text:
Yallingup

Yallingup is a beachside town of 1,200 people (2021) in the Margaret River region of Western Australia.

Bus
TransWA run the SW1 road coach service from East Perth to Yallingup, departing Su–Th at 9AM and 12:15PM, and Friday at 9AM and 4PM. There is no Saturday service. Instead of getting the bus all the way from East Perth, it can be nicer to get the Australind rail service from Perth Station to Bunbury, and then change (to the above coach service). The coaches arrive in Yallingup at 1:25PM, 4:35PM, or 8:34PM.

Get around
You may not be able to walk between the beach and the caves - too far and too steep. The walk between Caves House and the Caves is a nice bush walk. A car or a tour are the best options to see the area.

Do

 * Snorkelling. Yallingup has the southernmost occurrence of tropical fish in Western Australia, and there is a protected reef just to the south of the main surfing beach. Take your snorkel and have a look around.
 * Swimming or Surfing The beach is sandy, with a reef break further out.
 * Snorkelling. Yallingup has the southernmost occurrence of tropical fish in Western Australia, and there is a protected reef just to the south of the main surfing beach. Take your snorkel and have a look around.
 * Swimming or Surfing The beach is sandy, with a reef break further out.

Eat
Caves House at the top of the hill. A cafe at the bottom of the hill by the beach. There are barbecues by the beach too.

Drink
Caves house is the pub in Yallingup. There is no nightlife to speak of.

Sleep

 * Caves House a short distance from the caves at the top of the hill.

Go next

 * Dunsborough
 * East
 * Busselton
 * Local places
 * Wiliabrup, Yeverton, Quindalup, Yallingup Siding, Quendjinup

 * South
 * Via Caves Road - Margaret River

title: Yallingup


text:
Yalova

Yalova is a city in the Eastern Marmara region of Turkey, with a population of 128,933 in 2020. It's a ferry port on the south coast of the Sea of Marmara and most visitors are just passing through; the main reason to linger is for the geothermal springs.

Yalova is also the name of the province and peninsula extending west. For the west tip of that peninsula, see Armutlu.

Understand
Yalova means "plains of coastal mansions" - it's hemmed in by mountains but spreads along the shore. It stands at the point where the Sea of Marmara narrows into the Gulf of Izmit, so it's long been a ferry port on one of the routes between Constantinople and Smyrna, nowadays Istanbul and Izmir. In antiquity Yalova was known as Pylae (Greek: Πύλαι) meaning "gates", and attracted a cosmopolitan merchant population.

But that was its downfall in the inter-ethnic strife of the last days of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey was defeated in the First World War and Smyrna was awarded to Greece, but Greece had greater ambitions and in 1920 marched on Ankara. They were thrown back by Turkish resistance under Mustafa Kemal, and in retreat carried out massacres and a scorched earth policy along the Yalova peninsula. The conflict was settled by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.

The mountains that create the peninsula have been thrown up by ructions along the fault line south of the Sea of Marmara. Yalova is one of several places with geothermal hot springs gushing out of the depths. But the fault is still active, and in 1999 there was a major earthquake across the region. As well as the human cost, the city lost its stock of ancient and traditional buildings, and what you see now is modern.

Most travellers towards Bursa and Izmir now sweep across the Gulf of Izmit on the Osmangazi Bridge, and bypass Yalova. But it remains a ferry port, and lots of Istanbul residents have holiday homes here.

By boat
IDO car ferries sail every 2 hours from Istanbul Yenikapı, just south of the Old City, taking 75 min. Pricing is dynamic but in 2022 an adult foot passenger pays about 80 TL.

They also sail hourly from Pendik on Istanbul's Asia Side, taking 45 min, for an adult fare in 2022 of 45 TL.

is central in town.

has IDO car ferries from Eskihisar near Gebze across the Gulf. They run continuously 24 hours, taking 45 min, and in Aug 2022 the fare for a car and all its occupants is 130 TL. No booking, just turn up and pay. Dolmuşes ply between Topçular and Yalova.

By bus
Lüks Yalova have the most convenient service from Istanbul, running every two hours from Harem east bank of the Bosphorus, for a fare in 2022 of 75 TL. They also have daily buses to Yalova from Ankara, Izmir and Alanya.

Istanbul Konfor have hourly buses from Sabiha Gökçen Airport and three a day from Istanbul Airport.

Metro Turizm buses run every two hours from Istanbul Samandıra Tesis way out in the east suburbs, taking an hour. Flix Bus (formerly Kamil Koç) only run once a day.

Pamukkale buses run here from southern Marmara cities such as Bursa, Izmir and Çanakkale.

the inter-city bus station is south edge of town, 5 km along the Bursa highway. Take a dolmuş for downtown.

Dolmuşes run from the ferry pier (look for the booth) to Orhangazi every 30 min, to İznik hourly, and to Yenişehir every two hours.

By road
From Istanbul or Ankara take O-5 / E881 (toll) across Osman Gazi Bridge, then exit onto the coast road west. From Izmir take O-5 north past Bursa.

Get around
Yalova sprawls, with several outlying towns such as Termal (for hot springs), Çınarcık and Çiftlikköy (for beaches) and Topçular (for ferries from Eskihisar). For these you need a dolmuş. They're light blue or shocking pink and ply along Atatürk Cd and Fatih Cd, and to all main sites. In town their main hub is by the ferry terminal (ask for İDO); for town centre ask for Heykel or Merkez.

Taxis also wait at the ferry terminal.

See

 * Gazi Paşa Cd is the long beachfront boulevard, mostly pedestrianised and lined with cafes.
 * commemorates the disaster of 17 Aug 1999, when the region suffered a 7.4 magnitude earthquake centred on Izmit. Some 18,000 people died, 2500 of them in Yalova. When the town rubble was cleared, it was dumped on the coast to create this area of reclaimed land, now a park. The monument is a corridor of slabs bearing the names of those lost, as if you were walking up a shattered deserted street.
 * Open Air Museum (Açık Hava Müzesi) is a fancy name for a few Grecian column fragments on the grass between the Paper Museum and Raif Dinçkök events venue.
 * ("Black Church") is the shell of a 6th century Byzantine church. It's 4 km east in Çiftlikköy, within the courtyard of a residential development, so you can only squint in from the street. Çiftlikköy is a straggling beach resort.
 * west is the main beach strip, a little Istanbul-by-the-sea full of city dwellers' second homes.
 * ("Black Church") is the shell of a 6th century Byzantine church. It's 4 km east in Çiftlikköy, within the courtyard of a residential development, so you can only squint in from the street. Çiftlikköy is a straggling beach resort.
 * west is the main beach strip, a little Istanbul-by-the-sea full of city dwellers' second homes.
 * west is the main beach strip, a little Istanbul-by-the-sea full of city dwellers' second homes.
 * is a geothermal area 12 km southwest of Yalova. The first impression is not great, as a rash of building stretches all the way up the valley from town to the dam which creates a reservoir lake. Continue west into the forested hills above the lake and the view improves. Lots of spa hotels here plus public hammams and a large public swimming pool. Atatürk Mansion is a small museum 200 m south of Limak Thermal Hotel, open Tu-Su 10:00-17:00.
 * is a cascade of waterfalls in the hills beyond Termal. It's easily reached with your own car. Otherwise take a dolmuş to Üvezpınar, then hike or take a taxi the last 7 km to the falls. In summer there are also minibuses from Termal right up to the falls, a few times daily. At the entrance there is a combined fee of 20 TL (2022) per group for the car park and admission; it is uncertain how they sort this out if you didn't arrive by a car. See below for the "Green-Blue Road" onward to Armutlu.
 * is a cascade of waterfalls in the hills beyond Termal. It's easily reached with your own car. Otherwise take a dolmuş to Üvezpınar, then hike or take a taxi the last 7 km to the falls. In summer there are also minibuses from Termal right up to the falls, a few times daily. At the entrance there is a combined fee of 20 TL (2022) per group for the car park and admission; it is uncertain how they sort this out if you didn't arrive by a car. See below for the "Green-Blue Road" onward to Armutlu.

Do

 * Altinbaş Lunapark is a brash chain funfair by the marina, open daily 11:30 to midnight.
 * Çınarcık has the best beach and is the party town.
 * Thermal springs bubble out of the mountain at 60 °C in Termal and elsewhere along the ridge to Armutlu. They taste very salty, with sulphate / carbonate / chloride of calcium and sodium to 2 grams per litre, slightly acidic, but not much metal. They're mildly radioactive from radon, but within the permitted range. All the hotels in Termal have spa facilities and there are public hammams.
 * Green-Blue Road (Yeşil-Mavi Yol) is a switchback road along the spine of the forested peninsula. It's paved and suitable for 2WD, but signposting is erratic. Leave the coast highway at Çınarcık to ascend west to Erikli waterfalls, Teşvikiye forest, and the Great and Small Bottomless Lakes (Büyük Dipsiz Göl and Küçük Dipsiz Göl, both being craters). See Armutlu for points further west.

Buy

 * Yalova bazaar is on Cengiz Koçal Cd opposite the marina and dolmuş station, open M W Sa 07:00-20:00. It has fresh food, housewares and clothing. Other nearby stalls are open daily, as is Carrefour 10:00-22:00.
 * Gazi Paşa Cd has the usual High Street chain stores.

Eat

 * Yalova near the marina has Doyum Lokantası, Kent Lokantası, Latika, Güven Lokantası, Kardeşler, Kervan, Yalova Gurme, Özbaşkanlar, Yalova Balıkçısı, Yildiz Kebap, Kadirga Yemek, Balık sofrası, Lokanta Cihangir, and Tike right by the ferry pier.
 * Local specialties: balık ekmek is fish sandwiched within a half-loaf, from the floating balıkcı who fish from the river. Yalova Sutlusu is a milky, coconut-infused baklava.
 * Dondurma means an ice-cream cafe. Balim & Tadim at Ziya Paşa Sk 12/D is a good example, open daily 09:00 to midnight.
 * Arabic food is common in Termal, as the hot springs attract visitors from the Middle East. Falafels, hummus, ful medames are all staples there, but less often found in Turkey. Hadramout Mandi Kitchen is near Yalova Marina at Fatih Cd 36.

