Akayu Station (赤湯駅)
Station Type: Train station
Akayu Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen is located in Nishimurayama County, Yamagata Prefecture, and is surrounded by rich nature and historical buildings.
The first tourist attraction near the station is the hot springs. Akayu Onsen is a historic hot spring area that is believed to have existed for about 1,300 years and is famous as a hot spring for beautifying the skin. It is located within walking distance from the station, so please visit it when sightseeing.
There is also an area around the station called Akayu-no-sato, where you can enjoy the old farming village scenery. Here, visitors can experience Japanese rural culture while interacting with local people through programs such as catching sweetfish and farm work.
In addition, many natural scenic spots are scattered around Akayu Station. The most famous is Mt. Akayudake is a 1,722-meter-high mountain with a vast panoramic view from its summit. A mountain trail has been developed for hiking.
The area around the station is also dotted with historical buildings such as the former Fujita family residence and the Akayu branch of the Shonai Bank. These buildings are valuable cultural heritage sites that are carefully protected and maintained by the local people.
There is also a tourist information center near the station to help you explore these sights. There, you can obtain detailed information and maps. Tourist information in English and Chinese is also provided.
Free Wi-Fi service is also provided in the station for tourists, allowing them to gather information smoothly. Furthermore, there are many restaurants around the station, where you can enjoy delicious local food.
Restaurants, Foods
Some restaurants and food shops around the station.
Kura Sushi (倉寿し)
Restaurant Type: Sushi restaurant
Horumon Yakiniku Jihei (ホルモン焼肉治へい)
Restaurant Type: Yakiniku restaurant
Kikumura (菊むら)
Restaurant Type: Ramen restaurant
Tourist area
Some tourist area – the best views, museums and parks – around the station.
Eboshiyama Park (烏帽子山公園)
Tourist Area Type: Park
Eboshiyama Park is located in Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It is the southern starting point of the Okitama Cherry Blossom Corridor and was selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan in March 1990.
Eboshiyama Hachiman Shrine (烏帽子山八幡宮)
Tourist Area Type: Shinto shrine
Eboshiyama Hachimangu Shrine is located in the center of Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture. The torii gate (10.75 m high and 12.7 m wide) erected in 1903 is said to be the largest single stone gate with no joints in Japan.
The Akayu Onsen Furusato Matsuri is an autumn festival that brings the entire community together and is known as the “Furusato Matsuri,” and includes a parade of portable shrines, a male and female portable shrine, a junior high school mikoshi, a kindergarten mikoshi, young men’s lions, and children’s lions. In particular, the young men’s group of lions is called the “rampaging lions,” a style of centipede lion that is rare even in Japan, and is used to purify the town of evil and disease through the divine power of the lions. The lions move forward while purifying themselves of evil spirits, and if the purification is not enough, they pull back to the rear in this heroic lion dance ritual. The festival is truly a town-wide event, attracting many festival-goers not only from the town itself but also from neighboring towns and villages.
Hotels
There are various hotels around the station.
Hotel Folkloro Takahata (ホテル フォルクローロ高畠)
上杉の御湯 御殿守 (上杉の御湯 御殿守)
Masugataya (升形屋)
Convenience Stores, Grocery Stores
Stores for foods, drinks and others.
Tourist Information Center
Tourist information centers inside/around the station.
Have a nice visit !
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