted to get to Yamadera on my first two trips as I was in Sendai (which I love) for a few nights on both trips, but I ran out of time. I've got a trip planned for November, but if I get there I'll be going south to Kyushu.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Always the way - there's always something left over for next time! Kyushu's a great choice - fingers crossed for you for November!

[@atat2178]

The Yamagata area looks amazing. I would like to get your thoughts on using the JR pass from Tokyo to Sendai and then renting a car to get around to the other areas. Also how far is the bullet train from Sendai to Osaka? Thank you in advance.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It takes about 5 hours from Sendai to Osaka on the bullet train. You'll need to change trains in Tokyo (so you could split the journey and spend a day or two in Tokyo in the middle). Personally I haven't rented a car in Japan, just because I prefer taking the train. Japanese trains are excellent and if you have a JR Pass, many of them will be included in the pass. However if you want to go to more remote areas or places in Tohoku that aren't near a train station, a car might make it easier. I've heard it's not difficult - but one thing to watch out for is toll roads. There are quite a few of them; I know you can get passes so you don't have to pay each one individually. Hope that helps!

[@spookycat3667]

I hope your able to make the trip this year , this looks like a beautiful area of Japan . PS. Thank you for the train video & information about the special station conductors .

[@cakeswithfaces]

Glad you enjoyed them! Tama the cat station conductor's so cute!! 💜 Fingers crossed for travel opening up later this year! 🤞🤞🤞

[@itsme-fq4cj]

尻滝？もしかしたら白糸の滝かも。 9:09 guessing from the photo on video, the waterfall could be Shiraito Falls.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, that one's Shiraito Falls. I couldn't find a picture of Shiritaki Falls!

[@wisserke]

Yamagata is where Chris Broad began his journey in Japan I believe.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's close to where he lives in Sendai. I enjoyed his & Sharla's video about Yamadera a few months back!

[@vicbrooks6575]

Hi Amy, hey I have a question. Most of Japanese hotels have rooms that are very small. When traveling as a couple, which is the best kind of room to reserve? Thanks, and always stay safe and healthy!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, room sizes do tend to be small, especially in Tokyo. As a couple, I've always stayed in a standard double room. There's not much space but I don't spend much time in the room so it's do-able! If you want more room, there are apart-hotel style hotels, which are more of an apartment, and Airbnbs (although be careful with them and check the reviews to make sure it's reliable!). Hope that helps!

[@あいうえお-o6s1f]

If you go to Yamadera, I recommend the autumn season. Because the autumn leaves are so beautiful. 🍁💖✨ And I really recommend Yonezawa Beef. Kobe beef and Matsusaka Beef are famous, but Yonezawa Beef is not inferior in taste. 🤤

[@cakeswithfaces]

I can imagine it must be beautiful there in autumn with so many trees! Good to know that Yonezawa beef is just as good - so many people have only heard of Kobe beef!

[@KowaretaDolll]

I’ve got a bit of an odd question 😅 we’ve been to Japan during the Spring but we were hoping to plan a trip during the winter season. I understand it gets cold but how hot are the shops/restaurants/hotels/trains inside? I’ve heard from others that inside can be uncomfortably warm so I was wondering if you had experience with that? Sorry that’s an odd question 😅

[@cakeswithfaces]

Personally I didn't find it a problem. But it's always best to dress in layers so you can peel off if you need to! I didn't find it bad though. Coming from the UK, it felt milder in Tokyo. In the winter it's drier and more likely to be sunny - and the benefit is that it's the off-season for tourism so places should be less crowded. A lot of people commented on my videos that places like TeamLabs seemed a lot less busy than when they went at other times of year.

[@KowaretaDolll]

@@cakeswithfaces Thank you so much for that! That's super helpful to know. I don't mind the cold (I live in Scotland) but I can't do heat so layering sounds like a good idea! Thank you again :) I'm going to buy your book too :D I love your videos, they're so informative!

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@KowaretaDolll Thanks so much! Hope you find the book just as useful - enjoy planning your trip!

[@towada1066]

Yamagata Zao is nice for skiing but there is no ocean so no good seafood.

[@cakeswithfaces]

You can't have it all 😅 It looks beautiful with the snow monsters!

[@udlu4354]

And now it takes 2 hours longer to fly to Japan (from Europe). Not that it matters too much when they don't let us in but I didn't expect this as a consequence of the Ukraine Russia situation.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Still waiting for news! It'll open up eventually, one day..!

[@elmalanmalan2175]

Let's go together cutie 🥰

[@pumpkinhill4570]

If you're up to make an even more adventurous day out of Yamadera and you're coming from Sendai anyway, try getting off at the station before, Omoshiroyama-Kogen instead. There's a gorgeous trail through the river gorge that'll take you all the way to Yamadera. A couple of narrow sections cut into the rock face, but not too difficult at all and it'll take you past lots of waterfalls. Stunning during the autumn leaves season. Also make sure to get tamakon 玉こん, konyaku balls simmered in soy sauce! Yamagata specialty and plenty of stalls will be selling it near the temple. 🀨

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ooh that sounds lovely, thanks for the tip! I do love waterfalls, it sounds gorgeous!