Drink

 * In Yalova you mostly drink in the cafes. These stayed open during Covid, whilst in 2022 the free-standing bars remain closed.
 * Çınarcık has more of a pub strip, but these are likewise closed.

Sleep

 * Hotel Şeref is a decent budget option 200 m east of Karot on Gazi Paşa Cd.
 * Termal the hot springs district 18 km southwest has lots of hotels, including Limak (below), Blackbird, Zir Dream, Green Termal, Moringa, Kapri, Diamond, Saray and Thermalium, plus pansiyons.
 * Çınarcık has lots of hotels and pansiyons, such as Grand Koru, Yenice, Grand Krone, Ki Boutique and Lion.
 * Termal the hot springs district 18 km southwest has lots of hotels, including Limak (below), Blackbird, Zir Dream, Green Termal, Moringa, Kapri, Diamond, Saray and Thermalium, plus pansiyons.
 * Çınarcık has lots of hotels and pansiyons, such as Grand Koru, Yenice, Grand Krone, Ki Boutique and Lion.
 * Termal the hot springs district 18 km southwest has lots of hotels, including Limak (below), Blackbird, Zir Dream, Green Termal, Moringa, Kapri, Diamond, Saray and Thermalium, plus pansiyons.
 * Çınarcık has lots of hotels and pansiyons, such as Grand Koru, Yenice, Grand Krone, Ki Boutique and Lion.
 * Çınarcık has lots of hotels and pansiyons, such as Grand Koru, Yenice, Grand Krone, Ki Boutique and Lion.

Connect
Yalova and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of March 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Armutlu south side of the peninsula also has hot springs - take the leisurely scenic Green-Blue Road through the mountains.
 * Esenköy is a beach resort 32 km west of Yalova on the coast road to Armutlu.
 * Bursa was the Ottomans' first city, and it's full of historic sights.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Yalova


text:
Yalta

Yalta (Russian, Ukrainian: Ялта) is a resort town on the Crimean Peninsula.

Understand
Yalta is a kitschy place, with heritage going back to the 19th century and its use as an exclusive sanatorium and also to communist-era mass tourism. Today mass tourism still sustains the city, which is understandable given its beautiful surroundings and proximity to many of Crimea's major sights.

Summer sees the city inundated with mainly Russian and tourists. However, consider a visit at any time of year: average temperatures are always above freezing (though it can and does occasionally freeze). Spring and autumn see some positively pleasant weather that can reach into high the 20s °C. Winters are not as cold as elsewhere in the region. Protected from the North by the mountains and warmed by the Black Sea, there is never a lot of snow in the winter, but beware of the winds as they can be bitingly cold.

Russian is the main language - getting by without a basic grasp will be difficult but not impossible. Ukrainian is also spoken. Crimean Tatar, which has a dialect that is very closely related to Turkish, is spoken by the predominantly Muslim Crimean Tatar people: if you speak Crimean Tatar (and even if you don't!), you will be warmly welcomed by the Crimean Tatars. English is not widely spoken, but try your luck with younger people if you have to speak in English.

People are generally friendly and crime in this city of over 80,000 people is low. Tourists are safe as long as they stay sensible: don't flash your cash, avoid unlit pathways at night (if only to avoid the drunks), and try to judge whether a strangers buying you drinks is being hospitable (most likely) or sinister (less likely, but possible).

Crimea is not a rich region and many of the services are not up to Western standards. Be patient and appreciate the good side of Yalta.

Get in
Simferopol is Crimea's main transport hub. From Simferopol the world's longest trolleybus route wends a scenic way to Yalta via Alushta for around 3 hours. The quality of the trolley buses varies. While the old Soviet ones may look retro-cool, consider waiting for one of the more modern, less characterful but more comfortable ones. Minibuses are faster but a bit more expensive (€2). A taxi will typically cost €10-20 and it will take just over an hour.

Buses also run to Sevastopol and other cities throughout Crimea and beyond.

Get around
A decent network of cheap minibuses connects the centre of town and the outlying areas. Pay either when you board or when you get off: this can be slightly confusing at times! Taxis are everywhere; some are genuine, and some are just people offering you a ride for a fare. Speaking English means the fare goes up, but it is still very reasonable, so learn to haggle - if the price is too high walk away as there will always be someone else to bargain with.

Yalta is a city that is spread out over a large area (Greater Yalta). The centre and harbor is a great place to walk around, but just beware of the local drivers as they tend not to give way for pedestrians. Traffic in the city in the summer months is heavy and you can be stuck in a jam if you go by a motor vehicle. Sometimes you may find it is much quicker to walk. The locals always dress up and walk around the harbor front at night - it's a great way to pass the evening away, or you can watch the people go by enjoying a drink at one of many cafes. The waterfront is well over a mile long - from McDonald's on the east end to the Hotel Oreanda on the west. Walk the length to choose your beach, which will be somewhat "rocky".

Ferries connect the central ferry port (on Ulitsa Ruzvjelta) to nearby beaches and towns and the Swallow's Nest (famous folly perched on a cliff and now an Italian restaurant). Sum luxury cruise ships visited Yalta during the summer, on their way around the Black Sea, which is certainly a nice way to travel, but all ships from EU destinations have stopped.

Useful bus numbers
Minibuses to the palaces sometimes, but not always, have "Дворец" (meaning palace) mentioned on their route listings.

In Livadia, the 27, 32 and 102 use a stop on the Sevastopolskoye Shosse main road, which is uphill from the palace; the number 11 ends up on a smaller road on the same level as the palace.
 * 11 - runs from the main bus station and calls at stops on Ulitsa Kievskaya and at the top of Ulitsa Pushkinskaya before going on to end at the Livadia Palace.
 * 32 - runs from the minibus stand in central Yalta to Livadia Palace, the Gaspra Sanatorium (next to the Swallow's Nest), Miskhor (next to the lowest station of the Ai-Petri cablecar), and finally the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka.
 * Minibus 27 and bus 102 - run a similar route to the 32 but go from Yalta bus station, not the city centre.
 * 5 and 100 - run between Livadia Palace and Massandra Palace via central Yalta.
 * Trolleybus 2, minibus 34 and bus 29 - run from the stop on Ulitsa Moscovskaya to Verkniy Massandrovskiy Park, from where it's a long walk uphill to the Massandra Palace - the 34 continues on to the Nikita Botanical Gardens.

See

Most of the sights are some way out of town and will require a bus, boat or taxi to reach. However, within the town you can see:

 * Chekhov's house - 112 Ulitsa Kirova. Anton Chekhov wrote "The Lady with the Dog" and many of his other short stories here. The house is small and there is a museum nearby dedicated to the writer, well worth a look if you enjoy his work. Sadly, Chekhov's house is falling into disrepair, due to lack of funds. The good news is a fund has been started to raise a large sum of money to full restore the house in the future.
 * Lenin's Statue - proudly guards the eastern end of the waterfront promenade, the perfect East meets West landmark.
 * Waterfront promenade and beaches - the promenade (Lenina Naberzhenaya) has shops, cafes and various amusements. The beaches have smooth pebbles, not sand. Some are better than others and for a small entrance fee, you can get access to a nice beach close to the Soviet tourist monster, Hotel Yalta, which is to the east of the city centre. Summers are very hot, 32 °C or hotter, If you buy a drink from the cafe on some of the beaches, they will lend you an umbrella!
 * Roosevelt Street (Russian: Улица Рузвельта Ulitsa Ruzvyelta) - not such a tourist draw but a quaint reminder of the city's important role in World War II. Try to find the plaque with Roosevelt's profile in relief and a short dedication in Russian and English.
 * Waterfront promenade and beaches - the promenade (Lenina Naberzhenaya) has shops, cafes and various amusements. The beaches have smooth pebbles, not sand. Some are better than others and for a small entrance fee, you can get access to a nice beach close to the Soviet tourist monster, Hotel Yalta, which is to the east of the city centre. Summers are very hot, 32 °C or hotter, If you buy a drink from the cafe on some of the beaches, they will lend you an umbrella!
 * Roosevelt Street (Russian: Улица Рузвельта Ulitsa Ruzvyelta) - not such a tourist draw but a quaint reminder of the city's important role in World War II. Try to find the plaque with Roosevelt's profile in relief and a short dedication in Russian and English.

Beyond walking distance of the centre can be found:

 * Swallow's Nest - just visible from central Yalta (look west from the waterfront) and closer to Alupka, this famous folly is a symbol of Yalta.
 * Swallow's Nest - just visible from central Yalta (look west from the waterfront) and closer to Alupka, this famous folly is a symbol of Yalta.
 * Swallow's Nest - just visible from central Yalta (look west from the waterfront) and closer to Alupka, this famous folly is a symbol of Yalta.
 * Swallow's Nest - just visible from central Yalta (look west from the waterfront) and closer to Alupka, this famous folly is a symbol of Yalta.
 * Swallow's Nest - just visible from central Yalta (look west from the waterfront) and closer to Alupka, this famous folly is a symbol of Yalta.

Do

Walk The Tsar's Path (Tsarskaya Tropa, Russian: Царская тропа; also called the Solnechnaya Tropa, Russian: Солнечная тропа) that runs for 6 km from the Livadia Palace to the castle-like former coastal home of Prince A. N. Golitsyn, a friend of Alexander I, now the Yasnaya Polyana resort. Minibus 26 will take you back to Yalta. The path keeps a very level course until near the end where it heads uphill to Yasnaya Polyana. However at the point where it starts to go uphill, if you head downhill on the nearby road you will end up at the Swallow's Nest. The start of the path may be hard to find - it is slightly downhill of the palace and the row of buildings next to the chapel.

Explore the region around Yalta - it is steeped in history and there are many interesting places to visit within an hour's mini bus ride from the city.

Buy
Foreign bank debit and credit cards can be tricky to use at ATMs and banks, cash will likely be needed. Exchange offices are plentiful and exchange rates are pretty good.

All areas of Crimea are famous for their red onions. It is said that they used to be much sweeter than they are now, but they are still a delicacy that are quite expensive elsewhere.

