Yamagata offers appealing seasonal attractions for tourists.

Suspended 15 meters above Mount Jyubuichi, I enjoy a refreshing view of small towns and autumn foliage on an overcast morning.

So there I am, suspended 15 meters in the air from a hot air balloon, right near the 482-meter peak of Mount Jyubuichi in Yamagata. I’m nestled in this basket, staring down at the patchwork of small towns and rice fields basking in the last whispers of autumn. Even in this chilly, overcast weather, it’s like a refreshing slap in the face!

It’s funny because after living in Ibaraki for six years and now Tokyo, I feel like I’m in the heart of it all. But let’s be real—nothing compares to this view. I love Tokyo and all, but whenever I look down, I think, “Man, this is a whole other level of Japan!”

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