A special exhibition entitled “Yonezawa Castle: The Uesugi Clan Fortress” will be held at the Uesugi Museum in Yonezawa from September 19 (Sat.) to November 23 (Mon.).

Yonezawa Castle was used through the Edo period as the fortress of the Yonezawa Domain’s Uesugi Clan, acting as the base of the domain’s military affairs and politics. The castle was located on the plains, with its inner citadel surrounded by two additional layers: the “ni no maru” (outer citadel) and the “san no maru” (outermost area of the castle). Inside the castle grounds, many locations such as the clan palace, an armory, and a temple dedicated to Uesugi Kenshin could be found, along with the Sangaiyagura buildings, which have become a symbol of the castle.

In modern times, the buildings of the castle area are no longer standing. However, in the area around the inner citadel, the moat and embankments still remain, and vestiges of the castle can be found in the park and roads near Uesugi Shrine. Additionally, many artifacts relating to the castle were left behind, such as an illustration of the castle area with the addresses of more than 4000 feudal retainers listed, detailed diagrams showing the ingenious designs of the fortress and palace of the Uesugi clan, ancient documents such as the “Uesugi Clan Monjo” (designated as a National Treasure of Japan), and archeological relics focusing on the “ni no maru” (outer citadel). These artifacts will be on display at this exhibition, and topics such as the construction of Yonezawa’s castle town, its roles as a base of military affairs and government, and a vivid picture of the lives and manners of the feudal lords will be introduced. This will be followed with information about changes the site of the castle has undergone since the recent past.

This museum, standing in the location where the castle’s “ni no maru” once did, will be offering an exhibition focusing on Yonezawa Castle for the first time. We hope that by learning about the special characteristics of this castle town region, visitors will be able to vividly imagine the castle’s appearance and functions in detail when they explore the area, enjoying it in a new way.

Exhibition Period: September 19 (Sat.), 2020 - November 23 (Mon.), 2020
            First Period: September 19 (Sat.) - October 18 (Sun.)
            Second Period: October 24 (Sat.) - November 23 (Mon./holiday)
            • The exhibition will be free to view on November 3 (Tues./holiday)

Open Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (the exhibition can be entered until 4:30 pm)

Closed Days: September 23 (Wed.) and October 28 (Wed.)

Exhibition Change Period: October 19 (Mon.) - October 23 (Fri.)
• The permanent exhibition can still be viewed during this time.
• Over 2/3 of the materials on display will be changed.

Entry Fee:

General Fee: 620 yen (490 yen)
High School and University Students: 420 yen (330 yen)
Elementary and Middle School Students: 270 yen (210 yen)

• The prices inside parentheses indicate the fee for groups of 20 people or above, with tickets giving access to the permanent and special exhibitions.

Location/Inquiries
Denkoku no Mori, Yonezawa Uesugi Museum

〒992-0052 Yamagata-ken, Yonezawa-shi, Marunouchi 1-2-1
Phone number: 0238-26-8001

• Due to the spread of COVID-19, there may be alterations to the details of the exhibition and entry restrictions put in place. For the most recent information, please check the museum website or call by phone. We appreciate your cooperation in preventing the spread of COVID-19 when visiting the museum.

For more details, please visit the Denkoku no Mori website.

Local specialties from Niigata Murakami (Iwafune area) and Yamagata (Okitama region) will be offered as prizes for this collaborative Michi no Eki stamp rally! Please feel free to enjoy the local goods and food at each area’s Michi no Eki while collecting your stamps.

For more information, please visit the following website. Here, you can download files like the application postcard.

https://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/site/murakami/murakmai-okitama-mitinoekistamprally-reiwa2.html (Japanese)

Stamp Rally Period
Final day: November 30, 2020 (Mon.)
(This is the postmark deadline as well.)

How to Apply
1. On the application postcard, collect the needed number of stamps from each area for the prize that you want.
• Murakami Prize (Murakami Iwafune Region Specialty, 2000 yen value, 10 winners): Three locations in the Murakami Iwafune area
• Okitama Prize (Okitama Region Speciality, 2000 yen value, 10 winners): Three locations in the Okitama area
• Okitama Murakami Prize (assortment of local specialties from the Okitama and Murakami Regions, 5000 yen value, 3 winners): Three locations in the Murakami Iwafune area and three from the Okitama area, for a total of six locations
• Okitama Special Prize (assortment of fruit from the Okitama Region, 4000 yen value, 10 winners)/Murakami Special Prize (assortment of Murakami tea, equivalent to 4000 yen, 10 winners): Upon applying for this prize, please choose either the Okitama Special Prize or the Murakami Special Prize)
2. Upon filling in the necessary information on the application postcard, please apply a stamp and send the postcard by post.

