A spring fair bringing together plants, flowers, and the flavors of Yamagata
Yakushi Festival Plant Fair
The 2026 edition of Yakushi Festival Plant Fair has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/05/08 〜 2026/05/10Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, May 8–10 / Every year
- Location
- Yakushi Park and the surrounding roads
- Area
- Yamagata Prefecture・Yamagata City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A spring festival in Yamagata City, with trees, flowers and plants, and food stalls lining Yakushi Park and the surrounding roads. It is said to have begun around 400 years ago. For 2026, information listed 20 plant nurseries and around 340 food stalls and food trucks.
About Yakushi Festival Plant Fair
The Yakushi Festival Plant Fair is a spring festival in Yamagata City, held at Yakushi Park and along nearby streets, where visitors can enjoy plants and flowers up close.
Plant nurseries and food stalls line the streets, and events include goma prayers, a Daihannya sutra-reading ceremony, and the Flower Festival.
A signature May event in Yamagata City, it is popular with people choosing plants and families.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the rows of trees, flowers and plants, and food stalls that fill Yakushi Park and the surrounding roads.
For 2026, information listed 20 plant nurseries and around 340 food stalls and food trucks. Visitors could choose garden trees, houseplants, and flowers and potted plants for Mother’s Day.
Visitors could also enjoy street food such as dondon-yaki, grilled skewers, and crêpes.
Source: 令和8年4月20日 市長記者会見｜山形市公式ホームページ
A spring fair bringing together plants, flowers, and the flavors of Yamagata
What to expect
At the venue, visitors can browse plant nurseries and choose garden trees, houseplants, flowers, and potted plants.
Food stalls and food trucks also line the surrounding area, and you can enjoy the festival streets while sampling the food.
Events associated with the Yakushi Festival include goma prayers, a Daihannya sutra-reading ceremony, and the Flower Festival.
Source: 薬師祭植木市 - Wikipedia
Location and access
- Venue and address
Yakushi Park and the surrounding roads.
Yakushi Park is located at 2-12-32 Yakushimachi, Yamagata City.
- By car
7 minutes by car from JR Yamagata Station.
- Parking
Parking is available.
Source: 薬師公園 | 山形 まるごと観光情報サイト「VISIT YAMAGATA」
Address 2-12-32 Yakushimachi, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 event was scheduled to run for 3 days, from May 8 through the 10th.
In a typical year, it is also held for 3 days, from May 8 through the 10th.
2026年の開催日程はすでに過ぎています。
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Yamagata Prefecture / Yamagata City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The venue extends beyond Yakushi Park to the surrounding streets, so plan to explore both the park and the nearby streets when you visit.
Notices indicate that traffic restrictions will be in place in areas including Yakushimachi, Shinchiku-nishi-dori and Rokkamachi.
If you’re traveling by car, check road conditions and parking requirements in advance.
Nearby attractions
Near Yakushi Park are Yamagata Gokoku Shrine and Dewakokubunji Yakushido.
Kokubunji Yakushido, at the heart of the Yakushi Festival, has a history connected to the establishment of provincial temples during the Nara period. It is said to have been moved to Yamagata between the Nanboku-cho period and the Sengoku period.
You can visit these historic sites in the area while attending the festival.
山寺 後藤美術館
山形県山形市にあった美術館
写真：Yauchi / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
山寺芭蕉記念館
山形県山形市にある記念館
写真：Yauchi / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
山形市産業歴史資料館
山形県山形市の西部工業団地にある資料館
写真：Suz-b / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
山形市野草園
山形県山形市にある植物園
写真：Qwert1234 / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
山形県産業科学館
山形県山形市の霞城セントラルにある博物館
写真：No machine-readable author provided. Crown of Lenten rose assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
山形県立博物館
山形県山形市の霞城公園にある博物館
写真：663highland / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
山形美術館
山形県山形市にある美術館
写真：No machine-readable author provided. Crown of Lenten rose assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
文翔館
山形県山形市の中心部にある旧県庁舎及び県会議事堂を修復・利活用している施設
写真：663highland / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
最上義光歴史館
山形県山形市にある博物館
写真：Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
霞城公園
山形県山形市にある公園
写真：663highland / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Yakushi Festival Plant Fair
The Yakushi Festival Plant Fair is said to have begun around 400 years ago, during the time of Lord Mogami Yoshiaki.
It is said to have begun when Lord Yoshiaki called on local farmers to restore greenery after a great fire destroyed the castle town and left it without greenery.
It later grew in scale because the season was suitable for transplanting trees and transport links improved.
Official information
The 2026 event information was presented at a mayoral press conference on the official Yamagata City website.
The official Yamagata City tourism information page also directs visitors to the Yakushi Festival Plant Fair information page.
Source: 観光情報｜山形市公式ホームページ
Yakushi Festival Plant Fair at a Glance
The Yakushi Festival Plant Fair is a spring festival in Yamagata City, with trees, flowers and plants, and food stalls lining Yakushi Park and the surrounding roads.
It is said to have begun around 400 years ago. Visitors can still choose garden trees, houseplants, and flowers for Mother’s Day.
The 2026 event was scheduled to run from May 8 through the 10th, with street food and Yakushi Festival events also on offer.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
Submit information or a correction Submit photos of this festival
