We have just welcomed fourth guests: three Japanese, one Korean, one Chinese/Germany and one Australian - so international. The request received was "we want to see beautiful coloured leaves!" Late October to early November is the best season for coloured leaves in Yamagata, so the trip was organised so that guests can fully enjoy them here.
The itinerary was as follows.
Day 1
Mitobe Sake Brewery
Tendo Onsen
Day 2
Dewazakura Sake Brewery
Local Lunch (soba noodle)
Koyo Walk by the river
Yamadera Walk
Sake Pairing Dinner
Kaminoyama Onsen
Day 3
Sake Glass Making (Pottery)
Professional Sake Tasting Session
Imoni Party
Zao Onsen
The coloured leaves were so gorgeous, and we were able to enjoy them at everywhere we went. The guests had a number of occasions (two in Day 1, three in Day 2 and two in Day 3) where they were able to taste sake, which is the key selling point of this sake tour.
Yamagata is going to have snow before the end of the year, and sake brewing season is coming very soon. We have one of the best skii resorts in Japan - Zao Onsen Snow Park - in Yamagata. Consider coming to Yamagata for your next trip.
15:15 – 16:45 Mitobe Sake Brewery (brewery visit exclusive to our guests)
17:00 Check-in (Tendo Onsen Yunoka Matsunoyu)
Day 2 – Saturday, 6 November
AM
9:30 Check-out
9:45 – 11:15 Dewazakura Sake Brewery (brewery visit exclusive to our guests)
11:30 – 12:30 Local Lunch (probably soba noodle)
PM
13:00 – 14:30 Koyo Walk by the river (exclusive sake experience)
15:00 – 17:00 Yamadera Walk
17:00 – 19:00 Sake Pairing Dinner @ Izakaya Denden (exclusive sake experience)
19:30 Check-in (Kaminoyama Onsen Seizan-so)
Day 3 – Sunday, 7 November
AM
9:30 Check-out
10:00 – 11:00 Sake Glass Making (Pottery) (for 4 ppl) / Local Activity (for 2 ppl)
11:00 – 12:00 Professional Sake Tasting Session (exclusive sake experience)
12:30 – 13:30 Local Lunch (probably hot pot)
PM
14:00 – 16:00 Zao Onsen
16:13 Leave Yamagata Station with a party train (bound for Fukushima)
19:28 Arrive at Tokyo Station
15:15 – 16:45 Mitobe Sake Brewery (brewery visit exclusive to our guests)
17:00 Check-in (Tendo Onsen Yunoka Matsunoyu)
Day 2 – Saturday, 6 November
AM
9:30 Check-out
9:45 – 11:15 Dewazakura Sake Brewery (brewery visit exclusive to our guests)
11:30 – 12:30 Local Lunch (probably soba noodle)
PM
13:00 – 14:30 Koyo Walk by the river (exclusive sake experience)
15:00 – 17:00 Yamadera Walk
17:00 – 19:00 Sake Pairing Dinner @ Izakaya Denden (exclusive sake experience)
19:30 Check-in (Kaminoyama Onsen Seizan-so)
Day 3 – Sunday, 7 November
AM
9:30 Check-out
10:00 – 11:00 Sake Glass Making (Pottery) (for 4 ppl) / Local Activity (for 2 ppl)
11:00 – 12:00 Professional Sake Tasting Session (exclusive sake experience)
12:30 – 13:30 Local Lunch (probably hot pot)
PM
14:00 – 16:00 Zao Onsen
16:13 Leave Yamagata Station with a party train (bound for Fukushima)
19:28 Arrive at Tokyo Station