Welcome to Yamagata City

Located in the Tohoku region, in the northern part of Japan, Yamagata City was established as the capital of Yamagata Prefecture on 1 April 1889. The city is surrounded on all sides by magnificent mountains, and a variety of rich resources and regional culture have been cultivated to date. 

In Yamagata, you can enjoy attractions of the city in every season: viewing the cherry blossoms in full bloom at the historical castle in spring, the traditional Yamagata Hanagasa festival where people dance along the main street in summer, Imoni (taro and beef soup) festival on the riverbanks watching beautifully coloured leaves in autumn, and winter sports amid the Jyuhyo – famous Zao snow monsters – in winter.

You can enjoy its unique natural beauty, delicious local foods and the traditional culture of Yamagata City all year round.
In addition, the city can be described as a hot spring capital because there are many hot spring spots that you can enjoy during any season. Yamagata City is truly a hidden gem in Japan, as a place to eat, play and rest. Yamagata City sincerely wishes people in Australia and New Zealand would come to visit one day.

▪ 40th Anniversary of sister city relationship
In 1980, Yamagata City formed a sister city relationship with Swan Hill City in Victoria, Australia. Since then, the two cities have been conducting friendly exchanges. After a few years’ halt due to the pandemic, the two cities resumed mutual exchanges by residents of each other’s cities in 2024 and celebrated the 40th anniversary of their relationship. When a delegation from Swan Hill visited Yamagata City in April, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom just in time for them, and participants were able to experience the Japanese tradition of viewing cherry blossoms while eating dango – a traditional Japanese dessert – and rice balls.
They also deepened their relationship through additional activities such as Japanese flower arrangement, tea ceremony, Haiku, wearing Samurai armour, and a hot spring foot bath. Yamagata City also hosted an event – An Evening with Australian Wine – where people from the two cities met and greeted each other while enjoying a special dish of Australian lamb and carefully selected Australian wines. It was a great opportunity to strengthen the bond at the local level.
In October, a delegation led by Yamagata City Mayor visited Swan Hill Rural City, and they spent a meaningful time experiencing the Australian daily life and culture through the exchange programs featuring inspections of large-scale farms, Australian food, and dancing Hanagasa dance all together with the hosting party.

▪ Yamagata Garden
The Swan Hill Yamagata Garden on the bank of the Little Murray River in Swan Hill Rural City was opened to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship. The garden was architecturally designed and built by Swan Hill Rural City with some advice from Yamagata City, and includes a couple of elements resembling the essence of Yamagata City in honour of the relationship between the two cities. For example, almond trees are used to represent the Yamagata cherry blossoms, and the history of the sister cities is expressed in the Japanese-style stone pathways.

During this visit, Yamagata City presented Swan Hill Rural City a plaque which is specially made with Yamagata Imono – traditional metal casting, and the plaque was placed in the garden. Yamagata metal casting is made of copper which will age nicely with rustic colours, and it is said to last a thousand years. Please check out the garden and the plaque if you have a chance to visit Swan Hill.

▪ Cross-generational exchange
The main exchange is the short-term school exchange program with homestays for high school students. Over 600 students from both cities have experienced daily life and the culture of each other’s city to date. Some of them even chose careers in international relations because of this experience, which shows that this program due to their sister city relationship has an important role in the education field of Yamagata City and contributes to cultivating global awareness amongst the people of Yamagata City.

Moreover, there are exchanges that go beyond generations, for example, some members of the host families for the program later participated in the residents’ delegation visits. In fact, the current mayor of the Swan Hill Rural City Council was one of the students who took part in the exchange program and stayed in Yamagata City before.

▪ Yamagata City is looking forward to your visit!
Yamagata City, having a close relationship with Australia as mentioned above, wishes that the friendship with Swan Hill Rural City will further deepen through the continuation of the sister city exchange, and is committed to hand over this wonderful international bond to the next generation.
Yamagata City also hopes that people visiting Japan extend their visit to explore Yamagata. You can surely encounter the beautiful natural scenery which changes colours in every season, delicious cuisine and warm-hearted people in Yamagata City who have cherished the international friendship with Swan Hill.

