January itinerary in Japan Day 4 (Yamagata Sightseeing+Meal)
(Friday, January 28)
This time, I traveled a long time and visited few sightseeing spots, so I will write the sightseeing and meals in one blog. Thank you for your understanding.
Table of contents
3. Shonai Clan School Chidokan
1. Konpiraso
After enjoying the bath at SHONAI HOTEL SUIDEN TERRASSE from the morning, I had a ramen as a brunch at the ramen shop “Konpiraso” in Sanze. The means of transportation from Suiden Terrace to “Konpiraso” are as follows.
A taxi from SUIDEN TERRASSE to Tsuruoka Station takes less than 10 minutes and costs about Yen 1,000
Depart Tsuruoka Station at 10:17, Uetsu Line “bound for Murakami”, arrive at Sanze Station at 10:32, fare Yen 330
It is less than 20 minutes on foot from Sanze Station to “Konpiraso”. I arrived at “Konpiraso” at 10:50, but the numbered ticket was already 29th. “Konpiraso” is open at 11 o’clock, but it seems that the store will open shortly before it opens, and it was already full.
“Konpiraso” is still a very popular ramen shop. This was my third visit. At Konpiraso, there is basically only “Soy sauce taste ramen noodles” (Yen 750). There are “Char siu men” with increased amount of char siu (Yen 900), “Menma (bamboo shoots) ramen noodles” (Yen 780) with increased amount of menma, and “Meatless (without char siu) ramen noodles” (Yen 650). You can choose between “Assari (light)” and “Kotteri (rich, more oil)” for the taste. In addition, Tuesday and Friday are free days for large volume serving.
However, strangely, there is usually no large size serving, and if you feel that the amount is not enough, you have to order a “extra ball of noodles” (Yen 100 for one ball, Yen 60 for half a ball).
However, they also offer “Miso taste ramen noodles” (Yen 800) for 20 meals only on weekdays. I have never seen anyone eating “miso soba”. Also, there is a weekday limited 30 meals “Salt taste ramen noodles” for Yen 750. After all, there are three flavors: soy sauce, miso, and salt.
I arrived at “Konpiraso” at 10:50, waited for 50 minutes, and was able to take a seat at 11:40. I didn’t feel that much before, but I felt that the service of waiters / waitresses were very slow and took longer than usual.
I ordered the light taste of “Soy sauce taste ramen noodles”, Ajitama (soft-boiled egg marinated in soy and mirin), and a large serving (free of charge) for 850 yen. I always ask for “Kotteri (rich taste, more oil)”, so I ordered “Assari (light taste)” for the first time this time. However, I was overwhelmed by the “Kotteri” that I had eaten before, so I regretted that “Assari” was not enough.
I felt that there was almost no negative impact of the application of “semi-state of emergency COVID-19 measures” to Yamagata Prefecture on January 27, the day before my visit to “Konpiraso”. I think Kotoheiso, which was very crowded even under the “semi-state of emergency COVID-19 measures,” is an amazing ramen shop.
Looking at the number plates of the car that were parked in the parking lot, most of them were Yamagata prefecture number plates (Shonai and Yamagata), so it is a ramen shop loved by the locals. However, it is also a ridiculous ramen shop with many other prefecture number plates and many customers coming from far away.
As it is still the case, “Konpiraso” is an inn. The area around “Konpiraso” is the Sanze beach, where many guests stay in the summer, but during the winter there was a problem that the number of guests was small. The shop owner started the current ramen noodle shop to attract customers in winter. At first, it seemed that it was quite difficult to attract customers, but now it has become a very popular ramen shop as mentioned above. The entrance to Konpiraso is the inn itself.
2. Chido Museum
I took a taxi from “Konpiraso” to the Chido Museum in Tsuruoka City. The number of Uetsu Lines from Sanze Station to Tsuruoka Station was very small, so I had to take a taxi. It takes about 30 minutes by taxi from “Kotoheiso” to the Chido Museum, and the fare is around Yen 5,500.
The Chido Museum has three buildings that are national important cultural properties (Former Nishitagawa District Office, Former Shibuya Household, and Former Tsuruoka police Station).
