Kyukamura Shonai Haguro, a resort hotel located within Bandai-Asahi National Park in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, is offering a spring-season limited kaiseki plan titled "Sea of Japan Sea Bream, Mountain Vegetables & Yamagata Wagyu Seasonal Cuisine" starting April 1, 2026. As snowmelt from the Dewa Sanzan mountains nourishes the land and brings forth mountain and field produce, the plan celebrates spring through dishes centered on lively seasonal ingredients unique to the Shonai region.
Tsuruoka City — UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
The Shonai region, surrounded by the mountains of the Dewa Sanzan, the Shonai Plain, and the Sea of Japan, is blessed with ingredients from land, mountain, and sea. Tsuruoka City in particular is home to numerous traditional varieties of heirloom crops — known as "zairaiku" — that have been preserved across generations through deep ties to the local land and way of life. These heirloom crops, passed down through families, continue to live on as "living cultural assets" present on people's tables and in local festivals. This blending of history and food culture led to Tsuruoka being recognized in 2014 as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, playing a role in protecting Japan's traditional food culture and sharing it with the future.
Spring-Limited Plan: "Sea of Japan Sea Bream, Mountain Vegetables & Yamagata Wagyu Seasonal Cuisine"
This special kaiseki menu from the hotel's head chef features sea bream from the nutrient-rich Sea of Japan, Yamabushi Pork — a branded pork raised exclusively by 12 farms in Haguro-cho — Yamagata Wagyu, a black-haired Japanese beef raised in the prefecture, and moso bamboo shoots, a specialty of the Shonai region. The colorful, spring-inspired presentation captures the vibrant flavors and fresh aromas of the season.
Menu
- Appetizer: Blanched mountain vegetables
- Starter: Moso bamboo shoot and mountain vegetable salad
- Sashimi: Three seasonal varieties
- Grilled: Yamagata Wagyu teppanyaki
- Hot pot: Sea bream and Yamabushi Pork nabe
- Small dish: Mountain vegetables and seafood dashi-infused dish
- Simmered: Braised moso bamboo shoot
Period: April 1, 2026 (Wednesday) – June 30, 2026 (Tuesday)
Price: From ¥18,500 per person for one night with two meals (tax included, bathing tax not included)
Based on two guests sharing one room on a weekday. A supplement of ¥3,000 applies for single-room use.
Free Shuttle Bus from JR Tsuruoka Station (for Hotel Guests)
Guests traveling by public transport can take advantage of a complimentary shuttle bus between JR Tsuruoka Station and the hotel.
Travel time: Approximately 30 minutes
Schedule:
- Pickup: Tsuruoka Station departs at 10:30 AM and 2:45 PM
- Drop-off: Hotel departs at 9:30 AM and 1:45 PM
A stop at Tsuruoka Park is also available on request. Please note that sightseeing guidance is not provided at the intermediate stop. To use the shuttle service, please contact the hotel when making a reservation or include the shuttle request in the reservation notes.
Kyukamura Shonai Haguro
Kyukamura Shonai Haguro is located about five minutes by car from the Michelin three-star cedar-lined stone steps of Haguro-san and the Dewa Sanzan Shrine at the summit of Mount Haguro. The hotel serves as a convenient base for exploring Shonai, including the Mogami River, which supported the economic development of Yamagata Prefecture, the graceful city of Sakata, and the historically and culturally rich city of Tsuruoka. In summer, it is also a popular starting point for climbing Mount Gassan, one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains.
The hotel's large communal baths draw on a private natural hot spring called "Hazuki no Yu," which contains metasilicic acid — a natural moisturizing agent — offering a skin-nourishing bathing experience.