[Video] The Many Monsters of Yamagata (English)

Yamagata Tour Guide Book (English)

 

 

カテゴリー: Discover Japan

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    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

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  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • *English only.

    The latest of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • 2023/2024 CLAIR Forum 

    開催日 2024年3月11日(月)

    テーマ Disaster Management and Resilience

    会場 The Japan Foundation, Sydney – Seminar Room(オンライン同時配信)

    主催 クレアシドニー事務所

    共催 シドニー工科大学公共政策研究所 (UTS:IPPG)

     

    【発表者・内容】

    ① 竹村所長補佐(総務省)

    日本における近年の災害発生状況や、災害に係る日本の行政組織(国・都道府県・市町村)の役割のほか、総務省が制度化した対口支援方式の能登半島地震における稼働状況を説明しました。

    ② 國﨑所長補佐(福岡県庁)

    福岡県における近年の大雨災害の様子、避難行動要支援者の支援の取り組み(市町村指導、避難所運営及び個別避難計画作成に関する研修・訓練等)について、説明しました。

    ③辻脇所長補佐(和歌山県庁)

    「世界津波の日」制定の由来となった和歌山県出身 浜口梧陵の逸話に触れるとともに、和歌山県の特徴的な災害対策として、避難先の安全レベルの設定や、移動式給油機「どこでもスタンド」、出張防災教育について説明しました。

    ④Nicole Parsons 氏( Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation )
    ※当日欠席のため、Vanessa Chan氏が代読

    Illawarra Shoalhaven地域の災害リスク低減のため、地方自治体やパートナーと連携したインフラの耐久性向上や地理的データのアクセス向上、また、環境モニタリングや早期警告システムの開発などの取り組みについて説明がありました。

    ⑤松本所長補佐(千葉県市原市役所)

    千葉県市原市における災害対応について、説明しました。発災時の体制、避難所の種類・開設条件、備蓄品といった基本事項を扱うとともに、コロナ禍における避難所運営の変化に関して、取り組んできた事例を紹介しました。

    ⑥太田所長補佐(神奈川県小田原市役所)

    日本の災害時における医療について、特に被災時におけるDMATの概要、プロセス、厚生労働省と県、災害拠点病院の役割について、小田原市立病院によるDMATの能登半島地震への派遣などの実例を交え説明しました。

    ⑦Tommaso Briscese氏、Miriam Wassef 氏(Burwood Council)

    Burwood Councilにおける、 COVID-19の対応や復興の取り組みとして、コミュニティへのケアや、地域経済復興のための中小企業への財政支援、人的交流を促進させるイベントや空間づくりについて説明がありました。

    ⑧Q&A、Summary

    Q&Aセッションでは、参加者から多くの質問をいただき意見交換ができました。最後にCarol Mills氏が、フォーラム全体を振り返りつつ、締めくくりを行いました。

     

     

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

     

     

     

  •  12月3~13日、福岡県水泳連盟の選抜選手8名がNSW州を訪問し、現地の学校との合同練習とNSW州の大会に参加しました。
     
     合同練習では現地の選手との交流を深め、大会では福岡県の選手たちが数々のメダルを獲得する素晴らしい成果を収めました。
     
     本訪問は、2023年12月に福岡県・福岡県水泳連盟・NSW州水泳連盟の3者で締結されたMOUに基づく取り組みです。
     
     クレアシドニー事務所は、福岡県からの依頼を受け、一部行程の同行などのサポートを行いました。今後も、福岡県とNSW州のスポーツ交流がさらに進展するよう、引き続き、支援してまいります。
     
     選手の皆さん、監督、コーチ、同行された職員の皆さん、本当にお疲れさまでした!
     
     
     
     
  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.
    View this Correspondence in PDF.

     

     

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this correspondence in PDF.

     

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.