Head to Yamagata, the kingdom of wild vegetables and mushrooms! 9 ryokan you can enjoy the seasonal flavors of the countryside

Even if you love meat and fish, don't you sometimes want to look after your stomach? The bounty of the mountains, wild vegetables and mushrooms, are healthy foods that contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. A gourmet trip full of delicious treats is nice, but how about a gourmet trip where you can enjoy the delicate blessings of the mountains every once in a while?

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Yamagata, located on the Sea of Japan side of the Tohoku region, is a specialty area for wild vegetables and mushrooms, with about 70% of the prefecture's land area covered by forest. In particular, there are many types of mushrooms that can be picked in both summer and autumn, and each has a different flavor. Yamagata is also one of the top producers of wild vegetables such as bracken and taros in Japan. That's why there are many inns that take pride in their cuisine, which makes use of the natural environment.

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From Tokyo to Yamagata Station, it takes just two and a half hours on the Yamagata Shinkansen "Tsubasa." It's easily accessible by Shinkansen, so it's recommended for a two-day, one-night weekend trip.

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So this time, we have picked out lodgings in Yamagata where you can enjoy plenty of wild vegetables and mushrooms. Why not revitalize your body from the core on a trip where you can fill your stomach with the bitter taste of wild vegetables and the delicate flavor of mushrooms?

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"Dewaya" is a rare inn in Japan that specializes in wild vegetable dishes. Located at the foot of the sacred mountain "Gassan" in Yamagata, it has been used by ascetics for over 80 years, visiting the "Dewa Sanzan" mountains. It first started out by serving wild vegetable and mushroom dishes to help ascetics build up the strength to endure the rigorous training.

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The restaurant's motto is to "use local ingredients as much as possible," and the menu is centered on wild mountain vegetables harvested from the surrounding mountains and Mt. Gassan, as well as ingredients from within the prefecture. The wild vegetables are dried or salted, so you can enjoy delicious wild vegetable dishes any time of the year.

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This shop sells Nishiyama Town's specialties and original products made by the inn. Local sake, soba miso, herring wrapped in kelp, Yamagata's specialty dried stingray stew "karakai-ni," and even a book on wild vegetable dishes written by the previous owner are all lined up. Since you've come all the way to an inn that specializes in wild vegetable dishes, why not pick up some souvenirs?

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"Ochimizu no Yu Tsutaya" is a onsen inn that began as a temple lodge for pilgrims to Dewa Sanzan. The previous owner is said to have popularized summer skiing at Mt. Gassan throughout the country, and the inn continues to promote the charms of Mt. Gassan to this day. It is popular with pilgrims, skiers, and recently with female guests looking for mushroom and wild vegetable dishes.

The recommended dish is the "Gassan Mountain Vegetable Soba" which allows you to taste the deliciousness of mushrooms, wild vegetables, and chicken. The light fat of the chicken and the flavor of the mushrooms and wild vegetables combine to bring out the refreshing taste of the soba. The mushrooms and wild vegetables are very fresh, giving the dish a deep flavor that permeates the body.

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The guest rooms are mainly Japanese-style, but there are also two Japanese-Western style rooms. If you are traveling as a group of girls, we recommend connecting the room with the adjacent eight-tatami Japanese-style room. Whether you prefer beds or futons, you will be very satisfied.

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"Sendaiya" is a onsen ryokan with a history of about 400 years, which served as a lodging for ascetics "gyoja" (trainees) who travel to the "Dewa Sanzan" mountains of Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono. The hearth in the lobby and the antiques inside the building give it the relaxing atmosphere you expect from a long-established ryokan. At night, you can enjoy local sake in the lobby, so you can relax and enjoy your time at the inn.

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The recommended meal are the "Mountain vegetable hotpot" and "Gassan mushroom dishes." They use plenty of local mountain vegetables and mushrooms from Gassan, and have a simple taste that makes the most of the natural flavors of the ingredients. The mountain vegetables and mushrooms that are harvested vary depending on the season, and you can sometimes enjoy rare mushrooms that you rarely see.

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The guest rooms are divided into the main building, which has Japanese-style rooms, and the new building, which has Japanese-Western style rooms with beds. All rooms in the new building have different interior designs, and are made of wood that matches the room names, "beech" and "maple." The furniture is also handmade to match each room, making the rooms comfortable and tasteful.

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If you stay here, try trekking on Mt. Gassan. Mt. Gassan is a mountain with an elevation of less than 2000 meters, but it is famous for its diverse alpine plants. Even if you are not confident in your mountain climbing skills, there are places where you can take a lift up, so why not take a leisurely stroll while admiring the alpine plants?

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"Shimizuya" is a onsen ryokan located on the shore of Lake Goshikinuma, a popular tourist spot in Yamagata. It is a scenic spot where you can see the emerald green Goshikinuma and Mt. Ubagatake. It is also close to the trailhead of Mt. Gassan, so it is a popular inn with mountain girls and serious mountain climbing groups.

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The recommended meal is Yamagata's specialty "Imoko Soup." It is a hot pot filled with plenty of seasonal wild vegetables and mushrooms. It is delicious, healthy, warms you from the inside, and is a gentle dish that seems to detoxify just by eating it. Other dishes to try include wild vegetable tempura and grilled sweetfish, all full of mountain delicacies.

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This bath has a spectacular view of Goshiki-numa Lake! Take a relaxing bath in the sodium chloride spring while admiring the beauty of the vivid color of the water. This bath is effective not only for the stomach but also for detoxifying the mind.

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Near the inn, you can easily try trekking, spring skiing, nature skiing, and more. The owner of the inn, who was born and raised locally, will teach you everything you need to know, so even if you're normally an indoor person, why not give it a try?