The Former Nishitagawa District Office is a pseudo-Western style building built in 1881. Since it is a building with a clock tower, it has an image similar to the Sapporo Clock Tower (National Important Cultural Property, built in 1878, the clock was installed in the bell tower in 1881 and started operation as a clock tower).
The first and second photos below are the Former Nishitagawa District Office, and the third photo is the Sapporo Clock Tower. It is interesting that the coincidence that the Former Nishitagawa District Office was completed in 1881 and the Sapporo Clock Tower resumed operation in the same year.
The Former Shibuya Household is a private house built in 1822. Originally located in a mountain village at the foot of Mt. Yudono, DEWA SANZAN, it was relocated to this area. The curve of the thatched roof is wonderful and beautiful. The condition of the Former Shibuya Household is very good.
The Former Tsuruoka Police Office is a pseudo-Western style building built in 1884. It is a wonderful building with its majestic appearance typical of a police building and unusual light blue walls.
The Goinden (Retirement Residence of the Shonai Sakai lord) was built by the 11th Shonai feudal lord Sakai Tadaaki. The Nakayashiki in Edo was dismantled, and a part of it was relocated to the site of Tsurugaoka Castle Sannomaru’s palace in 1863. It is unbelievable that the building was relocated from Edo to Tsuruoka (400km or more in a straight line, 1,000km or more for sea shipping) by ship in the late Edo period. But it is a fact. You can understand the greatness of the people of the Edo period.
Admission: Yen 800 for adults, Yen 400 for high school / university students, Yen 300 for elementary and junior high school students
3. Shonai Clan School Chidokan
The Shonai Clan School Chidokan is a nationally designated historic site. The name of Chidokan comes from a passage in the Analects.
Chidokan is a school founded in 1805 by the 9th generation of the Sakai clan of the Shonai clan, Tadanori, to promote the administration of the clan. The characteristics of Chidokan education are “individual growth,” “self-study,” and “emphasis on social work (small group discussion).”
It was a teaching that is familiar to the current education, which emphasizes raising the awareness of thinking and learning by oneself, rather than cramming knowledge, while developing the talent according to each student’s innate individuality.
4. Fruit shop Aomoriya
After sightseeing in Tsuruoka city, I took a break at “Fruit Shop Aomoriya” near Tsuruoka station. “Fruit Shop Aomoriya” is a fruit shop that the first owner started this fruit shop to bring apples from Aomori prefecture to Tsuruoka city, Yamagata prefecture. You can enjoy drinks such as cakes and coffee in the store.
There weren’t many people around Tsuruoka Station, but I thought it was a popular shop because there were multiple customers at “Fruit Shop Aomoriya”. Even in Tabelog, they have a high score of 3.59.
I ordered a very rare tart of “Yayoihime” (a tart of Shonai strawberries “Yayoihime” and “blueberry” on rare cheese cream). Both strawberries and blueberries were delicious tart. I was convinced that it was a popular shop.
After enjoying cake and coffee at “Fruit Shop Aomoriya”, I took an airport bus from Tsuruoka Airport to Shonai Airport and returned to Haneda Airport.
The transportation I used is as follows.
Depart Tsuruoka Station at 16:17, limousine bus “bound for Shonai Airport”, arrive at Shonai Airport at 16:43, fare Yen 780
Depart Shonai Airport at 17:45, ANA400, arrive at Haneda Airport at 18:50
5. Mitsubo
After arriving at Haneda Airport, I had dinner at the grilled offal restaurant “Mitsubo” near my house. “Mitsubo” is my favorite grilled offal restaurant that I have been attending for 20 years. I eat at “Mitsubo” once a month. My favorite food at “Mitsubo” is “Liver no Bukkake negi (green onion on liver)”. It was good to end the fun trip to Yamagata with delicious grilled offal in Tokyo.
Note: The departure / arrival times, fares, admission fees, meal fees, etc. of transportation listed in the text are as of the time of writing the BLOG. Please check for yourself when you go on a trip as it may change in the future.