Vodka is very cheap and plentiful - you will be amazed at the many varieties available. Take a trip down to the souvenir shops located on the far side of the harbor, for numerous trinkets and other interesting reminders of Yalta. If you speak English that the prices tend to go up!

Honey In this region you can buy almost everywhere fresh honey from apiaries. The best prices are during the summer time.

Eat
There are several very nice little cafes at the main market (Ovoshnoi Rynok). They are not expensive, and are cleaner and serve fresher food than many in other areas. They have quite a good selection of food and it is well prepared. Best though to only eat hot food, for safety's sake.

Try shopping in the many markets for local produce. There are great bargains to be had on meat and vegetables. You might have to overlook some of the health standards, but as long as you wash and cook the food well - you should not have a problem.

Drink

 * There's a nice cafe just over the little bridge at the port. You need to enter a building and go to the highest floor to reach it. It's not something most people dare, but if you do it you're rewarded with a great view of the town, and nice cocktails.

To get the best Vodka, take a visit to one or two of the supermarkets outside the city centre and you will find a great selection at prices you will not believe.

Sleep
Summer sees the city inundated with tourists and there is are lots of apartments and hotels available. Apartments come in all shapes and sizes but do not expect Western standards most of the time. However, do not judge an apartment by its outside: many decent places are housed in pretty shabby looking buildings.

Prices vary and are dependent upon the apartment's proximity to the sea and how much the owner think you can afford to pay! Try to avoiding "foreigner pricing" by speaking Russian, by not dressing flashily or showing wealth, and by negotiating in rubles rather than dollars or euros. Better places with all the mod cons may go for US$50-200 per night.

Apartments further away from the centre might also have their water turned off at night - this is common in Ukraine, be warned! You might also suffer power cuts, but this all adds to the local flavour. Also, keep your apartment clear of garbage in summer, otherwise you will attract giant cockroaches!

There is a hostel of the conventional type for those who are uncomfortable negotiating (and it can be tricky) but remember with a bit of effort you could get a whole private apartment for not very much more than the price of a single dorm bed.

Internet
A free wifi network covers the central area and waterfront. Places with wifi abound but wifi combined with sea view, decent coffee, power outlets and toilets is surprisingly hard to find. One option is:

There's also a few internet cafes. Try Internet Cafe Stalker at 14 Ulitsa Kievskaya.

Post
The main post office is next to the Lenin statue at the eastern end of the waterfront promenade.

Go next
There are several interesting places within the Greater Yalta area. Many are listed in the See section. Also nearby are:

 * Alupka - (about 30 min from Yalta) home to the Vorontsovsky Palace, a fanciful mixture of Middle-Age and Moorish architecture. Also one of the longest cable car rides in Europe up Ai-Petri (St Peter's peak), the views are great.
 * Gurzuf - small seaside town with a Tatar flavour.

Going beyond the Greater Yalta area may take you to:

 * Alushta - the next major coastal city east of Yalta. It's on the Yalta - Simferopol trolleybus route.
 * Balaklava - (about 1½ hours from Yalta) beautiful harbor town overlooked by a Genoese fortress towers and a former closed city due to its submarine base.
 * Bakhchisaray - the scenic journey through the mountains and canyons makes this route an appealing alternative to the coastal road.
 * Sevastopol - busy bustling city of over a half a million people. Home to the Russian navy's Black Sea fleet.
 * Simferopol - gateway to Crimea. Good shopping and plenty of places to eat.

title: Yalta


text:
Yamachiche

Yamachiche is a municipality of the Maskinongé Regional county municipality (RCM), in Mauricie, in Quebec, in Canada. Yamachiche is registered among the Villages-relais du Québec (Quebec Relay Villages).

The village of Yamachiche is built around the junction of route 138 (serving the north shore of the St. Lawrence River) and route 153 which leads north to Shawinigan, via Saint-Barnabé-nord. Yamachiche is a town of about 2,800 people (2016) in Mauricie.

Every spring and fall, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop off by landing on Lac Saint-Pierre (and its tributaries) and on the surrounding land, many of which are flooded during the snowmelt period.

History
In 1653, the area was part of a fief granted to Pierre Boucher de Grosbois, Governor of Trois-Rivières, but because of war with the Iroquois First Nation, it could not be colonized until the beginning of the 18th century.

In 1703, the first colonists, the three Gélinas brothers, settled in the area and by 1706, there were 7 families. In 1711, the first chapel was built, dedicated to Sainte Anne by Récollet Siméon Dupont, and the Parish of Sainte-Anne was formed in 1722. A year later, the settlement consisted of about 20 families and 100 persons.

In 1725, the Chemin du Roy (French for "King's Highway") was built connecting it with Louiseville and Pointe-du-Lac. In 1764, the West Grosbois Seignory was purchased by Conrad Gugy, thereby becoming the first French-Canadian Seignory in English possession. Between 1765 and 1790, Yamachiche grew quickly with new settlers from Acadia (Acadians expelled by the English) and from the United States, particularly Loyalists from Massachusetts.

The houses in the village were generally built in the second half of the 19th century. They have common characteristics: large, red brick, large gallery on one or two sides of the house. The main patrimonial houses located on rue Sainte-Anne (route 138) are: Barthelémy-Caron house (531 Ste-Anne), Louis-Léon-Lesieur Désaulniers house (571-573 Ste-Anne), Louis-Octavien-Maxime-Bellemare house and Banque-provinciale-du-Canada building.

Geography
The territory of Yamachiche has a relatively uniform relief which is favorable to agriculture. The main hamlets are: Village-des-Caron, Grande Acadie, Petite Acadie and Petite Rivière.

At Yamachiche, the north shore of Lac Saint-Pierre has two bays including Anse de Yamachiche which is separated by two points (peninsulas) attached to the north shore and crossed respectively by the Langevin stream and the Yamachiche river.

Get in
Quebec Autoroute 40 provides access to Yamachiche with 3 interchanges.

The Express Bleu bus leaves from the Cégep in Trois-Rivières M-F at 07:55, 11:55, and 17:55, and stops 30-40 min later in Yamachiche at Porte de la Mauricie, Hôtel de Ville, and the Shell Station Service Shell (871, rue Ste-Anne). The fare is $6, children under 6 free (Apr 2019).

title: Yamachiche


text:
Yamaga

Yamaga (山鹿) is a small city in Kamoto district of Kumamoto prefecture.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

Get in
Buses run from Kumamoto City, Ozu Town (via Kikuchi) and Setaka (in southern Fukuoka prefecture). All buses go to the Yamaga bus terminal. Kyushu Sanko is the main bus company.

Car is the most convenient way to visit Yamaga. From Kumamoto City drive north on Route 3. From Fukuoka, drive along the Kyushu Expressway, exit at Kikusui and follow signs to Yamaga.

The Kumamoto to Yamaga cycling path begins on the Iseri River behind Kumamoto castle and continues through Ueki Town, central Yamaga ending at the Yamaga museum and cycling terminal.

See
Yamaga Lantern Dance Festival - Yamaga Toro Matsuri, in Japanese, is held on the evenings of August 15th and 16th every year. One thousand women, dressed in yukata (cotton kimono) and wearing lanterns strapped on their heads, dance elegantly to traditional tunes.

Fudougan (不動岩, Immobility rock)- It is the rock of strange shape made from the metamorphic rock. The height is about 80 meters. It is said that the rock looks like someone's face. The rock is illuminated for a few days twice a year, at Obon in summer and in winter at New Year.

Yachiyo-za Kabuki Theater- Yachiyo-za is a traditional Kabuki theater built in 1910 and was designated as a National Important Property in 1988. Visitors are welcome to enjoy various performances, as well as just to take a look at the ambience.

Do
Onsen (Hot Water Gushing from Springs)- With its history of more than one thousand years, the smooth and clear water of Yamaga Hot Springs is highly evaluated in Japan.

Handball - watch Japan Handball League games Yamaga Culture and Sports Center The Omron team, based in Yamaga, is in the National Women's Handball League. Tickets are sold at the door, ¥1000 for adults, or ¥500 for children. There is a season pass for ¥3000.

Yamaga Toro Roman - Paper Lanterns & Traditional dance every Friday and Saturday night until 24 February lanterns along the street are lit from 17:30. Traditional Lantern Dance and Taiko Drum performance at Yachiyoza theater, starting at 20:30, doors open at 19:30, tickets cost ¥500.

Buy
Yamaga Lanterns — Yamaga lanterns are made of only Japanese paper and paste. Their complex structures achieved by the refined craftsmanship are amazing.

Kutami Shibu Uchiwa — Uchiwa is a Japanese traditional paper fan. They are not only of practical use on hot days in summer but also appreciated as art.

Go next

 * Kikuchi
 * Ueki
 * Gyokuto
 * Nagomi
 * Tamana
 * Kumamoto
 * Tachibana
 * Kuroki
 * Miyama

title: Yamaga


text:
Yamagata

Yamagata (山形) is the prefectural capital of Yamagata prefecture. Zao Onsen, the largest ski resort in Tohoku that doubles as a hot spring resort, is within city limits, but it's 40 minutes away bus and covered in a separate article.

Understand
Yamagata has been best known by outsiders for Mount Zao's hot springs and Yamadera for centuries. In fact, Matsuo Basho stopped by Yamadera on July 13, 1689 as part of his poetic journey, Narrow Road to the Deep North, and penned the following famed haiku poem:

 * 閑さや 岩にしみ入 蟬の声
 * shizukasa ya iwa ni shimiiru semi no koe
 * Silence, and seeping into the rocks — the cry of the cicada
 * — Matsuo Bashō

The meaning of this will be instantly apparent should you visit the temple (or most anywhere in Japan) during the late summer - judging from the date, it is considered Basho heard a quieter kind of cicada, niiniizemi (Platypleura kaempferi). (though other kinds' shrilling does sometimes get intense enough to sound like it is drilling through rock!) To this day, for many visitors to Yamagata, it is the desire to visit Yamadera that compels them to come in the first place and from there branching out to discover other gems of the city and prefecture.

