Tourist Point(Yamadera)

Yamadera is one of the most popular tourist locations in Yamagata Prefecture and is a 'Must see' in the Tohoku region. It has a long and much celebrated past to interest the historian, some breathtaking views to please the aesthete and easy access to suit the traveller.

In ancient Japan it was believed that huge rock faces such as those at Yamadera, represented the boundary between this world and the next. It is said that the Buddhist Priest Jikaku Daishi Ennin began cutting away at the rocks in 860ad to build the Konponchudo - the main temple building of Yamadera. This building - reconstructed in 1356, houses an 800 year old wooden Buddhist image and the 'Flame of belief' which has been burning constantly at Yamadera for over 1000 years.

The Konponchudo is the first building one passes on the 1100 step climb to the Oku-no-in, the uppermost of the 40 temple buildings. The stone steps wind their way through the trees and rocks and pass through the large wooden 'ni-o-mon' gate around halfway. Shortly after the gate, the path divides in two, the left route leading to a lookout platform commanding spectacular views of the valley below. The path straight ahead leads to the Oku-no-in.

Along the way, one also passes the semizuka stone engraved with a much celebrated haiku poem written at Yamadera by the founder of Haiku; Matsuo Basho:

Click here
for voice of
cicada

The visit of Basho is also commemorated in a statue of the poet and his follower at the foot of Yamadera. Some of the "Absolute tranquility" noted by Basho may have been lost to the visitors during busy times, but the serene location ensures that the atmosphere and appeal of this beautiful temple are perfectly retained.

	15 minutes by train from JR Yamagata station on the Senzan line to Yamadera station. From there 10 minutes on foot to the Konponchudo. Entry: 300 yen

Yamadera can be seen in a couple of hours, even taking it easy. To make a day trip of it, take the train one stop further towards Sendai to Omoshiroyama Kogen, and follow the path leading off from the left side of the platform. This is the start of a path through a gorge, past waterfalls and weirs, over bridges and through holes in the rocks following the path of a small river. This picturesque walk comes to an end after a walk of about 45 minutes at some steps which lead up to a paved road. Follow this road downhill (to the right) for about 60 minutes and you will arrive at Yamadera.

[ home ]