Yamagata (city) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Yamagata

山形市

Above:View of Kajō Park and Statue of Yoshiaki Mogami, Middle:Yamagata Hanagasa Festival, Yama-dera (Risshaku Temple), Bottom:Zaō Spa, Yamagata Prefectural Folk Museum (all items from left to right)

Flag

Seal

Location of Yamagata in Yamagata Prefecture

Yamagata

Location in Japan

Country

First official recorded

690 AD

City Settled

April 1, 1889

Area

• Total

381.30 km² (147.22 sq mi)

Population

(August 1, 2023)

• Total

242,505

• Density

635.995/km² (1,647.220/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)

- Tree

Japanese Rowan

- Flower

Safflower

Phone number

023-641-1212

Address

2-3-25 Hatagomachi, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata-ken 990-8540

Yamagata City Hall

Downtown Yamagata, on the Yamagataekimae Ōdōri (Prefectural Road 16)

Yamagata (山形市, Yamagata-shi) is a cool city in northern Japan. It is the capital of Yamagata Prefecture in the Tōhoku region. As of August 2023, about 242,505 people live here. The city covers an area of about 381.58 square kilometers.

Exploring Yamagata's Geography

Yamagata is in the southern part of the Yamagata Basin. This basin is located in the southeast of Yamagata Prefecture. The northern and northwestern parts of the city are flat. The eastern side has the Ōu Mountains. The city even includes part of Mount Zaō. The Mamigasaki River flows through Yamagata. The Tachiyagawa River forms the border between Yamagata and Tendō.

Cities Near Yamagata

Yamagata is surrounded by several other towns and cities.

In Yamagata Prefecture:
- Tendō
- Kaminoyama
- Higashine
- Nanyō
- Yamanobe
- Nakayama
In Miyagi Prefecture:
- Sendai
- Kawasaki

Yamagata's Weather and Climate

Yamagata has a climate with big changes between seasons. Summers are warm to hot and often humid. Winters are cold, sometimes very cold. It rains a lot throughout the year, especially from July to September. The average temperature in Yamagata is about 11.7°C. The city gets a lot of snow in winter. It is known as a "heavy snow area" in Japan.

Climate data for Yamagata (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1889−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	18.1 (64.6)	17.3 (63.1)	23.7 (74.7)	33.3 (91.9)	34.1 (93.4)	37.5 (99.5)	40.8 (105.4)	39.0 (102.2)	36.6 (97.9)	32.3 (90.1)	26.9 (80.4)	20.6 (69.1)	40.8 (105.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	3.3 (37.9)	4.4 (39.9)	9.1 (48.4)	16.4 (61.5)	22.6 (72.7)	25.9 (78.6)	29.1 (84.4)	30.5 (86.9)	25.8 (78.4)	19.5 (67.1)	12.6 (54.7)	6.1 (43.0)	17.1 (62.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−0.1 (31.8)	0.4 (32.7)	4.0 (39.2)	10.2 (50.4)	16.2 (61.2)	20.3 (68.5)	23.9 (75.0)	25.0 (77.0)	20.6 (69.1)	14.1 (57.4)	7.7 (45.9)	2.4 (36.3)	12.1 (53.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−3.1 (26.4)	−3.1 (26.4)	−0.3 (31.5)	4.7 (40.5)	10.7 (51.3)	15.7 (60.3)	20.0 (68.0)	20.9 (69.6)	16.6 (61.9)	9.8 (49.6)	3.6 (38.5)	−0.7 (30.7)	7.9 (46.2)
Record low °C (°F)	−20.0 (−4.0)	−19.0 (−2.2)	−15.5 (4.1)	−7.3 (18.9)	−1.8 (28.8)	3.0 (37.4)	6.7 (44.1)	8.4 (47.1)	3.0 (37.4)	−2.4 (27.7)	−7.2 (19.0)	−15.0 (5.0)	−20.0 (−4.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	87.8 (3.46)	63.0 (2.48)	72.1 (2.84)	63.9 (2.52)	74.5 (2.93)	104.8 (4.13)	187.2 (7.37)	153.0 (6.02)	123.8 (4.87)	105.1 (4.14)	74.4 (2.93)	97.2 (3.83)	1,206.7 (47.51)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	103 (41)	79 (31)	35 (14)	2 (0.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	4 (1.6)	66 (26)	285 (112)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm)	18.6	14.9	14.5	11.2	10.2	11.1	14.1	11.5	11.9	11.9	14.2	17.8	162.1
Average relative humidity (%)	81	77	69	62	64	71	76	75	77	77	78	81	74
Mean monthly sunshine hours	79.6	99.6	140.4	175.9	196.5	165.0	144.5	171.8	136.6	132.1	102.2	73.8	1,617.9
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

