Sagae

Day Trips

Arrive at Sagae Station and settle into your accommodation. Take a leisurely stroll through the town center to get your bearings. Stop by a local café to sample freshly brewed coffee and seasonal pastries.

Visit the Sagae Cherry Land to learn about the region’s famous cherries even if it’s not harvest season. Explore nearby Kagetsu Park with its walking paths and pagoda views. Drop into small shops to pick up local crafts and gifts.

Dine at a cozy izakaya to taste home-style Yamagata dishes. Sample cherry-infused sake or shochu at a sake bar. Finish the night with a calm walk under softly lit streets.

Head to a cherry orchard to experience hands-on picking of bright red cherries in season. Engage with friendly farmers who explain the cultivation methods. Savor freshly picked cherries straight from the tree.

Join a cooking class focusing on cherry-inspired dishes like tarts and jams. Learn traditional techniques from local cooks. Enjoy the meal you have prepared along with cherry tea.

Relax in an open-air onsen nearby to soothe your muscles after a day of activity. Watch the sunset over rolling hills as you soak. Finish with a light dinner of seasonal vegetables and regional rice.

Travel to the Asahi Onsen area to start your day with a hot spring bath. Feel the healing mineral waters refresh your body and mind. Enjoy a light breakfast served ryokan-style.

Embark on a guided hike up Mount Asahi or surrounding hills. Admire panoramic views of the Mogami River valley. Picnic at a scenic lookout with bento boxes from a local shop.

Return to the onsen town for dinner at a traditional ryokan. Try kaiseki cuisine featuring local river fish and mountain vegetables. End the evening with a rejuvenating soak under starry skies.

Visit the Honma Urushi Museum to learn about Sagae’s lacquerware heritage. Watch artisans shape and paint wooden pieces with delicate designs. Try your hand at applying lacquer in a mini workshop.

Head to a washi paper studio to discover the centuries-old technique of papermaking. Stretch, press, and decorate sheets under the guidance of a master craftsman. Browse finished products like lampshades and stationery in the shop.

Enjoy dinner at a farm-to-table restaurant showcasing local mushrooms and root vegetables. Pair your meal with handcrafted sake from a nearby brewery. End the night with a traditional dance performance or live folk music.

Set out early to the Gassan Rice Terraces for a sunrise photography session. Witness mist rolling through emerald fields arranged in a staircase-like pattern. Chat with farmers about organic farming practices.

Cycle along rural roads past quaint villages and small shrines. Stop at roadside stalls to sample freshly cooked rice cakes and pickled vegetables. Experience the slower pace of life in the Japanese countryside.

Stay overnight at a minshuku for a homestay experience. Share dinner with a host family featuring hearty soups and homegrown produce. Participate in a local storytelling session by the hearth.

Attend a seasonal festival such as the Cherry Blossom or Harvest Festival if timing aligns. Watch traditional dances and music performances in town. Taste street food stalls offering skewers and sweet treats.

Check into a working farm for an immersive stay. Help collect eggs, feed livestock, or pick vegetables with your hosts. Learn about sustainable agriculture methods and daily farm routines.

Gather around a communal table for a rustic meal cooked over an open hearth. Share stories with other guests and hosts alike. Sleep in a traditional farmhouse bedroom with tatami mats.

Take the train to nearby Yamagata City for a change of pace. Visit Bunshokan, a restored Meiji-era brick building, and its charming gardens. Enjoy a matcha tea ceremony at a local teahouse.

Explore the imposing Yamagata Castle ruins and the surrounding Kajo Park. Wander through the castle’s stone walls and gates. Stop at a quaint café serving zunda mochi, a sweet bean treat.

Return to Sagae for dinner at a cozy ramen shop specializing in tsukemen or spicy miso ramen. Warm up with a hearty bowl of noodles. End the day with a stroll through the station plaza illuminated with lanterns.

Tour the historical Suekawa and Ohta Sake breweries acclaimed for Yamahai sake. Witness the fermentation process in rustic cellars. Sample different grades of sake alongside rice crackers.

Enjoy a sake-pairing lunch in a brewery tasting room featuring grilled eel and pickled sides. Learn the nuances between junmai, ginjo, and daiginjo styles. Purchase limited-edition bottles to bring home.

Experience a sake sommelier dinner at a modern bistro pairing regional ingredients with locally brewed sake. Engage in conversation about the flavor profiles. Finish with a sweet sake dessert and a gentle evening walk.

Join a taiko drumming workshop at a community center and feel the power of each beat. Learn basic rhythms and perform a short piece with fellow participants. Leave with a small handheld drum as a souvenir.

Take a calligraphy class in a traditional dojo to practice writing kanji with brush and ink. Receive personalized guidance to perfect your strokes. Display your work in a mini exhibition at the end of class.

Dine at a local soba restaurant where noodles are handmade in front of you. Pair your meal with a glass of cherry liqueur. Wind down by exploring a night market or late-night snack stalls.

Spend your final morning at Kagura Park or another serene green space for a meditation session under ancient trees. Listen to birdsong and feel the calm of the forest. Have a light breakfast picnic with local tea.

Take a leisurely boat ride along the Mogami River for scenic views of the valley and distant mountains. Learn about river transport history from a knowledgeable guide. Enjoy matcha-flavored sweets as you drift.

Return to town for a farewell kaiseki meal highlighting the best ingredients you’ve encountered. Toast to your journey with one last cup of sake. Reflect on your immersive experience as the lights of Sagae glow softly around you.