History
Like much of the Tohoku Region, Yamagata was inhabited by Ainu and Emishi people until they were expelled in 708 AD as the Yamato pushed northward and the area that is now Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture was annexed as Dewa Province in 712 AD. The capital at the time was in Sakata, but the area in and around present-day Yamagata City had a sizable population. Forts were built during this time that would later be expanded to become Yamagata Castle, Yamadera was built as the most prominent temple in the province, and the hot springs of Mount Zao were already known and frequented by visitors.

The Mogami Clan (from the Shiba Clan) ruled over what is modern Yamagata Prefecture (minus the southern Okitama area) during the Sengoku Period. The Mogami sided with the Eastern Army during the Battle of Sekigahara, so they were not only able to keep their land, they were rewarded and became the 5th wealthiest domain in the country under Mogami Yoshiaki who built up Yamagata Castle. After he died, the Mogami had difficulty establishing a proper successor and in 1622 the land was taken by the Shogunate from the Mogami and divided into three areas. Yamagata City was part of the Murayama Region and the Torii Clan was chosen as the rulers but the area continued struggling with its leadership, going through 13 leaders in a very short period.

When the feudal era ended, Yamagata City was made its own prefecture but five years later in 1876 it was combined with surrounding areas (also "prefectures" at the time) to form modern Yamagata Prefecture with the city as its capital. Yamagata was designated an official city in 1889 and gained special city status in 2001.

Climate
Yamagata City has hot, humid summers and snowy winters. Some might assume that being in the north gives it milder summers than much of the country, but the city rests in a valley between mountains which makes summers hotter. In fact, the city set the record for the hottest temperature recorded in the nation (40.8°C) in 1933 and held it for 74 years until 2007 when Kumagaya and Tajimi both recorded temperatures of 40.9°C. The autumn season typically begins in late October and peaks in early November. Yamadera is especially popular during this time. Winters are snowy, and the ski season on Mount Zao begins around mid-December. The famous Zao "Snow Monsters" are typically at their best in February.

Tourist information

 * The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

 * The city has official info pages in English on Matcha.

By train
The Yamagata Shinkansen zips from Tokyo to Yamagata in 2 hr 45 min at a cost of ¥10,690, and continues onward to Shinjo. From Fukushima onward the Shinkansen travels on an ordinary track and thus at Limited Express Train speeds.

By bus
JR Bus Tohoku runs an overnight bus service, the Sakuranbo, from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. The trip takes about 6 hr 15 min and costs ¥6,500.

Get around
Most of the town is centered around the JR station in the middle of town. Yamagata has a bus route, taxis, and bicycles for rent. Most of the most popular tourist destinations have bus routes that run to various areas around town including the areas further out, such as Yamadera and Zao Onsen. On weekends and holidays during the open season, some of the Zao Onsen buses terminate at the Okama Crater.

Yamako Bus (山交バス) timetables can be found here (English).

For Yamadera, it may be more convenient to travel by train to Yamadera Station. The temple entrance is a 5-minute walk away from the station past many souvenir shops. By train, Yamadera is less than 20 minutes (¥240 as of July 2018) from Yamagata Station on the JR Senzan Line which runs all the way to Sendai.

By car, Yamadera is about 25 minutes NE of Yamagata Station at the junction of Highway 19 and Highway 62. There is a large parking lot near Yamadera Station, and smaller parking lots closer to the temple complex. Parking costs ¥300-¥500.

Buy
From the JR station in the middle of town, there are free buses that will take you over to a decent amount of the local non-touristy shopping. JusCo has a bus that runs up until 16:00 each day that visits the eastern Yamagata location. Central to the JR station, there is a wealth of local shops, department stores, book stores of all kinds. The main street that runs from the JR station has several side streets as well. There are many shops that catered to all your basic needs, though very few were designed or meant exclusively as tourist destinations. There are very few chain stores in downtown Yamagata, though the skirts of town have a few chain stores like Joy (hardware), Super Denkodo (electronics), JusCo (giant supermarket), and a Toys R Us.

For souvenirs, there are shops within the station. But the best locations for souvenirs tend to be around Yamadera and Zao Onsen. Around Yamadera you'll find an exceptionally well chosen assortment of Yamagata crafts from naturally dyed silks to wooden toys, to iron and pottery pieces, most of which they source directly from the local craftspeople who make them.

Eat
Yamagata is known for its ramen. The specific type said to originate here is hiyashi ramen which is characterized by its cold broth. As such, it's especially popular in the summertime, although you can eat it year-round. Yamadera is known for tama-kon, balls of konnyaku (a firmly chewy gelatin like substance made from ground konjak 'devil's tongue' roots) cooked in soy sauce and served on a stick. You can buy them at the base of Yamadera as its said that eating them will give you the stamina to reach the temple atop the mountain. Be aware that the mustard they put on it is Japanese-style mustard, much hotter than Western varieties. The street connecting the temple and JR station are lined with family-owned soba shops that serve freshly-made soba, whose taste and springy texture cannot be compared to the pale, limp soba served in quick noodle shops in the big cities outside of Yamagata. If you can get your noodles with a side of sansai local mountain wild vegetables, don't pass up the chance for these seasonal delicacies.

Sleep
Nearly every hotel in the city is located around Yamagata Station.

Go next

 * The holy mountains of Dewa Sanzan are within striking distance of Yamagata.
 * Skiing and hot spring hopping in Zao Onsen
 * Higashine
 * Yonezawa
 * Tendo
 * Kaminoyama
 * Obanazawa
 * Shinjo
 * Tsuruoka
 * Shiroishi
 * Sendai - Capital of Miyagi Prefecture

title: Yamagata


text:
Yamagata (prefecture)

Yamagata Prefecture (山形県 Yamagata-ken) is in the northeastern Tohoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu.

Understand
Yamagata prefecture is often described as 'hidden' Japan. Well off any tourist route, Yamagata nevertheless has a wealth of experiences for those with the will to seek them out. Home to amazing unspoilt scenery, ancient temples, world class skiing, wonderful local food, summer festivals and some of the best onsen (hot springs) in Japan, Yamagata is a real change for the visitor who believes that Japan is best understood in the municipal centres of Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto.

Tourist Information Site
Stay Yamagata is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities

 * — prefectural capital famous for Yamadera, onsen, "snow monsters"
 * - Tohoku's largest ski and hot spring resort
 * — hot springs and tremendous snowfall. Ginzan Onsen is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the prefecture.
 * — Port town known for its maiko dancers and historic storehouse district
 * — birthplace of famous manga artists and a famous summer festival
 * — houses 2 of the three Dewa Sanzan temples and a world-famous jellyfish aquarium
 * — famous for hot springs, a former castle town
 * — once the home of the mighty Uesugi clan, now better known for Yonezawa beef and hot springs
 * - small ski and hot spring resort
 * — a small town dedicated to shogi, or Japanese chess
 * — a small town dedicated to shogi, or Japanese chess

Talk
While standard Japanese is used in Yamagata Prefecture, this place is known for unique local dialects (方言), which even differ from town to town. When speaking with elderly, visitors may encounter difficulty due to their heavy dialects.

By plane
In Yamagata prefecture, there are airports in Yamagata (connecting to Osaka-Itami, Nagoya, Tokyo-Haneda, and Sapporo-Chitose) and Shonai Airport  (connecting to Tokyo-Haneda). Most visitors coming from overseas will prefer flying to Tokyo and taking the shinkansen from there.

By train
Yamagata prefecture is served by the Yamagata Shinkansen, which zips up every hour from Tokyo through Yonezawa (2 hr, ¥10,000) and Yamagata (3 hr) to Shinjo　(3½ hr, ¥12,000). Just don't expect blazing speed: the last 150 km from Fukushima is on ordinary track at 160 km/h, half the speed of a "real" Shinkansen.

By bus
The southern parts of Yamagata prefecture can easily be accessed by express bus from Sendai just to the south.

An one-way trip from Yamagata city to Sendai city costs ¥900 and takes just under an hour. There are also buses connecting Sendai with Shinjo, Kaminoyama, Yonezawa and Sakata city.

Yamagata City is also accessible from Niigata City by bus. A round trip costs ¥6,400, and each way takes about 3 hours. There are two trips a day, one leaving at 08:00 and another one leaving at 16:00. Reservation is required for riding this bus.

There are also night buses connecting Yamagata and Tokyo (various operators), Osaka, and Kyoto.

By train
Within the prefecture, the Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa (山形新幹線つばさ) runs through Yonezawa city to Shinjo city (with stops in Takahata, Akayu, Kaminoyama Onsen, Yamagata, Tendo, Sakuranbo-Higashine, Murayama, Oishida).

Yamagata is also served by the local JR lines and is connected to its neighboring prefectures such as Miyagi, Fukushima and Akita.

By bus
There are high-speed buses available from Yamagata city to Tsuruoka city in the northwest regions of the prefecture.

There is also airport bus that connects the Yamagata airport and Yamagata city (the bus stops are located at Yamagata station and Yamko Building). This bus makes 6 round-trips a day.

There is an extensive bus system serving the area around Yamagata city, connecting major landmarks such as the city hall, the prefectural office, hospitals and schools.

By car
Considered the easiest way to get around the prefecture.

See
Yamagata is a prefecture of abundant nature.

