Yamagata is a prefecture located in the Tohoku region of Japan.
It is located in the southwest corner of Tohoku, facing the Sea of Japan. It borders with Niigata Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture and Akita Prefecture.
All of the borders are marked by mountains, with most of the population residing in a limited central plain.
17% of the area are designated as Natural Parks, Quasi-National Parks and Prefectural Natural Parks.
While visiting Yamagata, you may consider staying at one of the more popular hot spa areas in Japan, Ginzan Onsen. Here, you can still feel the Japanese traditional atmosphere with the view of the onsen accommodations (Japanese style hotels) still in business along the river side, just as it was from long time ago.
If you want to know what to eat in Yamagata, soba (Buck wheat noodle) in Yamagata is a must for all visitors! We do have soba all over japan, but having it here is just another story. It just tastes better.
Life from the Tsushima Warm current
From the warm current from the south, the water temperature of the Syounai area can be up to 28C during the summer months. The visibility is fairly stable between Spring and Summer when other reagion may go through a murkey period due to the rise in the water temperature.
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All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrinps and Crabs
-Variety of Macro marine life
Spring season:
-Japanese Banded houndshark(Triakis scyllium)
Summer season:
-Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis)
-young Japanese amberjack (Seriola quinqueradiata)
Autumn season:
-Giant Nomura's jellyfish (Nemopilema nomurai)
Spring to Summer seasons:
-Deep water creatures from the Noth
An Island 40km off the coast of Yamagata prefecture.
It is well known to the bird watchers as there are more than 270 species of migrating birds here in this 10km Island.
Underwater, the shark hole containing large numbers of groups of Japanese Banded houndshark(Triakis scyllium) during the spring to summer season are popular among the local divers.
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A shallow diving point with the maximum depth f 10m. 1-3m seaweeds, 4-5m rocks and gravel, 6-10m sandy bottom, provides an ideal site to observe the smaller marine animals and it's natural environment. You can enjoy the change of season underwater.
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An Island 800m off the coast of Yamagata prefecture, enjoys the warm current water temperature. During the Summer seasons, the water temperature can rise up to 28c. The idol in these waters is the large size Asian sheepshead wrasse(Semicossyphus reticulatus).
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