Latest Events in Yamagata City(August Updated)

Imoni is a traditional Tohoku dish of taro and meat stew. Every autumn, imoni is particularly popular in Yamagata Prefecture, where locals gather by the river for imoni parties. The Yamagata Imoni Festival, Japan's largest imoni festival, is held in Yamagata Prefecture every September. During the festival, a giant six-meter-tall imoni pot is filled with imoni, large enough to accommodate 30,000 guests. A special excavator loads three tons of taro into the pot and stirs it evenly, creating a spectacular spectacle in itself!

The Zao Juhyo Festival is held in Zao Onsen, southeast of Yamagata City, at the southern foot of the Zao mountain range. Zao Onsen is considered one of Japan's premier ski destinations. From late December to early March, a series of events are held in conjunction with the festival. One famous event is the 1,000-person torch run, where skiers carry torches down the slopes. There are also winter fireworks festivals that light up the slopes and a show of giant snowplows, machines designed to challenge the winter snowfall.