Yamagata's Population Over Time

The number of people living in Yamagata has stayed pretty much the same for the last 40 years.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1960	188,560	—
1970	204,127	+8.3%
1980	237,041	+16.1%
1990	249,487	+5.3%
2000	255,369	+2.4%
2010	254,244	−0.4%
2020	247,590	−2.6%

A Brief History of Yamagata

The area where Yamagata is today was once part of Dewa Province. During the Edo period, it was a castle town. This means it grew around a castle and was an important center. The city of Yamagata was officially created on April 1, 1889. It became the capital of Yamagata Prefecture. Over time, its importance grew. It became a "special city" in 2001 and then a "core city" in 2019.

Learning in Yamagata: Schools and Universities

Yamagata has many schools for students of all ages.

The city government runs 36 public elementary schools and 15 public middle schools.
The Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education runs ten public high schools.
There are also four private high schools.
The prefecture also has three special education schools for students with disabilities.

Universities in Yamagata

Yamagata University: This university has different campuses. One campus has faculties for literature, social science, science, education, art, and science. Another campus has faculties for medicine, nursing, and a university hospital.
Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences
Tohoku University of Art & Design
Tohoku Bunkyo College

High Schools in Yamagata

Yamagata East H.S.
Yamagata South H.S.
Yamagata West H.S.
Yamagata North H.S.
Yamagata Technical H.S.
Yamagata Central H.S.
Kajo-Gakuen H.S.
Yamagata Civic Commercial H.S.
Yamagata-Gakuin H.S.
Yamagata-Johoku H.S.
Tōkai University Yamagata Senior H.S.
Nihon University Yamagata Senior H.S.
Yamamoto-Gakuen H.S.
Yamagata-Meisei H.S.

Getting Around Yamagata: Transportation

Yamagata has good transportation links, especially by train and highway.

Railway Lines

East Japan Railway Company - Yamagata Shinkansen (Bullet Train)

Yamagata

East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line (Yamagata Line)

Zaō - Yamagata - Kita-Yamagata - Uzen-Chitose - Minami-Dewa - Urushiyama]

East Japan Railway Company - Senzan Line

Omoshiroyama-Kōgen - Yamadera - Takase - Tateyama - Uzen-Chitose - Kita-Yamagata - Yamagata

East Japan Railway Company - Aterazawa Line

Yamagata - Kita-Yamagata - Higashi-Kanai

Major Highways

Tōhoku-Chūō Expressway – Yamagata-chūō, Yamagata-Kaminoyama interchanges
Yamagata Expressway – Yamagata-Zaō, Yamagata-kita, Sekizawa interchanges
National Route 13
National Route 48
National Route 112
National Route 286
National Route 348
National Route 458

Yamagata's Culture and Fun Activities

Ramen Capital

Did you know Yamagata is famous for eating the most ramen in Japan? People here really love their noodles!

Exciting Local Events

The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival (花笠祭り, Hanagasa Matsuri) is a huge summer festival. It happens every August 5th, 6th, and 7th. It's one of the biggest festivals in the Tōhoku region.
Yamagata also hosts the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival every two years.
A special autumn tradition is Imoni-kai, which means "taro potato party." People cook taro potatoes, sliced meat, and vegetables in a giant pot. They often have these picnics by the Mamigasaki River. Once a year, the city even serves thousands of bowls from a huge pot using a building crane!

Cool Places to Visit

Yama-dera (Ryushaku-ji) is a famous temple just 15 minutes by train from the city center.
Kajo Park is in the middle of the city. It used to be a castle! You can see the rebuilt walls, main gate, and moat. The Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum nearby shows items from the Edo period and tells the castle's history.
Yamagata Museum of Art is a great place to see beautiful artworks.
Mt. Zao is a massive mountain only 40 minutes by bus from Yamagata Station. It's super popular for skiing and snowboarding. You can also find many hiking trails and onsen (hot springs) to relax in.
Bunshokan is the old prefectural office. Now it's a free museum that shows the history of Yamagata Prefecture.
Chitosekan is one of Yamagata's oldest and most famous traditional Japanese restaurants.
Hirashimizu is an artisans' village. It's just 15 minutes from the city center. You can find many pottery and craft shops there.