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City in Tōhoku, Japan
Photo: Douglas P. Perkins, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Yurihonjo (由利本荘市 Yurihonjō-shi) is a city in southern Akita Prefecture. It was formed in 2005 by the merger of many towns: Chokai, Higashi Yuri, Nishime, Iwaki, Honjo, Yashima, and Yuri.
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赤田大仏 Akata daibutsu
A large Buddha statue.
本荘文化会館 Honjō bunkakaikan
This building is the only large auditorium in Yurihonjo. It hosts many kinds of shows, such as dance shows, concerts, and karaoke contests.
本荘公園 Honjō kōen
Have a picnic. In April or May, watch cherry blossoms in the park.
法体の滝 Hottai no taki
A large waterfall with picnic and camping area and restaurant in Momoyake, Hitane, Chokai. There is also a 2-km hiking trail. The facilities are closed in winter, and the road is not plowed. However, the road is plowed in Momoyake until the last 2 km, so one can easily walk in on snowshoes.
岩城歴史民俗資料館 Iwaki rekishi minzoku shiryōkan
This reconstructed village has some museum buildings with old clothes, weapons, scrolls, and, oddly, biology research. There are also some reconstructed buildings, as well as old looms and blacksmith tools. Next to the reconstructed village there's a large tower, surrounded by a small moat. There's a restaurant and gift shop on the first floor, and the top floor has nice views of Kameda. No English is spoken, but the ticket window has an English language handout that describes each of the buildings. If the employees have time, they can demonstrate how some of the tools are used.
千体地蔵 Sentai jizō
See a thousand small statues on a path by the road.
鳥海球場 Chōkai kyū-jō
This ballpark hosts youth and adult baseball games.
鳥海高原南由利原スノーモビルランド
A snowmobile training and recreation area. Instructors can teach beginners, including children. Reservations necessary.
フォレスタ鳥海
Onsen and hotel on the base of Mt. Chokai. There are indoor and outdoor baths. Bring your own towel for bathing.
鳥海山 Chōkai-san
Climb Mt. Chokai from the Haraikawa Trailhead near Yashima. It takes around 4 hours to reach the summit, or 8 hours round trip. The mountain is 2236 m high.
丁岳 Hinoto-dake
A round trip climb up and down Mt. Hinoto takes around 5 hours. Get supplies in Jinego before going to the trail head. For a few kilometers leading to the trail head, the road is unpaved. The mountain is 1,145 m high.
野宅温泉
紫水館
This community center often hosts public events, such as guest speakers and concerts.
湯の沢温泉
This onsen is part of Hotel Masaka. It makes a nice stop after skiing at Okojoland Ski Area.
黄桜温泉・湯楽里
This is a large onsen. It has relaxing areas, baths, and an attached restaurant.
由利本荘市立本荘図書館
Largest library in Yurihonjo. Some English books are available, but most of these are in a storage room in back, so ask for help.
光風園相撲場
This is an outdoor sumo practice ring, open for all to use. Contact the Honjo Board of Education (number above) for more information.
交流学習センター
This public building has a small public library, as well as a gym and kitchen. Private groups often reserve the gym or kitchen and use them for various events. This building used to be called the Koiki Koryu Center (広域交流センター).
ぱいんすぱ新山 pain supa shinzan
This onsen opened in 2005.
鶴舞会館
This community center has large and small rooms that can be reserved for various community events.
鶴舞温泉
This is a popular onsen in central Honjo with a scenic location by a pond.
ソフトボール場
This softball ground hosts youth and adult tournaments.
はまなすファミリーボウル
A bowling alley with around 14 lanes, open until late.
西目公民館シーガル
This community center has a medium-sized auditorium. It often hosts community events like dance recitals and art exhibits.
にしめ湯っ娘ランド
This bath house is part of a hotel. It's one of the only 24-hour bath houses in Yurihonjo. The building is not noteworthy, but on the other hand, it's clean, and the bath is large. There's a large bath, a small mineral bath, a sauna, and an outdoor sitting area. Massages are available.
由利本荘市総合体育館; Yurihonjō sōgō taiikukan
This large public gymnasium hosts a variety of sports tournaments. There is also a weight room with treadmills.
長坂スキー場
A small ski area with one t-bar and one slope. Open for day and night skiing.
