【山形1泊2日】さくらんぼを買いに行く旅！天童・寒河江ドライブモデルコース

Hello, fellow travel lovers！

This time, we’re heading out on what is quickly becoming an annual tradition: a trip to Yamagata to buy cherries! 🍒

The star of this trip is, of course, freshly harvested Yamagata cherries.

We stopped at our favorite Mori no Eki to pick up seasonal vegetables and cherries, visited a shrine to wish for another cherry trip next year, and then enjoyed a relaxing walk around Tendo Park.

After that, we checked into the all-inclusive Yubo Ichiraku for a relaxing hot spring stay.

Here’s our early-summer, one-night, two-day road trip from Sagamihara.

Contents

🍒 Yamagata Cherry Trip: 1-Night, 2-Day Model Course

🍒 Yamagata Cherry Trip: 1-Night, 2-Day Model Course

🍒 Yamagata Cherry Trip: 1-Night, 2-Day Model Course

Day 1

5:00 AM — Depart from Sagamihara
↓🚗　 Breakfast stop along the way
11:00 AM–12:00 PM — Mori no Eki
Shop for seasonal vegetables and freshly harvested cherries
↓ 🚗 about 7 min
12:10–12:40 PM — Kokubun Ichinomiya Suwa Shrine
Pray for another cherry trip next year
↓ 🚗 about 1 hour
2:00–3:30 PM — Tendo Park (Mt. Maizuru)
Enjoy a relaxing walk surrounded by greenery
↓ 🚗 about 3 min
3:40 PM — Tendo Onsen Yubo Ichiraku
オールインクルーシブの温泉宿で宿泊

Day 2

8:30 AM — Check out of the hotel
↓ 🚗 about 23min
9:00–10:00 AM — JA Sagae Nishimurayama
Yes, more cherries! 🍒
↓ 🚗 about 1 min
10:00–11:00 AM — Mogamigawa Furusato General Park
Enjoy the observation deck, rose garden, and Mogami River
↓ 🚗
5:30 PM — Arrive back in Sagamihara

5:00 AM｜Heading North with the Sunrise

We left Sagamihara at 5:00 in the morning while everything was still quiet.

As the sky gradually brightened, we enjoyed the sunrise while heading north toward the Tohoku region.

Getting up early isn’t always easy, but leaving before the roads get busy makes a long-distance drive much more comfortable.

11:00 AM｜Our Favorite Mori no Eki — Three Years in a Row!

Our first stop was Mori no Eki in Sendai.

This was our third year in a row visiting this local market.

It’s filled with fresh seasonal vegetables, and at this time of year, the main attraction is, of course, freshly harvested cherries!

Buying cherries at a local farm market is part of the fun, and even choosing which ones to take home gets me excited.

Shopping before sightseeing? Absolutely — because cherries are the main purpose of this trip! 🤣

12:10 PM｜Praying for Next Year’s Cherry Trip at Kokubun Ichinomiya Suwa Shrine

Kokubun Ichinomiya Suwa Shrine is only about a seven-minute drive from Mori no Eki.

This is another place we stop by every year.

We gave thanks for making it safely this far and offered a prayer.

And what did we wish for?

“Please let us stay healthy and come back for cherries again next year!”

We’re already thinking about next year. 🤣

But being able to return to the same places year after year is one of the pleasures of traveling.

👉 国分一宮諏訪神社の記事はこちら

Miraculous Blessings!? Starting My Wish-Making Routine at Ayashi Jinja (Kokubuichinomiya Suwajinja) in Sendai 🍒

Kokubu Ichinomiya Suwa Shrine in Aiko, Sendai, is said to be a powerful spot bursting with blessings! Here's a real-life report—including a slightly roundabout route and some unexpected encounters!

