JTB Sunrise Tours · Sendai
A long guided day into Yamagata: two hours on the steps of Yamadera, then on by train and road to Ginzan Onsen, the wooden inn town on a river where the gas lamps come on at dusk. Pick it when you want both in one go and do not want to untangle the trains and the Ginzan access rules yourself.
JTB is Japan's biggest travel company, and Sunrise Tours is its English-language arm. This one leaves at 7:50 am from the Sendai City Tourist Information Center on the third floor of Sendai station and returns at about 8:30 pm: 12 hours and 40 minutes. The morning goes to Yamadera, with two hours on Risshakuji's steps. The long middle stretch takes you from Yamadera station on to Ginzan Onsen, the old silver-mining hot spring town of wooden ryokan along a narrow river, and back out to Oishida station for the train home.
Read the itinerary closely. Out of 12 hours 40 minutes, Ginzan gets about one hour. The rest is Yamadera and transport. That is the nature of Ginzan from Sendai: it sits at the end of a valley, and in winter private cars are restricted and visitors go in by shuttle. The tour sorts all of that, includes the transport and admissions and keeps the group to eight.
At $356 per person it is the most expensive day on this site. The H.I.S. coach tour gets you to Ginzan for $162 with lunch, but skips Yamadera. The operator asks for strong fitness: Yamadera's 1,015 steps come early, and snow boots are recommended in winter. Lunch is extra.
In front of the Sendai City Tourist Information Center, station 3F. The guide holds a JTB Sunrise Tours sign. No joining partway.
West into Yamagata Prefecture.
Risshakuji's steps to the Okunoin and the Godaido view over the valley.
From Yamadera station towards Obanazawa, with lunch at your own cost on the way.
The river street of wooden inns, the bridges and the footbath. Free time.
Train from Oishida station back to Sendai station.
★★★★★Very good! Would want to go here again.
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12 hours 40 minutes: it meets at 7:50 am at Sendai station and returns about 8:30 pm. Expect two hours at Yamadera and about one hour in Ginzan Onsen.
An English-speaking guide, all transport and the admission fees on the itinerary. Lunch is not included.
Yes, but it is a long chain of trains and buses, and in winter Ginzan restricts cars and runs a shuttle. Many people do Yamadera as a day trip and Ginzan with an overnight stay. See our Zao and Ginzan winter guide.
Eight at most. Depending on numbers, the operator may switch to a hired car or taxi for some legs.
Ready to book
Yamadera in the morning, Ginzan Onsen in the afternoon, with a guide and the transport sorted.
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