Sendai Departure | Yamagata Yamadera Temple + Tendo Onsen Roadside Station + Ginzan Onsen Day Trip | Temple Climb & Scenic Views + Onsen Town Stroll
- Three classic attractions: Hojuzan Mountain Temple (Risshaku-ji Temple) overlooks the beautiful mountain scenery, Tendou Onsen Road Station offers local characteristics, and Ginzan Onsen's dreamy hot spring street is perfect for taking photos.
- Thousand-step stone staircase experience: Yamadera has more than a thousand stone steps, along the way to enjoy the ancient temple architecture and natural scenery, is a perfect combination of fitness and photo opportunities.
- Hot spring town stroll: Ginzan Onsen's wooden old ryokans, streams and retro gas lamps complement each other, and the scenery is beautiful in all seasons, especially the winter snow scene is dreamy.
- Local Feature Experience: Tendou Onsen Road Station offers local snacks, local specialties and relaxing rest, is a good opportunity to experience the local customs of Japan.
- Thoughtful transportation arrangements: Round-trip transportation from Sendai makes it easy to visit Yamagata's most representative historical, cultural and hot spring attractions.
What to expect
Departing from Sendai, enjoy a relaxing day trip to Yamagata's three major representative attractions: Mt. Hoju's Yamadera Temple (Risshaku-ji), Tendo Onsen Roadside Station, and Ginzan Onsen. Yamadera Temple is famous for its over 1,000 stone steps and is known as the "Little Kyoto of Eastern Japan." As you climb the steps, you can overlook the beautiful mountain scenery and ancient temple architecture. Tourists can take photos and commemorate their visit at the observation deck and stone steps, experiencing the tranquil atmosphere of the ancient temple. Afterwards, head to Tendo Onsen Roadside Station for a short break, where you can taste local snacks and buy local specialties, experiencing the lifestyle of a Yamagata hot spring town. Finally, visit Ginzan Onsen Street, stroll along the stream, where wooden inns and retro gas lamps intermingle, creating a fairytale world when covered in winter snow. Tourists can take photos on the bridge, experience a foot bath, or enjoy desserts, immersing themselves in the unique atmosphere of the nostalgic hot spring street. The entire journey is chauffeured by a professional driver, allowing you to easily complete the triple experience of Yamagata's history, culture, hot spring scenery, and local customs, gaining natural scenery, photo opportunities, and cultural experiences in one day. *Pick-up and drop-off are available at hotels within a 2km radius of Sendai JR Station. If the hotel is beyond 2KM, please select the Sendai Station meeting point option. This route requires climbing stairs and a lot of walking, so please wear comfortable shoes.
Reviews
I shared a ride with three other companions this time, with a private car service along the way (available within a 2km radius of Sendai Station). Mr. Li is a Chinese man who has been working in Japan for four years. He is kind and also provides some simple introductions. If you are looking for a private car or shared ride and don't want to travel long distances, I highly recommend participating!
Excellent and competent! The tour guide/driver led a very good and experienced small group, and reminded the group members the day before departure. At each location, there were clear instructions and introductions to the attractions, as well as maps and walking guides. This time we went to Yamadera Temple and there was snow, the scenery was very beautiful. The tour guide/driver also suggested that we go to Ginzan early to see the snow scene and specially adjusted the itinerary, and finally we went to Tendo to buy souvenirs and local products. The journey was very pleasant!
Direct pickup and drop-off at the hotel entrance was excellent. The small group size made it very efficient. Thank you to the guide and driver for providing such a perfect trip!
The driver was excellent; they clearly communicated the estimated driving time and meeting time for each leg of the journey, as well as how to enter venues and where to eat and shop.
Perhaps because we're from Taiwan, we felt the hot spring town was very similar to Beitou. The driver didn't provide any introduction; he just took us there and told us what time to meet.
No tour guide was provided; the only communication was about what time to return to the bus.
The included lunch restaurant was closed because it was the end of the year in Japan and businesses were not open. We were only notified on the day of the meal that we had to find our own lunch, and instead eat in the Ginzan Onsen town. Because it was the end of the year, there were very few restaurants open and we had to wait a long time to get a meal. We were not refunded the cost of the included lunch. The driver was very polite and a good person.
there was no guide and I feel it's fairly overpriced for the entire experience since there was no explanation whatsoever
Good to know
Purchase Notice | Important reminders please be sure to read
[Pre-Trip Notice]
- Please be sure to gather on time: If you do not participate in the trip due to personal reasons (being late/getting lost/feeling unwell, etc.), you will not be refunded. Please note that no refunds will be given.
- This itinerary is a group tour with a fixed route, and you will need to share a ride with other passengers throughout the journey. Parking is not allowed outside of the attractions.
- Depending on the number of people in the group on the day, a small car model with a driver acting as a guide may be used. Please cooperate with the staff throughout the journey (in the case of a small car, you will enjoy a more flexible itinerary rhythm, and the driver will focus on driving, and the explanation content will be relatively simple).
- The itinerary may be adjusted due to force majeure factors such as traffic and weather. If there are delays or partial changes, no refunds or compensation will be provided. Passengers who need to take a flight on the same day should sign up with caution or reserve sufficient time.
- Each person can bring one piece of luggage for free, and the extra part can be paid to the driver on the spot for 2000 Japanese Yen/piece. Please be sure to note this when placing the order. If you do not inform in advance, the guide has the right to refuse you to get on the bus and the tour fee will not be refunded.
- Registration for elders over 70 years old and pregnant women: No later than one day before departure, please ask the staff at jingyu12333@163.com for a disclaimer agreement and sign it, and return it to us to ensure travel safety.
[Notice during the trip]
- The stop time of each attraction has been optimized, please strictly abide by the time so as not to affect the overall itinerary.
- The itinerary time may be adjusted due to force majeure factors such as traffic, weather, and crowds. If there are delays or partial itinerary changes, refunds or compensation cannot be requested. Please forgive and understand the uncertainty of the journey.
- Traffic jams may occur during holidays and peak periods. The tour guide will flexibly adjust the itinerary depending on the situation. Please be prepared and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
- In order to maintain the cleanliness of the carriage, please do not eat or drink in the car. If damage is caused, a cleaning fee will be charged according to local standards. Please work together to create a comfortable riding environment.
- If you leave the group by yourself/leave the team halfway after the trip starts, it will be regarded as automatically giving up the service, and no refund will be given. (The safety responsibility during the departure period needs to be borne by yourself) -
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