Yamagata

Fifty Shades of Green

The vibrant colours of Yamagata's countryside

Amber Mezbourian Apr 12, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>At the height of summer, the rice turns a bright yellow-green, in contrast to the dark cedar forest behind.</p>

<p>Mount Chokai is Yamagata's tallest mountain. Here, the rice fields have been flooded in preparation for planting, whilst all around the countryside comes back to life after the winter.</p>

<p>Bright green young rice plants poke out of the water.</p>

<p>A typical, yet still breathtakingly beautiful, late afternoon scene near the small town of Kaneyama.</p>

<p>Blue, yellow and of course green: the vibrant colours of Kaneyama in May.</p>

<p>A field of rice spreads out like a perfectly manicured lawn.</p>

<p>The slopes of Mount Gassan are hidden under deep snow for much of the year, but during a brief window at the height of summer, they burst back into life.</p>

<p>Yamagata is well-known throughout Japan for its fruit production, in particular its juicy sweet cherries. From mid-June, it's possible to visit one of the prefecture's many fruit farms and pick (and of course eat) them yourself.</p>

<p>At the famous mountain temple of Yamadera, as you climb the steps through the shady undergrowth you'll pass mossy statues and carvings along the way.</p>

<p>Shades of green and dappled sunlight in a tranquil temple garden.</p>

<p>Even the water in the volcanic Okama Lake, at the summit of Mount Zao, turns a deep teal as the clouds roll in.</p>

<p>As autumn approaches, the trees on the mountains change to a mixture of greens and reds.</p>

Whilst the sakura is in full bloom in Kyoto and Tokyo, in Yamagata there are still blizzards and snow lies thick on the ground until April. From mid-May onwards, though, an extraordinary transformation takes place. As nature finally awakens from its slumber, trees burst back into life. Flowers appear overnight, and all around, the previously bare earth becomes vibrant once again.

The snow on the mountain tops melts away to reveal rich vegetation below. The rice that is planted in May soon grows tall and thick. From peaceful temple gardens to the fields and forests that surround the towns and villages of this rural prefecture, there is greenery everywhere.

Come to Yamagata during the summer months and you’ll be amazed by how many different shades of green you can see!

Amber Mezbourian @amber.mezbourian

I spent three years living in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET Programme, not knowing what to expect but with images of Tokyo, geisha and Mount Fuji in my mind. I was placed in Yamagata prefecture in a small rural town that I couldn't find in any guidebook. I learnt to sno...