The collection exhibit, The World of the Uesugi Clan Archives VII ~ The Sengoku Warlord Writes, will begin from 10th February 2024!

The Uesugi Clan Archives have been treasured for generations as written record of the clan’s existence in history. After it was donated to Yonezawa city in 1989, it was subsequently designated as a national treasure in 2001. Consisting of over 2,000 documents dating from the Kamakura period to the Meiji and Taisho periods, the archive has been valued greatly for how well they have been preserved and the exchanges contained within. Learn how the archives were handled at the time, and the meaning of the paper upon which they are written.

This exhibit will focus on exploring the archives by focusing on roughly 40 documents from the Sengoku period and examining them through various perspectives such as their their contents, the relationships between the people involved in the exchanges, and how the letters were delivered. How the letters were written, sealed, folded, and opened will also be explored.

What will you discover in this exhibit?

Exhibition period

10th February 2024 (Saturday) ~ 10th March 2024 (Sunday)

Opening Hours

9:00 am ~ 5:00 pm (Last entry: 4:30pm)

The museum is closed on the following days: 13 Feb (Tuesday), 19 and 26 Feb (Monday), 4 Mar (Monday).

Entry Fee

This exhibit will be featured in the permanent exhibit hall

Regular – 420 yen (330 yen)
High school and University students – 220 yen (170 yen)
Elementary and Middle school students – 110 yen (80 yen)

* Prices in brackets apply to groups of 20 and above.

Gallery Talk (Explanation of the exhibits by the curator in charge)

Dates: 10th February 2024 and 9th March 2024 (Saturday)
Time: 2:00 pm

* Registration not required, but you need to pay for entry to the Special Exhibit Hall.

Contact

Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum

〒992-0052
1-2-1 Marunouchi, Yonezawa-shi

TEL: 0238-26-8001

As you travel the Okitama region this winter, try out some digital stamp collecting fun for a chance to win some local specialty goods in a lucky draw!

Event period: 9th December 2023 ~ 29th February 2024 (Thursday)

How to Participate

1.    Use the LINE app to add the Yamagata Okitama Tourism Association account as a friend
2.    Open the tourism association account’s menu and click on Stamp Rally (スタンプラリー).
3.    Scan the QR codes at the applicable tourism spots
4.    After the event period has ended, you will receive a LINE message with instructions on how to register for the lucky draw depending on the number of stamps you have collected. Fill in required fields in the registration form and the survey to register.

* Blocking the Yamagata Okitama Tourism Association account will prevent you from receiving the messages

* Messages are sent in Japanese

Completion Prize (10 stamps)
Meal vouchers for restaurants in the Okitama region worth 5,000 yen – 10 winners

Okitama Prize/Kaminoyama Prize (4 stamps)

Okitama or Kaminoyama specialty goods worth 2,000 yen – 20 winners

Those who didn’t win the Completion Prize will also be included in the pool for these prizes!

Stamp Rally Venues

1.    Michi no eki Yonezawa
2.    Michi no eki Tazawa nagomi no sato
3.    Michi no eki Kawa no minato Nagai
4.    icho café
5.    Michi no eki Takahata Mahoroba station
6.    Kawanishi Mori no Marche
7.    Michi no eki Shiroi Mori Oguni - Bunachaya
8.    Michi no eki Shiratakayana Park Mogami River Ayutopia
9.    Michi no eki Iide Mezami no sato Tourism Center
10.    Kaminoyama Onsen Tourism Information Center

For more details, please check the Yamagata Warm and Cozy Winter Campaign page

Contact

Yamagata Warm and Cozy Winter Campaign Organisation Committee (Okitama Regional Office Tourism Promotion Office)
TEL: 0238-26-6046
 

Catch a scenic view of Mt. Azuma’s very own version of Zao’s snow monsters, known as the Tooth Brush Trees Covered in Frost! On this guided tour, a winter wonderland awaits! Join now while spots last!

Tour Dates (2024)

21st January (Sunday)
28th January (Sunday)
3rd February (Saturday)

Tour Guide

Mt. Nishi-Azuma Guide Club, Tengendai Kogen staff

Participation Fee

4,500 yen per pax per entry

* Fee covers: guide fee, ropeway and lift fees, insurance, and piping hot imoni soup to keep you warm!
* Rental equipment is also available!

Hiking jackets: 4,500 yen

Snowshoes: 1,500 yen

Kanjiki and trekking pole: 500 yen

Registration

Please sign up for the tours by calling Tengendai Kogen at TEL: 0238-55-2236.

Sign ups close at 4:00 pm, 3 days before each tour begins.

Participant limit: 20 (Minimum of 5 participants required)

For more information on the course and things to bring, check here (Japanese)

Contact

Tengendai Kogen
TEL: 0238-55-2236

〒992-1461
Shirabu Onsen Tengendai, Yonezawa-shi, Yamagata
 

Let’s kick off the year with the Sasano Kannon Junanadou Festival this coming 17th January once again!

It is also known as the New Year’s Eve festival, and was traditionally held on the 17th of December according to the lunar calendar.

There will be stalls selling woodcrafts like otakapoppo, dragon zodiac figures, figures of the deities Ebisu and Daikokuten, and many more. You can also participate in firewalking, which is believed to ward off diseases, at the Kannondo temple premises!

Do drop by for a visit with your family, and let’s all wish for a healthy year ahead for our loved ones!

Date

17th January 2024 (Wednesday)

Saitougoma and firewalking will begin at 2pm.

* Saitougoma is the name of a traditional ritual performed by Shingon Buddhist monks.
* Those who wish to have their prayers offered by the priest (known as “kito” in Japanese) may register their interest by 1:30pm. The prayer fee is 5,000 yen.
* Those who wish to participate in firewalking may purchase a ticket at 500 yen at the ticket booth. Children below the age of 9 are not allowed to participate.

Location

Sasano Kannon Temple

(5686-5 Sasanohoncho, Yonezawa)

Contact

For more information, please contact Koutokuin at 0238-38-5517 (Japanese)

Merry Christmas!

The snow has begun and streets are starting to get blanketed by it! Every year, the Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival recruits volunteers who assist with lighting the lanterns, preparing snow bonbori and maintaining cleanliness and order during the festival, and we have opened up recruitment again for the next festival in February 2024! You can also sign up in groups!

We look forward to your participation! Let’s make this festival a blast for everyone!

Dates: 10th February (Saturday) and 11th February (Sunday) 2024

Time: 4:00 pm ~ 9:00 pm on Saturday, 4:00 pm ~ 8:00 pm on Sunday
Please gather at the event organization office (honbu) at 4:00 pm.

Requirements: Anyone aged 18 and above

Work Details: You will be directed by staff on your duties. These may include - Lighting candles, making snow bonbori with overturned buckets, maintaining the event grounds (picking up trash, traffic management etc.).

Registration: Fill in this form (Japanese version here) and mail, fax or directly submit it to the address given below.

Submission Deadline: 31st January 2024

Notes:

- Dinner is provided.

- Please be reminded to come equipped sufficiently against the cold (warm clothing, winter boots, etc.) as you will be working in the snow during the festival.

Registration and Contact

Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival Organisation Committee (Tourism Division)

〒992-8501
5-2-25 Kanaike, Yonezawa-shi, Yamagata
TEL: 0238-22-5111 (Extension number 4205)
FAX: 0238-24-4541