Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-04 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Yamadera, “Mountain Temple”, is the popular name of Risshaku-ji, northeast of the city of Yamagata. Its temple buildings cling to steep, wooded, rocky hillsides, which is what makes it so striking, and it has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. Its principal image, a statue of Yakushi Nyorai, is a hidden Buddha kept from view. It is both a Place of Scenic Beauty and a National Historic Site, and lies within the Zaō Quasi-National Park.
Yamadera Station on the Senzan Line is only about 400 m away in a straight line. We have not checked opening hours, fees or the climb itself, so check local information before you go.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Risshaku-ji konponchudo — Cp9asngf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211029 Risshaku-ji Yamagata Yamagata pref Japan67s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211029 Risshaku-ji Yamagata Yamagata pref Japan65s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211029 Risshaku-ji Yamagata Yamagata pref Japan62s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211029 Risshaku-ji Yamagata Yamagata pref Japan28s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211029 Risshaku-ji Yamagata Yamagata pref Japan27s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211029 Risshaku-ji Yamagata Yamagata pref Japan26s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211029 Risshaku-ji Yamagata Yamagata pref Japan21s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211029 Risshaku-ji Yamagata Yamagata pref Japan19s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211029 Risshaku-ji Yamagata Yamagata pref Japan119s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Yama-dera (山寺, lit. "Mountain Temple") (山号 宝珠山; Sangō Hōshu-zan) is the popular name for the Buddhist temple of Risshaku-ji (立石寺) located northeast of Yamagata, in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Its main image is a hibutsu statue of Yakushi Nyorai. The temple has been a place for pilgrimage for centuries, and is designated as both a Place of Scenic Beauty and as a National Historic Site. It is located within the borders of the Zaō Quasi-National Park. The temple buildings clinging to the steep, forested, rocky hillsides are picturesque and unusual.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-04 · Official visiting information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Nearby station
Nearby station: Yamadera (Senzan Line), about 400 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
Traveler reviews
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