Stamp Locations
Niigata, Murakami Iwafune Area

• Michi no Eki Kamihayashi, Honami no Sato (Niigata Prefecture, Murakami, Kokonokaichi 809)
• Michi no Eki Asahi, Asahi Midori no Sato (Niigata Prefecture, Murakami, Sarusawa 1215)
• Michi no Eki Sasagawa Nagare Yuhi Kaikan (Niigata Prefecture, Murakami, Kuwagawa 891-1)
• Michi no Eki Sekikawa, Katsura no Seki (Niigata Prefecture, Sekikawa, Oaza Kamiseki 1252-1)

Yamagata, Okitama Area

• Michi no Eki Iide, Mezami no Sato Produce Shop (Yamagata Prefecture, Nishiokitama District, Iiide, Oaza Matsubara 1898) (Phone number: 0254-66-6326)
• Michi no Eki Tazawa, Nagomi no Sato (Yamagata Prefecture, Yonezawa, Oaza Iritazawa 573-19) (Phone number: 0238-31-2753)
• Michi no Eki Shiroi Mori, Oguni Buna Chaya (restaurant) (Yamagata Prefecture, Nishiokitama District, Oguni, Oaza Oguni Kosakamachi 616-1) (Phone number: 0238-62-3719)
• Michi no Eki Takahata, Mahoroba Station (Yamagata Prefecture, Higashiokitama District, Takahata, Oaza Akutsu 2072-1) (Phone number: 0238-52-5433)
• Michi no Eki Shirataka, Yana Park, Mogami River Ayutopia (Yamagata Prefecture, Nishiokitama District, Shirataka, Shimoyama 661-1) (Phone number: 0238-85-5577)
• Michi no Eki Kawa no Minato Nagai (Yamagata Prefecture, Nagai, Higashimachi 2-50) (Phone number: 0238-87-1121)
• Michi no Eki Yonezawa (Yamagata Prefecture, Yonezawa, Oaza Kawai 1039-1) (Phone number: 0238-40-8400)

Inquiries

Okitama/Murakami Iwafune Region Tourism Promotion Committee
(Office: Niigata Prefecture Murakami Region Promotion Bureau)
Phone number: 0254-52-7231

The ongoing COVID-19 situation has had a large impact on tourism sites and their operations in Yonezawa. In order to attract visitors from within and outside of Yamagata Prefecture when the situation returns to normal, we will host a photography contest on social media that showcases the best aspects of Yonezawa to Japan and the rest of the world. The title of the contest is the Yonezawa Treasure Contest 2020. 

Pictures taken in the past are okay to submit as well! As someone who has visited one of Yonezawa’s tourism locations, feel free to participate in the contest and show others the great locations that the city has to offer. The winners of the contest will be sent prizes such as onsen lodging vouchers and gift certificates for Yonezawa beef. The full details can be found below.

1. Contest Entry Period

July 6 (Mon.), 2020 - August 31 (Mon.), 2020

2. Contest Information

The contest will be judged along three separate categories: scenery, food, and funny pictures.

Please post the pictures that you took on either Instagram or Twitter, along with the location that they were taken. Additionally, make sure to include the four following hashtags:

＃米撮 ＃〇〇部門 ＃ビシャモン ＃国内旅行

The circles in the second hashtag above indicate the category that is being entered. Please feel free to copy and paste the one that matches your submission from below.

Scenery: #風景部門
Food: #食べ物部門
Funny: #おもしろ部門

After the contest period concludes, the submissions will be judged, and vouchers for onsen lodging and gift certificates for Yonezawa beef will be sent out to the winners.

3. Prizes

Prizes are available for each category.

• First Place Prize (One Winner)
    Yonezawa Onsen Voucher (20,000 yen value)
    (Can be used at any of Yonezawa’s eight onsen locations)

• Second Place Prize (One Winner)
    Yonezawa Onsen Voucher (10,000 yen value)
    (Can be used at any of Yonezawa’s eight onsen locations)

• Third Place Prize (Three Winners)

Yonezawa Beef Gift Certificate (5000 yen value)

4. Judging Process

Date: September 3 (Thurs.), 2020

Judges: Yonezawa Junior Chamber Board Chairman, Yonezawa Department of Industry, Tourism Division Section Chief, Contest Organizing Committee

5. Announcement of Results

Winners will be contacted via direct message by September 5 (Sat.), 2020. Please make sure that your account settings enable you to receive direct messages from the contest administration. Additionally, the pictures will be uploaded to the official contest account pages.