 * Yamadera - founded in 860, over 1,000 years ago, different buildings of the temple are scattered in the mountain. It is an easy hike to the top, taking about 30 minutes. The view from the mountain top is breathtaking. Different seasons also bring interesting changes to the scenery. (Yamagata)
 * Dewa Sanzan - comprised of the three holy mountains, Mt. Haguro, Mt. Yudono and Mt. Gassan, Dewa Sanzan is a place where pilgrims have their spiritual trainings. Here, you can also enjoy "Shojin Ryori" (Buddhist cuisine). At the base of Mt. Haguro, there is the Five-story Pagoda, built in the year of 939, without any nails. (Tsuruoka, Shonai)
 * Explore the historic district, including Tohoku's only geisha chaya (Sakata)
 * Visit the aquarium with the most jellyfish in the world, the Kamo Aquarium (Tsuruoka)
 * See what life was like hundred of years ago at Nishinumata Park (Tendo)
 * Snow monsters - in winter on Mt. Zao, visitors can find trees covered by snow forming strange shapes and looking like "snow monsters." (Yamagata)
 * Sunset at the Sea of Japan Facing the west side, you can catch beautiful sunsets on the coast of the Sea of Japan. Yunohama Onsen (湯野浜温泉) is a sight especially known for its view of the sunset. (Tsuruoka)
 * Mt. Chokai (鳥海山) a famous mountain located at the border of Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture. (Yuza)
 * Sokushinbutsu Yamagata Prefecture has more Buddhist mummies than any other prefecture. There are 4 in Tsuruoka, 2 in Sakata, 1 in Yonezawa, and 1 in Shirataka

Do

Hanagasa (Flower Hat) Festival (花笠まつり) - held on August 5–7 every year, a total of 800,000 people come to see this parade from all over Japan. The participants dance for 1.2 km wearing flower hats and traditional wears. About 100 groups participate in the parade, and it is one of the biggest summer festivals in Tohoku region of Japan.

Imoni festival (芋煮会) - held on the first Sunday of September every year in Yamagata city, local residents and tourists gather on the banks of Mamigasaki River to enjoy imoni (taro & beef stew) cooked in a giant pot.

Yonezawa Uesugi Samurai Festival (米沢上杉まつり) - a spring festival held on April 29 - May 3 every year in Yonezawa city of Yamagata prefecture. The samurai parade held on the last day of the festival is reenactment of the famous historical battles of Kawanakajima. The battles were fought between the two major generals: Kenshin Uesugi and Shingen Takeda.

Mogami River Boat Ride - the Mogami River is a river in Yamagata Prefecture. It flows from the southern part of the prefecture, and turns into the Sea of Japan. A famous poet Matsuo Basho once traveled along the river and made a famous haiku there. Visitors can enjoy a guided boat tour operated by a company called Mogami River Basho Line Descent. It is an one-way descent, taking about one hour for the cost of approximately ¥2,000. From April to November, there are 5 trips a day, and from December to March, there are 3 trips a day.

Montedio Yamagata games - a professional association football (soccer) club based In Yamagata. You can watch their games in ND Soft Stadium in Tendo-city.

Cherry-picking - there are many cherry farms around the prefecture. The best season for cherry-picking is in early summer from June to July.

Soba-making - Yamagata is famous for its soba (buckwheat noodles), and you can even make your own soba from scratch with the help from professional soba makers.

Skiing There several ski slopes in the prefecture, and visitors can go skiing on a day trip. Zaō Onsen is the most famous one located near Yamagata city. Near Yonezawa city, there is the Tengendai ski resort. Jangle Jungle ski resort is located in Higashine city.

Pottery-making - Hirashimizuyaki (平清水焼) is a traditional form of pottery originated in Yamagata city. At Shichiuemongama (七右エ門窯), located near Mt. Chitose in Yamagata city, you can take part in the pottery class and make your own Hirashimizuyaki for ¥2,000 with 2 kg of clay.

Eat
Yamagata is famous for its fruits. Yamagata produces 70% share of Japan's cherry production. The most famous cultivator is called "Satonishiki," known for its red color and sweet taste. La France, a type of European pear, is also famous. Yamagata contributes around 80% Japan's production of La France. Other fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced in large quantities.

Imoni is a type of stew made with taro potato, beef, konnyaku, sugar, soy sauce or miso. It is traditionally eaten in the autumn of Tohoku region of Japan. Yamagata hosts the biggest imoni festival in Japan in September.

Soba, buckwheat noodles, is also extremely popular in Yamagata. There are many soba restaurants, each with its own specialties.

Yamagata Prefecture has the highest consumption (in terms of money spent) of ramen in Japan, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of General Affairs in 2004. Yamagata city ranked the highest, with a record of ¥13,897 spend on ramen per household per year. Beside Yamagata city, other cities in the prefecture including Sakata, Yonezawa, Nanyo (Akayu) also have their own distinctive taste in ramen.

Yonezawa beef is a type of Japanese beef originating from the city of Yonezawa in Yamagata Prefecture. It is one of the three most recognized brands in Japan.

Drink
Due to the rich culture of rice-making and clean water carried by Mogami River, Yamagata is known for its delicious Japanaese sake, nihonshu. You can find many brands of locally produced sake in the stores and restaurants.

Go next

 * Akita Prefecture
 * Miyagi Prefecture
 * Fukushima Prefecture
 * Niigata Prefecture

title: Yamagata (prefecture)


text:
Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi (山口市 Yamaguchi-shi) is the capital of Yamaguchi prefecture, at the western tip of the island of Honshu, Japan. In the city, there is a beautiful Japanese town which flourished as "Kyoto in the West" during the Medieval Period.

Understand
Yamaguchi City is the seat of prefectural government, so it functions as the "capital" of this prefecture. However, it's not a big city; it's a planned city where Hiroyo Ouchi, the regional liege lord, placed his government in 1360. From then on, the town developed, copying the elegance of Kyoto, which used to be the capital of Japan. As the Ouchi family prospered, Yamaguchi flourished and its nickname became "Kyoto in the West". When Kyoto was devastated by the Onin war, Yamaguchi developed as the alternative capital—many cultured people and foreigners visited the city. Yamaguchi became so successful that it was practically the capital of Japan. However, the destruction of the ruling family in 1551 caused the city to decline.

There are many things in the city that suggest it was prosperous during medieval times.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane
Yamaguchi Ube Airport in Ube is the prefecture's largest airport, with domestic flights arriving from Tokyo Haneda Airport. Shuttle buses connect the airport with the Shin-Yamaguchi bullet train station (30 min, ¥910).

By train
Yamaguchi has two main train stations: the centrally-located Yamaguchi Station (山口駅), and Shin-Yamaguchi Station (新山口駅) which is 12.7 km to the southwest and is a stop on the San'yo Shinkansen. Regular trains connect the two stations in 15-25 minutes.

Shin-Yamaguchi is generally served every hour by one Nozomi or Sakura service and an all-stations Kodama service. By a combination of bullet train and local train, Yamaguchi is about 60-70 min from Hiroshima (¥5910 via Nozomi), about 70 min from Fukuoka (¥5910 via Nozomi), about 2 hr 30 min from Osaka (¥13500 via Nozomi) and about 5 hr from Tokyo (¥21970 via Nozomi). Japan Rail Pass holders must travel on the Sakura and Hikari services, which take slightly longer; a train change will usually be required if originating east of Osaka.

Get around
JR Yamaguchi Line goes through the city. The main tourist stops are at Yuda Onsen Station for Yuda Onsen and Yamaguchi Station. Joeiji Temple is closer to Miyano Station.

While most sites can be reached on foot, the walk may be longer than many tourists would like, so it is advised to take a bus or rent a bicycle. There is a rentacycle across the street from Yamaguchi Station.

See

Sleep
Most hotels are in the expensive Yuda Onsen area, which can be reached via JR Yuda Onsen Station on the JR Yamaguchi Line (3 minutes by train from Yamaguchi Station then 10 minutes on foot). Some will offer transfers to and from Shin-Yamaguchi Station.

Go next
Its central location provides easy access to the rest of the prefecture;
 * Hagi
 * Hofu
 * Ube
 * Mine
 * Shunan
 * Yanai
 * Nagato
 * Shimonoseki
 * Iwakuni

title: Yamaguchi


text:
Yamaguchi (prefecture)

Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県 Yamaguchi-ken) is in the western Chugoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu. It is the westernmost prefecture in the island.

Understand
Situated at Honshu's westernmost tip, Yamaguchi Prefecture is largely rural. It is well-known as having produced 8 of Japan's Prime Ministers, more than any other prefecture. Choshu Domain (one of the prefecture's former names) was instrumental in defeating the shogunate and establishing the new government during the Meiji Restoration.

Tourist Information Site
Yamaguchi Travel Guide is the prefecture's official guide site in English.

Cities

 * - the prefectural capital
 * - one of the most beautiful castle towns in Japan
 * - old city with a famous shrine which is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, kami of scholarship
 * - castle town with the beautiful bridge "Kintaikyo"
 * - historical city guarding the Straits of Kanmon, and the largest city in the prefecture
 * - modern city with sculpture, park and airport
 * - city with culturally important Shirakabe No Machi
 * - modern city with sculpture, park and airport
 * - city with culturally important Shirakabe No Machi

Talk
People speak Yamaguchi Dialect, which is very similar to the dialect that is spoken in Tokyo, but the vocabulary is somewhat different.

When you get in Yamaguchi prefecture, you may see the sign of "Oidemase (おいでませ)", meaning "Yokoso" or "Welcome" in Yamaguchi Japanese.

In Iwakuni, there is an American base, so some people understand English well. But in other areas, especially in rural areas, few people understand English well. So learning some basic Japanese phrases will help you so much.

In Shimonoseki, there are many Koreans. You will find some signs and guides written in Korean. You might also find people who speak Korean if you try.

By train
There are five shinkansen stations in this prefecture: Shin-Shimonoseki, Asa, Shin-Yamaguchi, Tokuyama and Shin-Iwakuni.

By ferry
Several ferries depart from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal:
 * The Kampu ferry to Busan in South Korea regularly.
 * The Orient ferry to Qingdao in China regularly.
 * The Orient ferry to Shanghai in China regularly.

See

 * Walk across Kintai-kyo Bridge, one of the nation's most iconic and picturesque bridges (Iwakuni)
 * Explore the Akiyoshido Caverns then traverse Akiyoshidai Karst landscape above (Mine)
 * Meditate around Joeiji Temple's Sesshu garden (Yamaguchi)
 * Visit Ganryujima where Musashi Miyamoto defeated his rival Kojiro Sasaki (Shimonoseki)

Eat

 * Fugu. Yamaguchi prefecture is famous for its Fugu (Globe fish).
 * Kawarasoba. This is a kind of soba (buckwheat noodle) boiled, stir-fried, and put on a tile together with beef, liver, shredded omelet (kinshi-tamago), spring onion and lemon.  The famous restaurant of this soba is in Kawatana Grand Hotel.

Drink
Bars are concentrated in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi and Shunan.