サイクリングターミナルやまゆり
This building has a tourist information center, a small gift shop, a small restaurant, public restrooms and vending machines, and maps. There may be bicycles for rent, as well. The annual Chokai Marathon running race starts and ends here. Closed in winter.
花立牧場工房ミルジー Hanadate bokujō kōbō milsey
This dairy has tasty milk and ice cream. Offers hands-on tours.
日新館・矢島公民館
Community center with library and small auditorium. There is free internet access in the library.
鳥海高原矢島スキー場 Yashima suki-jō
Ski area in Yashima. Ski and snowboard rentals available. Small gear shop. Two restaurants. Two ski lifts (4 person and 2 person).
鳥海荘
This hotel and onsen has a restaurant with a standard Japanese menu and tasty katsudon. Large rooms may be reserved for enkais.
ほっといん鳥海レストラン
Ramen, soba, and rice bowl dishes available.
そば処ももや
Specializes in soba. Ramen and udon also available.
横丁
Ramen restaurant.
ケーキ工房フリアンナカムラ
A cake and dessert shop. Also serves coffee and has magazines and a sitting area.
中華料理菜館
This Chinese restaurant has tasty seafood dishes.
千代菊
The special is toromi ramen, and the tanmen is also quite good. Seats 24.
五番堂昭和音酒場
This izakaya serves standard fare. On Saturdays once or twice a month, it has open mic night for local bands.
いちこま
This small udon shop has three tables and a counter. It serves many kinds of udon, and also oden. The shop is owned by a young couple, and their udon is quite good.
一よし
A traditional Japanese restaurant where you sit and eat on tatami mats. Specializes in fish. Reservations required.
グリルカインド
A very nice steak restaurant. There are only 3 tables, so reservations are required.
政どん
This izakaya's special is half of a small chicken, deep fried. The chicken sells out, so it's best to call in advance and reserve a portion. Because the chicken is greasy and tasty, this is a good location for drinking after dinner.
ラーメンおやじ本荘店
Serves several kinds of ramen and tasty gyoza. Buy food tickets at the vending machine before sitting down.
小園旅館
This ryokan is often reserved for large enkai (party) and used for formal dinners. The food is delicious. Reservations required.
ピザ・テン・フォー本荘店
A delivery or carry out pizza place. Features a selection of seafood pizzas, along with a few meat and vegetarian options.
ラーメンいちばん星
The house specialties are miso ramen and tonkotsu ramen.
ラーメンめん丸本荘店
This ramen shop is centrally located and open fairly late. Its specials are assorted spicy ramen dishes. Also, the gyoza is quite good.
鉄板ダイニング凛 Teppan dainingu rin
This restaurant has a large grill on which they cook their food. The menu is large, with an emphasis on okonomiyaki and steak.
鶴千亀万
A modern izakaya.
わらべ唄 お好み焼
An okonomiyaki restaurant. If you don't know how to cook okonomiyaki, the staff can help you learn.
ゆう
This Japanese izakaya serves traditional Akita fare, among other things. In particular, it often serves doburoku, a local sake variant. Reservations recommended.
レストランケベック
This Quebec-themed restaurant has various foreign food. Its pizza is fairly tasty, compared with normal Japanese pizza.
うどん工房いぶき
This small shop has some of the best udon in Nishime. It also has blueberry and sesame soft-serve ice cream.
鶏次楼
This restaurant and izakaya serves various Japanese food, such as ramen, soba, and katsudon. It also serves kiritanpo, a famous Akita dish.
幸楽
This Chinese restaurant has eat-in and take-out options.
大黒屋
This ramen shop is run by a former pupil of Yebisuya Ramen.
どん平
Soba restaurant.
こうや
Serves ramen, omelet-rice, and other Japanese food.
九龍 中華料理
Serves ramen and other Japanese dishes.
栄食堂
This small restaurant serving standard Japanese fare has been around for decades, and the menu has grown in length over time. Regular customers recommend the tonkatsu, friend shrimp, and chili shrimp. A regular size dish here is the equivalent of a large dish at nearby restaurants.
多賀部食堂
This eatery's special is the yakiniku bento.
魚河岸寿し
Sushi restaurant.
ゑびすやラーメン
Yebisu-style ramen. The store specialty is ginger (shoga) ramen.
