Tsuruoka Map
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DIFFERENT REGIONS OF
TSURUOKA
Tsuruoka
A former castle town governed by the Sakai family of the Shōnai Clan during the Edo period (1603–1868). After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Tsuruoka City became a hub for cultural and industrial activities in the Shōnai Region, allowing residents to further their horticultural skills and crop production techniques. These developments gave rise to their unique agricultural methods.
The dadacha soybean, which is famous all over Japan, is cultivated solely in this area. In addition, you can find the notable minden eggplant, which was notably mentioned by the renowned poet Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694) in one of his haiku.
Fujishima
Fujishima is home to award-winning rice cultivars such as the Tsuyahime, Yukiwakamaru, and Haenuki. Lion dances (shishi-odori), performed as prayers for an abundant harvest and protection from diseases, are also held here every August. Fujishima becomes awash in a sea of colour in spring, when wisteria flowers burst forth in full bloom.
Haguro
Mt. Haguro, one of the Three Sacred Mountains of Dewa (Dewa sanzan), revered as the Mountain of Life, is located in the Haguro region. It is also home to the five-storied pagoda, a designated National Treasure. This region is significant in modern Japanese history: as the Meiji Revolution put an end to the shogunate, the now-disenfranchised samurai class gave up their swords in favour of settling in Matsugaoka.
Have a taste of traditional Buddhist cuisine (shōjin ryōri), served at shukubō pilgrim lodges and the Saikan Shrine Lodge, and experience the ascetic life of mountain monks (yamabushi).
Kushibiki
Known locally as the "fruit town", Kushibiki is one of the few places in Yamagata Prefecture famous for its range of cultivated fruit. It also offers all-you-can-eat cherry-picking and grape-picking courses when they are in season.
This region is also known for Kurokawa Noh, an annual traditional performance ritual that was designated an Intangible Cultural Asset in 1976.
Atsumi
Home to Atsumi Onsen, a hot spring village located a short distance from the coastlines of the Sea of Japan with a long history.
This area is famous for turnips, triangle buckwheat, waseda melon, cherry salmon, and hato eggplant, as well as fresh seafood readily available from the Sea of Japan.
Asahi
The Bandai-Asahi National Park, which covers 44% of the Asahi region, provides the best environment for growing wild vegetables and mushrooms. The rokujūri-goe kaidō, an ancient road that cuts through Asahi region, has connected Dewa province to inland Yamagata since approximately 1200 years ago.