Go next

 * Kitakyushu on Kyushu island is just 650m from Shimonoseki. You can walk under the Kanmon strait through an undersea tunnel.
 * Miyajima is twenty minutes' ride on train from Iwakuni.

title: Yamaguchi (prefecture)


text:
Yamalia

Yamalia (Russian: Яма́ло-Нене́цкий автоно́мный о́круг yuh-MAH-luh nee-NYEHT-skee uhf-tah-NOHM-nee OH-krook) is the northernmost region in Russia's Urals Region and is home to Russia's most important natural gas deposits as well as large West Siberian oilfields. Located in the middle of Russia's Arctic Ocean coast, Yamalia is about as remote a destination as one could possibly choose and is rarely visited by anyone except those on oil and gas business.

The region borders the Arctic Ocean in the northwest and north (this part of Yamalia is split into two by the Gulf of Ob), Taymyria to the northeast, the Krasnoyarsk region to the east, Khantia-Mansia to the south, and Komi Republic and Nenetsia to the west.

Cities

 * — the administrative center and the only town in the world directly on the Polar circle
 * — the largest town in the region and the last stop on the Tyumen-Novy Urengoy railway
 * — few good reasons to visit this oilfield city (which is the second largest in the region), unless you are there on oil business
 * — for those looking to vacation in the exact middle of nowhere, this small town boasts a modest museum of local lore
 * — the largest town in the region and the last stop on the Tyumen-Novy Urengoy railway
 * — few good reasons to visit this oilfield city (which is the second largest in the region), unless you are there on oil business
 * — for those looking to vacation in the exact middle of nowhere, this small town boasts a modest museum of local lore
 * — few good reasons to visit this oilfield city (which is the second largest in the region), unless you are there on oil business
 * — for those looking to vacation in the exact middle of nowhere, this small town boasts a modest museum of local lore

Other destinations

 * Highest mountain of the Polar Urals
 * — you will be confronted with neither long lines nor touts at this wilderness preserve located in the Arctic tundra of Yamalia's northeastern most bay on the Kara Sea. The nearest inhabited place is Gyda.
 * (also Verkhne-Tazovskii Nature Reserve)
 * Located north of the peninsula. The research station Popov station is located there.
 * Reachable by Obskaya-Bovanenkovo line

Understand
Despite looking much like an ahistorical barren land of interest only for its natural gas and oil reserves, Yamalia was the site of some of the most interesting conflicts of Russia's Siberian expansion. Prior to conquest by Yermak Timofeyich (who was killed in the process), Yamalia was known as the Khanate of Sibir, led by the energetic Tatar Khan Kumuch, who mounted fierce resistance to Russian expansion and attempted to convert (and thereby unify against the Cossacks) his diverse people of Siberian Tatars, Khanti, Mansi, Nenets, Yamals, and Selkups to Islam. In the wake of the region's conquest, colonists established the first Russian settlement of the region, Salekhard, in 1595.

Get in
Novy Urengoy is at the end of the rail line from Tyumen, which passes through Surgut.

Salekhard, Novy Urengoy, and Nadym each have airports, which service flights from Moscow, Tyumen, and Yamburg, Nenetsia. while Novy Urengoy's airport has flights from Moscow, Tyumen, and Ufa. Noyabrsk's airport has some flights from Moscow.

Get around
By boat: Severflot operates passenger boats on the Ob-Irtysh rivers and its contributors from Antipayuta in the north via Salekhard and Tobolsk all the way to Omsk in the south, a river journey of more than 3000 km!

Stay safe
The bigger gas and oil towns have significant drug-related crime and visitors should be wary.

title: Yamalia


text:
Yamanashi (prefecture)

Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県 Yamanashi-ken) is in the central Chubu region of the main Japanese island Honshu. Just hours from Tokyo by bus, train, or car, Yamanashi is good for a day trip from the big city and allows travelers to experience the "inaka" (rural) Japan. The prefecture offers a wealth of cultural experiences and outdoor excursions to those searching for the offbeat side of Japan. Most foreign visitors overlook Yamanashi, but this small prefecture might be the ideal destination for a traveler tired of Tokyo's crowds.

Understand
Yamanashi is quite unusual amongst Japanese provinces in that its borders have remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years. Formerly known as Kai Province (甲斐国), the majority of the prefecture is formed of the Kofu Basin, a flat plain in the centre of the prefecture surrounded by virtually impassible natural mountain barriers. Kai was once the base of the famous samurai leader Takeda Shingen, a man who once looked certain to unite the whole of Japan until his mysterious death whilst on campaign. The people of Yamanashi celebrate him to this day.

Though in terms of natural geography and history part of the Chubu region of Japan, in modern times Yamanashi has much closer links to Tokyo and the broader Kanto region thanks to its quick and easy train access to the capital. Its dialect is close to that of Tokyo albeit peppered with some unique local vocabulary.

For travelers, Yamanashi might be seen to be composed of several regions which are not easily accessible by each other. One is the Kofu basin, a large urban sprawl centered on Kofu City. The other significant area is the south eastern Fuji Yoshida area, home to Mount Fuji. There are also several other less prominent and more rural areas such as Hokuto and Minobu.

Tourist Information Site
The prefecture has an official multilingual guide site.

Cities

 * - the prefectural capital
 * - small city near Tokyo, with good hiking possibilities
 * - small city near Nagano
 * - a city on the foothills of Mt. Fuji
 * - Centre of Yamanashi's wine making,
 * - Centre of Yamanashi's wine making,
 * - Centre of Yamanashi's wine making,
 * - Centre of Yamanashi's wine making,

By plane
There are no airports in Yamanashi. Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports are accessible by bus from Yamanashi; however, services to Yamanashi from these airports are rare. Haneda with its location towards the west of Tokyo rather than in central Chiba is by far recommended for access to Yamanashi, the journey from Narita to Kofu can take up to four hours by train.

By train
You can access Yamanashi by three lines, the Chuo Line (中央線) from Matsumoto to the west and Tokyo to the east, the Minobu Line (身延線) from Shizuoka to the south, and the Koumi Line (小海線) from Ueda and eastern Nagano, by the border with Gunma, to the north. From Shizuoka you can connect to the Shinkansen which can be used to access Osaka and Nagoya, from Nagoya however the quicker option is to ride conventional express trains on the chuo line, switching between the Azusa and the Shinano at Shiojiri in Nagano. For both of these cities the bus is a quicker and cheaper alternative.

The super express trains of the Chuo line are the Kaiji (かいじ), Azusa (あずさ), and Super Azusa (スーパーあずさ). The fastest of these trains runs from Shinjuku to Kofu in just 1 hour 25 minutes. Compared to the highway bus, it is much faster, but also much more expensive. Local trains can also be used to get from Tokyo to Yamanashi with a change of train usually required from Tokyo's chuo$ rapid to the standard chuo line in Takao or occasionally Otsuki. This takes around 2 to 2 1/2 hours and costs half the price of the express train.

From special shops express tickets can be bought for ¥3,000 rather than the standard ¥3,500 (local tickets can also be bought for ¥200 savings). Several of these can be found in Tokyo including near Shinjuku station. In Kofu one can be found right in front of the station.

The super express of the Minobu line is called the Fujikawa (ふじかわ). Each day, it makes 7 round trip runs between Kofu Station (甲府駅) and Shizuoka Station (静岡駅) in approximately 2 hours.

By bus
Highway bus services link Kofu to other cities, Shinjuku, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya. Four different companies make these runs: Yamanashikotsu, Keio, Fujikyukou, and Kintetsu. Bus service may be cheaper, but the train is generally much faster, and other than of the route which goes to Shinjuku, fewer in number.

Long-distance buses use terminals in Kofu Station (甲府駅) and Fujiyoshida Station (富士吉田駅). From Kofu Station you can take buses to Shinjuku, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Narita Airport (成田空港 NRT), and Haneda Airport (羽田空港 HND). Fujiyoshida Station (富士吉田駅) has bus services to and from Shinjuku, Tokyo, Kyoto Station (Hachijo), and Osaka.

Get around
Many points in Yamanashi can be reached by the JR Chuo or JR Minobu train lines, with Kofu Station as a transportation hub for the prefecture. The southeast part of the prefecture is accessible by the private Fuji Kyu line which connects to the Chuo line at Otsuki. The Fuji Kyu line, Minobu line and Koumi line are all single tracked so services tend to be infrequent and somewhat slow. The chuo line is largely double tracked hence has two or three local trains and two or three expresses per hour each way.

Most cities throughout the prefecture have local bus lines in addition to trains.

Public transportation in Yamanashi isn't the best and even the central Kofu Urban Area itself is designed around the idea that most people have cars. Driving is highly recommended to be able to see the entire prefecture.

Do

Eat

Yamanashi is famous for its grapes and peaches. The centre of the prefecture lies in a basin and has quite a unique climate which makes its fruit very sweet. Yamanashi is the centre of Japanese wine making, with many companies large and small making wine in Yamanashi. Due to the sweetness of Yamanashi's fruit the wine from Yamanashi also tends to have a somewhat sweeter taste than is the norm, this can have rather mixed results when it comes to Yamanashi red wines, however Yamanashi white wines are delicious.

Hōtō is a wheat noodle that looks like wide udon. In winter, Yamanashi gets really cold, so it is sometimes eaten at home or in restaurants. The ingredients of Hōtō contains various vegetables, including: burdock, pumpkin, radish, carrot, taro, sweet potato etc. Its base is miso soup.

Yoshida Udon is a firmer thick Udon noodle soup. Served in versions ways with or without meat.

Basashi is another local speciality; raw horse meat.

Drink
Due to the car centric design of Yamanashi and the proximity of Tokyo there is little in the way of night life to be found in this prefecture. There are some pubs to be found in Kofu; however, Yamanashi is the Japanese wine capital, hence day drinking opportunities such as vineyard tours and Katsunuma's wine cave are a good option.

