Shinjo

Winters in Shinjo can be rather cold, with a lot of snow and good skiing. Summers are very nice for outdoor activities, though the rainy season (around July) is very wet. The spring and fall can be quite nice, though planning visits well in advance can be difficult, because the time of change from winter to spring and fall to winter varies from year to year. As in much of Japan, spring cherry blossom viewing is quite enjoyable. The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site. Shinjo is the northern terminus of the Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo. Coming by air would be inconvenient compared with train. The nearest airports are in Sakata and Yamagata. For those traveling by car, Shinjo is on Highway 13, going to Yamagata in the south and Akita in the north. An expressway between Yamagata and Shinjo is under construction; only the northern portion is finished. Night buses go to and from Tokyo. There is limited bus service. Traveling by car is the easiest way to go.