6. Things to Note

1. Physical photographs cannot be submitted to the contest.
2. Those with accounts set to private mode are unable to enter.
3. There is no limit on submissions, but please only attach one photograph to each post.

7. Inquiries

Yonezawa Junior Chamber

Phone number: 0238-29-0336
Email address: info@yonezawajc.net

Yonezawa Department of Industry, Tourism Division
Phone number: 0238-22-5111 (extension 3821)
Email address: kankokikaku-t@city.yonezawa.yamagata.jp
Email address (English inquiries): tourism@city.yonezawa.yamagata.jp

Since July 2 (Thurs.), Nagomitei has been open for customers! We hope the wait didn’t feel too long.

Nagomitei is located next to the main entrance to Hakushakutei, a site designated by the Japanese government as a tangible cultural property. Hakushakutei can be found on the southern side of the premises of Uesugi Shrine, the center of sightseeing in Yonezawa. Nagomitei offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy a Japanese style cafe and to wear traditional Japanese attire.

There are many drink options available, such as lattes and matcha. Please feel free to stop by sometime!

Location: Nagomitei, Yonezawa Marunouchi 1-3-60, Uesugi Hakushakutei (Near the Main Entrance)

Open Hours: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Closed Days: Wednesdays (also not open during the months of December - March)

Inquiries: Uesugi Hakushakutei
                Phone number - 0238-21-5121

일본식 카페「화정(와니와)」7월2일 재개관！

오랫동안 기다리셨습니다！

일본식 카페「화정(와니와)」가7월2일（목）에 재개관 했습니다！

야마가타현 요네자와시의 관광 중심지인、우에스기진자 신사 남쪽 옆에 위치하며、국가 지정등록 유형문화재인、우에스기 하쿠사쿠테(백작 저택) 정문 옆에 있는「화정(와니와)」는、「요네자와오리(요네자와 직물로 만든)기모노 체험」과「일본식 카페」를 즐길 수 있는 관광지입니다。

카페라테나 맛차(가루녹차)등의 소프트 드링크를 중심으로 준비되어 있으므로、꼭 들러 주십시오。

【장소】「화정(와니와)」　요네자와시 마루노우치1-3-60　우에스기 하쿠사쿠테(백작 저택)　정문 옆

【영업시간】10:00～16:00

【정기 휴일】매주 수요일 정기휴일（12월～3월은 휴업）

【문의】우에스기 하쿠사쿠테　전화：0238-21-5121

我妻观光果树园　樱桃采摘活动开始啦！

又到了采摘樱桃的季节了，大家准备好了吗？

红红的大大的樱桃正等着大家来品尝！

为了能让大家放心的品尝樱桃，我们准备了一套新冠病毒的对应方法，敬请大家配合。

尽情采摘樱桃，30分钟内任吃！
○营业时间○
　8:30~17:00(16:30截止报名)

○活动时期○
　6月13日~7月上旬(可能会因为天气或者樱桃的销售情况而有所变动。)

○费用○
　大人(中学生以上)…1,200日元
　小学生…1,000日元
　幼児…500日元
　3岁以下…免费
　礼物包･･･1,000日元

【咨询处】　〒992-1122　米沢市万世町梓山1882

　　　　　　　　　我妻观光果树园　　TEL：0238-28-5431

详细请浏览以下网站。
https://kajuen.link/

The 2020 Yonezawa Uesugi Festival (originally postponed to the fall) and the 2020 Nasebanaru Fall Festival have been cancelled in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Shiki no Matsuri Committee has held many meetings evaluating whether or not to hold these two festivals by referencing and paying close attention to how other events have been handled at the national and prefectural levels. The committee has ultimately decided that there are multiple factors that make holding the festivals difficult. Upholding an environment in which visitors can avoid “the Three Cs” (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings) appears difficult with the current situation. Additionally, local students were planning to hold performances at the festivals, but schools have expressed concern about the students participating. Due to these reasons, the festivals will not be held in 2020.

We know that many were looking forward to participating in the festivals. However, with the health and safety of visitors to the festival in mind, the decision to not hold the festivals was made.

We thank you for your understanding and hope to see you at the festivals next year.