恩来
This is a small snack bar with karaoke. It is the only snack bar in Hitane.
キャスタウェイズ
A small bar with karaoke. Seats 5-6 groups, or around 30 people. There's no seating charge, and reservations can be made for large groups.
ちゃちゃちゃ炉端
シルク
This is a fairly large bar with darts, a pool table, a few gaming machines, and a sitting area.
ソケット
This is a rather large bar with darts and karaoke. Drinks are fairly cheap.
パートナー スナック
鳥海大平キャンプ場
This isolated campground itself is not very scenic, but it is near the trail head for Hinoto Dake (丁岳), a good day hike. It has one toilet building, a small area for dish washing, a covered eating area, and a light. There is no resident caretaker. The road and campground are closed in winter.
鳥海荘
Hotel and onsen.
フォレスタ鳥海
Hotel and onsen on the base of Mt. Chokai. There is a restaurant, a cafe, and a gift shop. It's about 10 minutes by car to Yashima Ski Area.
ホテルまさか
Hotel Masaka hosts overnight guests and large enkais. Yunosawa Onsen is part of this hotel.
菊地旅館
鳥海山大物忌神社
This summit hut is popular with hikers who stay the night and get up to see the sun rise from the top of the mountain. Overnight fare includes a bland dinner and breakfast, so many hikers bring a little extra food. Reservations highly recommended. The hut is open from early summer to early October — in that season, the website has relevant pricing reservation information.
安楽温泉
Hotel and onsen.
本荘グランドホテル
Upscale hotel in central Honjo.
本荘マリーナオートキャンプ場
本荘ステーションホテル
This hotel is convenient for travelers without a car.
ホテルアイリス
Upscale hotel in central Honjo. There is a restaurant.
ホテル ルートイン 由利本荘
This hotel has a convenient location for people traveling by car.
三望苑キャンプ場
This campground has tent spaces and a large cabin (with electricity, running water, and kitchen) for rent. There is also a playground and zip line.
にしめ湯っ娘ランド
This 24-hour hotel and onsen is designed for people on the move. It's clean, inexpensive, and located on the highway.
大小屋ファミリーランド
This facility has a lodge, some sporting equipment, and a campground.
鳥海高原花立牧場
This campground has both tent sites, with tarps or tents for rent if desired, and cabins. The scenic area has a nice view of Mt. Chokai.
錦旅館
This ryokan can be used for lodging or for enkais. Reservations may be necessary.
由利高原オートキャンプ場
This campground has camp sites and cabins. It also has a nice view of Mt. Chokai.
Ａコープ鳥海
Grocery store. Also sells local alcohol.
コンビニ佐藤
Convenience store. Sells fresh fruit, local gifts, and post cards.
ほっといん直売所
Sells fresh and canned vegetables and gifts for tourists, such as postcards and t-shirts.
菜らんど
Sells fresh and canned vegetables and gifts for tourists such as postcards and t-shirts.
Ｙショップ・鳥海店
The only convenience store in Kawauchi.
民芸さいとう
Sells crafts, food and drink from the region. For example, the shop sells many lacquer dishes and containers made in Akita, as well as local brands of sake and kiritanpo.
セゾンふうげつ本荘店
Dessert store. Sells pieces and entire cakes, cream puffs, and other sweets.
道の駅にしめ
This rest area has a restaurant, gift shop, vending machines, and a large parking area. The gift shop has a large selection of local and regional foods, t-shirts, and crafts.
風月堂
Dessert store. Sells pieces and entire cakes, cream puffs, and other sweets.
ローソン・由利本荘矢島店
Convenience store with ATM. For late night shopping, people from Yashima and Chokai go here, because it's the only option.
By car
Within Akita, cars are the most convenient way to get around. Highway 7 connects Honjo with Akita to the north, by way of Iwaki, and Nikaho to the south, by way of Nishime.
By train
From Ugohonjo Station in Honjo, the Akebono night train goes direct to Tokyo, and the Nihonkai night train goes direct to Kyoto.
By bus
Night buses go from Tokyo to Yurihonjo. Several bus companies offer this service. Check the websites or ask at the bus station for more information.
By bus
There are several daily buses connecting Honjo to Higashi-Yuri. Buses also go from Honjo to Yashima several times a day, continuing to Kawauchi and Jinego in Chokai.
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