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Katoya is located onsen ryokan in the mountains surrounded by primeval forest. Yamagata It is located in "Hanezawa onsen (Hanezawa Onsen)," which is called one of the best-kept secret hot springs in Japan, and is an environment where you can gather plenty of wild vegetables and mushrooms. The inn is a bit far from the nearest station, so we recommend that you contact them in advance for a free shuttle service, even if you are alone.

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The recommended meal is the "Mushroom Soup." It is a nutritious soup made with a light soy sauce and chicken-based soup, and various kinds of mushrooms. There are also plenty of other mountain dishes, such as stewed wild vegetables, Yamagata's specialty "Imoni," and grilled sweetfish. Also, try the famous horse sashimi, which is said to be healthy and high in protein.

This bath is a natural onsen with a "salt and sodium bicarbonate spring". The water flows directly from the source and has a viscous texture, leaving your skin feeling silky smooth after bathing. It is very popular among women as it makes your skin smooth. The water is drinkable and is said to be effective for a weak stomach and intestines, making it a recommended onsen for detoxing the whole body.

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You can enjoy boat rides all year round on the Mogami River near the inn. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of the four seasons while listening to the boatman's boat songs.

Otomoya ryokan is one of the oldest ryokan in Hijiori onsen, founded in the Edo period. It is a friendly inn with its own hot spring source, where you can enjoy foot baths and making your own onsen eggs. The meal area has been renovated, and the guest rooms now have Japanese-Western style rooms with beds, making your stay even more comfortable.

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The popular breakfast here is packed with a wide variety of dishes, as well as dinner. They use carefully selected ingredients, including wild mushrooms and wild onsen experts who have picked them, or those purchased at the "morning market" that is a specialty of Hijiori Onsen. They also serve grated yam and grilled fish, so you can be full from the morning.

The baths are made from private hot spring water, and there is a large public bath and a private bath made entirely of cypress, both of which are relaxing and relaxing. The water is drinkable, so bathing and drinking it will help to take care of your stomach.

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The morning market in Hijiori onsen is a popular spot for both locals and tourists. Fresh vegetables and homemade pickles are sold here, making them perfect for souvenirs, so why not get up a little early and head over there?

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Matsui ryokan is a onsen ryokan that occupies a building from the Meiji period and is one of the oldest buildings in Hijiori onsen. The ancestor of the inn was actually a "court physician" from the Edo period. Valuable antiques remain inside the inn, including a hanging scroll painted by the feudal lord himself, an elegant Hina doll, and folding screens.

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The guest rooms are tasteful and have the same layout as they were in the Meiji period. As they are using the old building as is, the rooms vary in size. This is a long-established ryokan where you can feel the history of Hijiori onsen even in the smallest places.

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The recommended meal plan is one that allows you to eat wild vegetables, mushrooms, and fresh river fish. For women who are worried that meal at ryokan are too large, there is also a less-voluminous "eat-all-you-can course." The meals are made using super fresh ingredients, are filling, and are portions that women can finish, so they are also recommended for those who want to snack on wild vegetables and mushroom dishes while drinking local sake.

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"Yuyado Motokawarayu" is a charming onsen ryokan located along the Nabeyama River. It is a simple inn where you can feel the warmth of the trees, and the retro furnishings are a perfect match for this idyllic inn. In winter, kotatsu are installed in the guest rooms, creating an atmosphere befitting a mountain onsen resort.

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There are 15 guest rooms in total, 9 on the river side and 6 on the mountain side. Both the scenic river side and the relaxing mountain side are cozy and comfortable. There are also Japanese-Western style rooms with beds, so be sure to check when making your reservation.

The recommended meal is the wild vegetable course. The wild vegetable dishes are made using wild vegetables picked fresh that morning and carefully prepared, resulting in a rich, slightly bitter flavor. Such fresh wild vegetables and mushrooms are the best ingredients that can only be enjoyed in Hijiori onsen, where they are produced.

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The two private baths here are very popular. The private bath is a precious bath overflowing with the hot spring water from Motokawarayu, which contains a lot of carbonated ingredients. The panoramic bath is a blend of the hot spring water from Motokawarayu and the Hijiori No. 5 hot spring, and both are soothing baths that will relax both body and mind.

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Maruya is a long-established onsen inn founded in 1868. With only seven guest rooms, it is a hidden inn for adults that offers attentive hospitality. Although it is a long-established inn, new guest rooms were completed in 2007, and they are clean and relaxing.

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The guest rooms are made of Kanayama cedar, cypress and zelkova wood. Charcoal is laid out on the walls, floors and ceilings. The rooms are Japanese modern and comfortable, allowing you to relax and unwind.

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The wild vegetables of Hijiori onsen, one of the snowiest areas in Japan, are said to be thicker and tastier than those of other regions. The recommended course is the "Wild Vegetables, Mushrooms, Vegetables, and Yamagata Beef Course." The flavor of the wild vegetables and mushrooms is enhanced when eaten with the rich Yamagata beef. This course allows you to fully enjoy the freshness of the ingredients.

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The baths are made by blending water drawn from two of the three hot springs at Hijiori onsen. There is an abundant supply of hot water, and the open-air baths are directly fed from the source. The large bath, "Hiba no Yu," is made from "Aomori cypress," which only grows in regions with a lot of snow, and you can enjoy the pleasant aroma of onsen.

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Yamagata is blessed with bounty from the mountains, and the wild plants and mushrooms you can enjoy are abundant and fresh. They are so delicious that you will feel refreshed just by eating them. Enjoy the deep flavor of these simple ingredients in onsen.