[2025 Higashine Airport] Travel Guide for Yamagata Airport (Updated Jul)

Located in the hot spring town of Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, Tendo Hotel is a quintessential ryokan that lives up to its name. After arriving at Narita Airport at 1 PM, I planned to visit an afternoon tea spot in Tokyo, then pass through Utsunomiya and Koriyama before catching the last Shinkansen to check into the hotel past 11 PM. Upon completing the check-in process, I requested a taxi to Yamagata Airport for the next day. However, to my dismay, all taxis were fully booked. Despite contacting several taxi companies, the answer was the same: unavailable. Thankfully, the manager offered to drive me to Tendo Station at 7 AM, and I returned to my room. I considered heading to Sakurambo-Higashine Station, which is closer to Yamagata Airport than Tendo, to catch a taxi there or even walking 45 minutes to the airport if necessary. Since the hot spring was open until midnight, I decided to soak my tired body in the onsen. The outdoor bath featured a beautifully arranged artificial garden, and the quality of the hot spring water was excellent, leaving my body feeling rejuvenated. After about 15 minutes in the onsen, I returned to my room, spent some time relaxing, and fell asleep around 2 AM. I woke up at 5:30 AM, enjoyed a morning onsen, and then headed to breakfast. Breakfast was served in a grand banquet hall, where they even grilled beef for us in the morning. I started with a steak and carefully plated my breakfast, taking about 10 minutes to complete my meal setup. After snapping some photos, I indulged in the delicious breakfast. At 7 AM, I checked out and embarked on my journey. At the station, I unexpectedly managed to catch someone else's reserved taxi and safely arrived at the airport. The hotel room, recently renovated, was in excellent condition, and the mountain view was stunning. The breakfast was delightful, with a variety of dishes that were all delicious. Special thanks to the manager, who made multiple phone calls on my behalf, researched ways to get me to the airport, and even personally ensured my transportation the next day. Thanks to their efforts, I left with wonderful memories. Thank you!