Go next

 * Nagano Prefecture
 * Gunma Prefecture
 * Saitama Prefecture
 * Tokyo Prefecture
 * Kanagawa Prefecture
 * Shizuoka Prefecture

title: Yamanashi (prefecture)


text:
Yamanouchi

Yamanouchi (山ノ内町 Yamanouchi-machi) is a hot spring town in Nagano, Japan, famous for its bathing snow monkeys.

Understand
The tourist information center at Nagano station can give you a bus and local train timetable to get to the monkey park, as well as a brochure with a handy map for the walk from the bus stop to the park. English spoken.

Tourist information sites

 * The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site.

 * The town's official site has a good Japanese-only tourism section with integrated machine translation.

Get in
Yamanouchi town's Yudanaka Station is 45 minutes from Nagano on the Nagano-Dentetsu rail line; Nagano in turn is 95 minutes from Tokyo on the Asama bullet train. The train from Nagano to Yamanouchi is ¥1210 one way; then you need to catch a bus or walk. Upon arrival at Yudanaka Station you will likely be greeted by the info centre's employees handing out free helpful maps on how to get to the Monkey Park. They will also explain that you can buy bus tickets from the window at the front of Yudanaka Station.

If possible, take the Nagano Electric Limited Express. It makes far fewer stops than the local trains, and the seats are more comfortable as the train is newer. It costs an extra ¥100 each way. If you take one of the local trains, it is possible that you will have to transfer halfway down the line onto a different train, although it is usually just a matter of walking across the platform onto the waiting train.

The monkey park is approximately 1.6 km from where the buses and taxis drop you off. The walk is a pleasant one through the woods. While it isn't very steep or difficult, the trail can be muddy or icy, so appropriate footwear is recommended. If you forgot or didn't have a chance to bring proper boots, there is a gift shop/info center at the base of the trail that rents them for ¥500.

By bus
You can take a public bus to Shiga Kogen and get off at Kanbayashi Onsen, which is an easy 30-minute walk away and costs ¥1300 one way. Alternatively - a minibus to the monkey park runs seven times a day from Yamanouchi town and costs ¥1,500 round trip, including admission to the park. Winter only.

On foot
Walking back down to Yudanaka Station from the park takes about 1½ hours (possibly a bit longer in the reverse direction up). The route first follows the off-limit road along the river through forests before entering the beautiful spa town Shibu Onsen after that Yudanaka Onsen. A little further along the way stands a tall statue of a Kannon Buddha.

See
Many people come to this area stay in old traditional hot spring town Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen, experience traditional ryokan accommodation, and hot spring or ski in Shiga Kogen, the highest and largest ski area on Honshu.

Do
Visit the hot springs in Shibu Onsen (渋温泉) and Yudanaka (湯田中).

Go next

 * Nakano
 * Obuse
 * Suzaka
 * Nagano
 * Iiyama
 * Sakae
 * Yuzawa
 * Kijimadaira
 * Nozawaonsen

title: Yamanouchi


text:
Yamba

Yamba is a coastal town of 6,000 people (2016)in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Yamba, on mid-north coast NSW, is a great stop off between Sydney and Brisbane. This beachside town has one of Australia's most famous surf breaks.

Get in
When going on the M1 Pacific Motorway, exit onto Yamba Road, and then head east until you hit the "Welcome to Yamba" signs.

See

 * Yamba has about 24 beaches within the 2464 postcode
 * Lovers Point Rock Wall

Sleep
There are many different accommodation options in Yamba. There is a greyhound bus stop just down the road. There is a licensed cafe downstairs.

Yamba YHA is a purpose-built backpacker hostel with a mix of multi-share and twin/double accommodation. Enjoy the bar/café and pool with great views. The hostel is on the main street, within easy walk of beaches, local pub and shops. Don't miss Shane's famous $10 tour.

Great place to stay. Nice place to have a beer, and a milkshake.

title: Yamba


text:
Yame

Yame (八女) is a city in Fukuoka prefecture.

Understand
Yame tea (八女茶) is one of the largest Japanese tea production areas, and as famous as other places like Shizuoka, Uji and Chiran.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Go next

 * Hirokawa
 * Kurume
 * Ukiha
 * Hita
 * Hoshino
 * Kuroki
 * Tachibana
 * Chikugo
 * Miyama

title: Yame


text:
Yamoussoukro

Yamoussoukro is the capital of Côte d'Ivoire and is perhaps the single most bizarre modern city on Earth. It is a large grid of paved streets and lights with almost nothing at all in between them. It would seem that former President Felix Houphouet-Boigny's dream that his home town would become a busy capital city never came to fruition. The streets are now potholed, the lights no longer work and the jungle is reclaiming them in places. Nevertheless "Yam" is worth a visit.

By bus

 * Travel from Abidjan is around 4 hours and costs 4,500 CAF.
 * Travel from Abidjan is around 4 hours and costs 4,500 CAF.

By car
A very good motorway (toll road/Péage) links Yamoussoukro with Abidjan. It takes 2.5 hours by car. It takes 1.5 hours from Bouaké on a potholed road.

By rail
Yamoussoukro is not served by rail. The nearest station is in the town of Dimbokro, about 70 km east of the city. There is about one weekly departure in each direction between Abidjan and Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. There's no reason to use the train when travelling from Abidjan but it might be an option if travelling from Burkina Faso.

See
The public gardens, the Fondation Felix Houphouet-Boigny and the old Presidential Palace are all impressive results of public expenditures during Houphouet-Boigny's rule.

Eat
There are restaurants, shops, and street vendors selling local dishes in Yamoussoukro.

There are many beach bars and restaurants at the

Connect
English- and French-language broadcasts are available from BBC World Service on 97.7MHz.

Go next

 * Abidjan
 * Man

title: Yamoussoukro


text:
Yampupata

Yampupata is a village on Lake Titicaca, Bolivia. This is mostly a quick stop for people choosing the hard way (walking) between Isla del Sol and Copacabana.

Get in
By chartered boat from Yumani, walking or motorized from Copacabana. It should be possible to be rowed across to Isla del Sol, at 15 Bs pp. A motor boat costs about Bs 70 for a full group. Beware that some boatmen will try to charge you entry fees to the island. Don't pay unless you get a ticket freshly torn off a pad.

Get around
Tiny and walkable.

Eat
There is a restaurant.

Sleep
And there is a hostal.

Go next
Walking the 17 km to Copacabana is quite spectacular, and you will mostly have the sun in your back going south.

title: Yampupata


text:
Yamunotri

Yamunotri is a city in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Get in
Railway connectivity only up to Rishikesh. After that you have to use either private taxis or buses plying on the route. You will also find shared jeeps or similar vehicles from Haridwar or Rishikesh. Get sensible and hire a personal taxi. Avoid small cars as it is rough terrain. Settle for either a SUV or MUV like Innova, Tavera, Qualis, Scorpio etc. See if you can get hold of a Hummer.

It is advisable to travel during the pre- and post- monsoon seasons.

Get around
Not much local transport is available, as these places are open for only 6 months a year, from mid-May to Diwali in November. Once you are in Janaki Chatti, the last stop reachable by motor, you can use ponies or small palanquins for the trek up to the temple, which nestles in the bosom of the mighty Himalayas. You can finish the climb by foot, but it can prove to be tough for those who are not in the best of health. Avoid the ponies as they are responsible for a lot of avoidable filth on the entire stretch.

See
Various waterfalls on the trek to the temple. Hot sulphur springs. If one has the resources like porters, mountaineering gear food, tent etc then one can also trek further up to Saptarishi. Mind you it is a very treacherous trek.

Do
The destination of all pilgrims is usually to bathe in the icy waters of Goddess Yamuna before having a darshan of the black idol of the Goddess herself in the main sanctum sanctorum. People usually have a dip in the taptkund adjacent to the temple before having a glimpse of the deity. The taptkund (natural hot sulphur springs) are believed to have numerous medicinal properties. Some devotees however venture out to the river below to bath in its icy waters. Various Hindu texts extol the virtues of bathing in the Yamuna as a means of absolving sins that would lead to an afterlife in Hell.

Buy
Holy texts, idols, pictures of the temple and the deity (the original picture is not available anywhere as photography is strictly prohibited inside the sanctum sanctorum), beads etc. You won't find anything fancy in these places as the trip to these places is made not indulge in luxury but in natural bliss.

Eat
Satvik food devoid of any onion or garlic. The restaurant at the end of the row of hotels near the parking lot (on the right hand sideof the road) serves delicious food. You will also find food of average quality during the trek to the temple.

Drink
It is recommended that you fill your bottles with natural spring water available free of cost while traveling to Yamunotri. During trekking you won't find any dearth of local taps en route. But it is advisable to fill your bottles with water from your starting point of the trek. Once you reach the temple, descend down to bank and have your heart's fill of the pure glacier waters of Yamuna. The intoxication and satisfaction is indescribable.

Sleep
Numerous dharamshalas and hotels are available as well as the GMVNL guesthouses. However during the peak seasons of summer they demand exhorbitant rates. The off-season rates are very reasonable.

title: Yamunotri


text:
Yan'an

Yan'an (延安; Yán'ān) is a city in Shaanxi Province.

Understand
It is hard to believe that a city, so in the middle of nowhere, is considered a major pilgrimage site. Not a religious pilgrimage, but a pilgrimage site for those who follow the Communist philosophy. This is considered to be the "Cradle of Chinese Revolution"; it is where the Communists established their main base after the Long March. After Chairman Mao's birthplace in Shaoshan, is the number two pilgrimage site for those who are interested in recent Chinese history.

By train

Yan'an is on one of the railway routes between Beijing and Xi'an. Several regular-speed trains a day are available from Beijing West Railway Station (10-11 hrs), Taiyuan (6-7.5 hrs), Xi'an (3.5-7 hrs). There are also daily direct trains from Hohhot (9-10 hrs), Baotou (7-8.5 hrs), Chongqing (13 hrs), Chengdu (14 hrs), Shanghai (24.5 hrs). (Current schedule (in Chinese))

From Xi'an and Chengdu, you can also take a high-speed train to Yan'an. A high-speed train from Chengdu East station takes 7 hours while a high-speed train from Xi'an North Station takes just 2.5 hours.

See
In and around Yan'an there are several spots related to the history of the Chinese Communist Party. The place where Mao and his comrades lived and worked, places where party conferences were held and many more.