Amazing Blessings? Revisiting Ayashi Shrine and Discovering Another Hidden Power Spot

We revisited Ayashi Shrine (Kokubun Ichinomiya Suwa Shrine) in Aoba Ward, Sendai. During the second year of our personal wish-making routine, we explored the main shrine, the Peace Bell, and several spiritual spots deeper in the grounds, including Kanhebi Suijin Shrine, Inari Shrine, and Hebi Shrine. Surrounded by peaceful countryside scenery, this hidden shrine is a relaxing escape from central Sendai.

2:00 PM｜A Relaxing Walk Around Tendo Park (Mt. Maizuru)

From Suwa Shrine, it took about an hour to reach Tendo.

We had planned to stop at Roadside Station Tendo Onsen along the way, but there was a wait to get into the parking lot, so we decided to skip it this time.

Not forcing ourselves to stick to every part of the original plan is one of the secrets to enjoying a road trip.

Our next stop was Tendo Park on Mt. Maizuru.

We took a relaxing walk from Atago Pond through the maple garden, Atago Shrine, and up to the observation area at the top of the mountain.

It was also a perfect chance to stretch our legs after the long drive.

👉 Read more about our walk around Tendo Park here:

Exploring Tendo Park: Giant Shogi Pieces and a Hidden Shrine on Mt. Maizuru

We took a walk through Tendo Park (Mt. Maizuru) in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. Starting at the Atago Pond waterfront area, we explored the Maple Garden, Atago Shrine, the Human Shogi venue, and the summit observation plaza. This article also shares practical tips on clothing and insect protection based on our actual walk.

3:40 PM｜Relaxing at Tendo Onsen Yubo Ichiraku

Yubo Ichiraku is only about a three-minute drive from Tendo Park.

This was our accommodation for the night.

Once we checked in, the driving was officially over for the day!

We enjoyed the hot springs, sampled some craft beer, and made the most of the hotel’s all-inclusive experience.

👉 Read more about our stay at Yubo Ichiraku here:

Tendo Onsen Stay at Yubo Ichiraku: Craft Beer, Hot Springs, and the Flavors of Yamagata

We stayed at **Yubo Ichiraku TENDO SPA & BREWERY** in Tendo Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture. Through photos, this article highlights the appeal of its all-inclusive experience, featuring a tasting of five craft beers, hot springs, Yamagata beef, imoni stew, and Tsuyahime rice.

Day 2｜More Cherries in Sagae!

9:00｜JAさがえ西村山へ

We checked out of the hotel at 8:30 AM and headed toward Sagae.

About 23 minutes later, we arrived at JA Sagae Nishimurayama.

And once again...

Cherry check! 🍒

Didn’t we already buy cherries yesterday?

Yes, we did.

But when you’re in cherry country, it’s impossible not to take another look! 🤣

Seeing all the seasonal fruit lined up in the shop is enough to get anyone excited.

10:00 AM｜A Walk Around Mogamigawa Furusato General Park

Mogamigawa Furusato General Park is amazingly close — only about a one-minute drive from JA Sagae Nishimurayama.

This was our final sightseeing stop of the trip.

We enjoyed the view from the observation deck, walked through the rose garden, and even went down to the banks of the Mogami River.

The spacious park was also a great place to stretch our legs before the long drive home.

It’s conveniently located near the Smart Interchange, making it an easy final stop before leaving Yamagata.

👉 Read more about Mogamigawa Furusato General Park here:

Exploring Mogamigawa Furusato General Park: A Refreshing Stop for Roses and Beautiful Views

Take a stroll through **Mogami River Furusato General Park in Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture**. This nature-filled park near the Sagae Smart IC features scenic views from the observation deck, a beautiful rose garden, a skate park, and a giant slide—making it a great spot for a relaxing stop along your journey.

11:30 AM｜Heading Back to Sagamihara

After leaving Mogamigawa Furusato General Park, we started the drive back to Sagamihara.

We arrived home safely at around 5:30 PM.

Once again, we enjoyed fresh seasonal cherries, a relaxing hot spring stay, and just the right amount of sightseeing.

Early summer in Yamagata really is special.

Hopefully, we’ll be back again next year for more delicious cherries! 🍒

The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip!
＊＊TabiJun＊＊