Xplore the heart of JAPAN : YAMAGATA

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Yamagata

Yamagata Prefecture is home to diverse and abundant nature, including mountains, rivers, and the ocean. It is located in the northeastern region of Japan known as Tohoku. It is impossible to adequately describe Yamagata’s appeal in just a few words. Among other things, it home to the snow monsters of Mt. Zao. This is unique natural phenomenon where trees are so covered in snow and ice that they look like surreal beasts sculpted from the snow. Also, famous mountains like Mt. Chokai, Mt. Nishiazuma, and the three sacred mountains of Yamagata known as Dewa Sanzan are also found in Yamagata.

Zao Okama

Zao Okama Crater is a lake created by rainwater built up in a volcanic crater on Mt Zao’s Kattadake peak on the border between Yamaga and Miyagi Perfectures. It is also known as the Goshiki Numa, which means five color marsh, because the color of the water appears to change based on the weather and the angle of sunlight.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/yamagata/zao_yamagata.html
http://data.yamagatakanko.com/english/sightseeing/zao.html

Active volcano features a beautiful crater with lake. Last minit add on tempat ni dalam itinerary. Hopefully berjaya jumpa la.

Okama Crater Lake at Zao Onsen © Andy Jarosz

How to access here

JR Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo (2.5 hrs, one train per hour) - Transfer to a bus to Zao Onsen (40 minutes, 1000Y, one bus per hour) - Ropeway to its upper station (1300Y/roundtrip) - walk 45 minutes further up the mountain to the summit from where the crater comes into visibility.

Local people very helpful. Keluar dari stesen Yamagata, ke kanan terus sampai jumpa escalator turun ke bawah dan jalan skit akan jumpa information centre untuk beli tiket bus.

Sekali lagi berlaku 'percakaran' percakapan ayam dan itik. Tapi full info dapat. Hebat. Mesin tiket bus lain pulak designnya.

Jadual waktu bus

Tiket bus kenit...simpan elok2

Bus ke Zao Onsen

Sementara menunggu bus sampai, kami rounding kawasan sekitar. Beli buah buat bekal alas perut. Kacau adik2 nak ke sekolah. Comel sangat.

Dari terminal bus ke Zao Onsen lebih kurang 1 jam perjalanan. Kemudian jalan kali dalam 10-15 ke Ropeway St. Sepanjang jalan kaki hidu la bau belerang dari kolam air panas.

Sampai aje di Ropeway St. kecewa sbb katanya crater tu di tutup. Datang sejauh ni tp tak dapat kesana. Enjoy view shj. Kami naik ikut laluan Zao Chuo Ropeway untuk ke Mt. Torikabuto. Atas sini ada Monumen. End up abiskan masa relax2 je. Tempat ni kalau musim salji menarik boleh main ski.

Minum coffee di café. Dalam café ada gmbr2 tempat menarik. Wondering di mana semua ni. Rupanya di atas gunung ada beberapa tempat menarik. Salah amik brochure dlm bhs Japan. Just grab je tadi masa di Zoa Onsen bus station. Frust. Lagipun ticketing officer tak reti ckp English. Di sini banyak area boleh pergi. Banyak tempat menarik. Salah satunya adalah tasik ini. Frustnya...

Turun ke bawah semula, rendam kaki dalam kolam air panas. Onsen maksudnya air panas. Ada souviner shop kalau nak membeli. Puashati juga sebab berjaya ke Yamagata walau gagal nak lihat Okama Crater. Banyak tempat menarik sekitar Yamagata.

Accomodation in Tokyo

Back to Tokyo. Check in hostel di Euno. Walking distance dr station about 10-15 min. Accommodation not bad. Dekat juga dengan Akihabara area yang femes sebagai Electric Town. Tokyo Euno Youth Hostel adalah salah satu dari rangkaian Hostelling International. Memang tidak mengecewakan. Bilik ada 2 double decker bed. Euno masih kawasan bandar dan tak jauh dari Tokyo. Best sini. Kami suka.

visit :  http://www.jyh.gr.jp/ueno/english/

Malam keluar cari makanan. Ramai pulak “kupu-kupu malam”. Happening sekitar sini. Last2 beli nasi dari convenient shop. Makan nasi dengan sambal. Settle masalah dinner.

Selamat malam