Sleep
Yan'an is not a usual destination for foreign visitors, so some communication skills will be needed to find a place in a local budget hotel. One option is to take the local bus from the train station to the town center, and get off in the center, in the stop just beneath a obvious triple-pedestrian-bridge. A local guest house (40-70Y per night per room) can be found just in front of the bus stop, on the second floor.

title: Yan'an


text:
Yanai

Yanai (柳井市 Yanai-shi) is a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture approximately 70 km southwest of Hiroshima.

Understand
While not a major tourist destination, Yanai offers a variety of sites and activities that make this a good day trip from Miyajima or Hiroshima.

Tourist Information Site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By rail
Yanai can be reached via the JR Sanyo Line from Hiroshima (Westbound) or Tokuyama (Eastbound). Travelers on the shinkansen must disembark at either JR Tokuyama Station or Hiroshima Station.

By ferry
Regular ferry services connects Yanai by way of Yanai Minato JR Station to Mitsu, a suburb of Matsuyama (Ehime) and Beppu (Oita).

By car
Yanai can be reached by exiting the Sanyo Expressway at Kuga and proceeding Southbound on Prefectural Road 70.

See
Yanai's most famous attribute is the charming and picturesque Shirakabe No Machi (White walled town) located approximately 1 km north of the Yanai JR station. Most of the homes and buildings in the district date back to the Edo Period (1600-1867). There are many shops specializing in local handicrafts as well as a locally famous Soy Sauce factory.

Located in Shirakabe no Machi is the large and culturally important House of Kunimori Family. the house, built in the late 18th century is a good example of a typical merchant class residence from the mid-Edo period. Admission is ¥200 for adults and ¥100 for children.

A much larger museum and old merchant residence is Muroyama no Sono. The residence was constructed by the Oda family around 1702 from revenues generated from the family's control of the lucrative rapeseed oil trade in Western Japan. The complex, which has been faithfully preserved, includes several warehouses and ancestral home that showcase various antiques from the Edo period as well as items from the Meiji and Showa eras. An elderly man, who is a descendant of the Oda family, is the curator and can provide a wonderful insight into the building and many of its contents. Admission fee is ¥350 for adults and ¥200 for children. The museum is open from 09:00-17:00 every day except Wednesdays.

The Shoko-an Temple grounds hosts a small well with nearby willow tree that is reputed to be the origin of name of Yanai (Well of the Willow Tree in Japanese). According to legend, a princess traveling through the region 1400 years ago is said to have briefly stopped at the well to quench her thirst. A toothpick discarded near the well during this brief stop is said to have grown into the large willow tree that is now there.

Events
Yanai has several unique local festivals each year.

Golf
There are several golf courses surrounding Yanai:

Buy
Yanai's most famous souvenir is a paper goldfish lantern (kingyo chouchin). It can be found at various shops in and around Yanai. Yanaijima fabric goods are notable for the vivid colored striped pattern and smooth texture. Kanro soy sauce is a high quality soy sauce brewed at the locally famous Sagawa Soy Sauce Brewery. Its method of brewing adds a sweet flavor that makes it prized for use with sushi and sashimi throughout the Chugoku and Kansai region.

Eat
There are many reasonably priced and delicious dining options in Yanai.

Go next

 * Iwakuni - Famous for Kintaikyo (the Brocade Sash Bridge)
 * Shunan
 * Hirao - The Kaiten (kamikaze submarine) museum at the entrance of Hirao Bay
 * Suo-Oshima - Island near Yanai
 * Kaminoseki
 * Tabuse
 * Hikari
 * Kudamatsu
 * Otake

title: Yanai


text:
Yanam

Yanam district, part of the discontiguous union territory of Pondicherry (Puducherry), is a small enclave within Andhra Pradesh. The population is only 32,000 which is surprisingly low for a district by Indian standards.

Understand
Yanam was once a French colony. The French presence is seen in the stained glass work of the local church dating back to 1769 and at the French cemetery. Yanam has its share of fascinating stories about French ghosts haunting the French colony. Some people still speak a little French even though only Telugu is understood by the majority.

Get in

 * When coming from Vijaywada/Eluru side, turn off NH5 at Alamaru (165 km from Vijaywada, 100 km from Eluru), and go via Mandapetya and Ramachandrapuram to Yanam (approximately 50 km).
 * If you come from Rajahmundry, come south on NH5 (towards Vijaywada/Eluru), and turn off at Dowlaiswaram and go to Ramachandrapuram (approximately 60 km).

Get around
Yanam can be seen by walking alone because the total area is only 30 sq.km.

See

 * The Catholic Church Built in 1846. French furniture and decorations.
 * Draksharamam Temple. The height of the Lingam is around 14 ft. in this temple.
 * The Grand Mosque Space for 200 people to pray.
 * Manikyamabika Devi Temple 16 km from Yanam.
 * Venkanna Babu Temple Rue Vichenou. The idol in this temple has big moustaches.
 * Yanam Ferry Road is very scenic it has terrific views of the river.
 * Yanam Ferry Road is very scenic it has terrific views of the river.

Go next

 * Kakinada, 35 km
 * Palakollu,
 * Machilipatnam, 165 km
 * Rajahmundry, 63 km. The cultural capital of Andhra Pradesh.
 * Visakhapatnam Port, 170 km

title: Yanam


text:
Yanbian

Yanbian (延边朝鲜族自治州; Yánbiān Cháoxiǎnzú Zìzhìzhōu; Korean: 연변조선족자치주 Yeonbyeon Joseonjok Jachiju) is a Korean autonomous prefecture in Jilin province, next to the border with North Korea and Russia.

Cities

 * (延吉, 연길) - The capital city
 * (敦化, 돈화)
 * (和龙, 화룡)
 * (珲春, 훈춘) - Joint City from China to North Korea and Russia
 * (龙井, 룡정)
 * (图们, 도문) - A small city on the Tumen river with a bridge crossing the river into Namyang, North Korea

Other destinations

 * Antu County (安图县, 안도현) - A city on the Changbai Mountain footage
 * Wangqing County (汪清县, 왕청현)

Understand
Over 2 million ethnic Koreans live in China, and this area has a large concentration of them. While there are some expatriates from North and South Korea, most of the ethnic Koreans here hold Chinese citizenship, making it the largest ethnic Korean community outside Korea.

Talk
Korean is an official language in this area, along with Mandarin Chinese due to the large number of ethnic Koreans. Officially, the Korean language is known here as 조선어 Joseon-eo (or in Chinese 朝鲜语Cháoxiǎn yǔ), like in North Korea, rather than 한국어 Hanguk-eo as is used in South Korea. The dialect of Korean spoken here is the Hamgyong dialect, which is also spoken in Hamgyong province in North Korea, and is slightly different from the Seoul dialect which is standard in South Korea, or the Pyongan dialect which is standard in North Korea. Most younger ethnic Koreans in this area are bilingual in Korean and Mandarin, so Mandarin speakers should not have any problems communicating.

All official signs, as well as most restaurant menus in the area are bilingual in Korean and Mandarin. Keep in mind that due to differences in the way Chinese place names are translated, the cities in Yanbian have local Korean names that are different from the ones used by South Koreans; see the Korean phrasebook for more details. As an example, Yanji, the largest city in the prefecture is called Yeon-gil (연길) by the local ethnic Koreans, but Yenji (옌지) by South Koreans. Unless otherwise stated, the Korean names listed here on Wikivoyage follow the local Chinese-Korean usage.

Respect
Despite being Chinese citizens, the ethnic Koreans in China share a common culture with their North and South Korean counterparts. The various respect tips in the South Korea article generally apply to the ethnic Koreans in China as well. However, they are generally proud of being Chinese citizens, and do not identify as North or South Korean nationals.

title: Yanbian


text:
Yandangshan

Yandangshan is a national forest park, national geopark, and UNESCO Global Geopark located in China's Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou City, Yueqing City, located in Yongjia county and parts of Wenling city. It is about 300 km away from Hangzhou and 70 kilometers from Wenzhou.

Understand
There are several mountain ranges in this area named Yandang. The main scenic area is a part of North Yandang centred around an ancient caldera, near the small town of Yandang (雁荡镇 Yàndàng Zhèn), and includes the highest peak in the area. "Yandangshan" or "Mount Yandang" usually refers to this area, and this article focuses on this part of the Yandang mountains.

Entry to the park is free, but every section of the park charges its own admission fee. Tickets do not allow re-entry, and in cases where the area offers a night view, that requires a separate ticket. These independent zones are generally small valleys with an array of rocks, temples, cliffs, caves, waterfalls, and other sights, and most take about two hours to visit.

By plane
The nearest airport is Wenzhou Longwan International Airport in Wenzhou. With a high-speed railway station near the park entrance, it may also be convenient to fly into airports in major nearby cities such as Hangzhou, Shanghai, or Ningbo, then take the train.

By bus
Free green minibuses shuttle visitors to and among the major attractions from roughly 08:00 to 17:30. For areas in the north of the park it may be necessary to change buses, and for more-obscure areas it may be necessary to hire a car.

See
As mentioned, the park is divided into a large number of zones which each charge their own admission fees (typically ¥50) and take around 2-3h to visit.

Do
Rafting is offered on rivers around the edges of the park, and the park contains much longer hiking trails than the paved pathways in the scenic areas.

Eat
Yandang village has a main pedestrian street, helpfully known as (步行街), with far more vehicles than the name might suggest. This street and nearby sections of the main street have a few food carts at night, plus a wide variety of restaurants featuring identical menus and prices. These concentrate on seafood.

Sleep
Yandang village has many hotels and guesthouses in a variety of price ranges, including a hostel. There are other villages in and around the park, and most are packed with guesthouses, although these aren't always authorized to take foreigners.

Go next

 * Taizhou
 * Wenzhou

title: Yandangshan


text:
Yangjiang

Yangjiang (阳江; Yángjiāng) is in Guangdong Province in China.

Understand
Yangjiang is a coastal city in Western Guangdong. The local dialect is the Gaoyang dialect, a branch of Cantonese.

Get in
Passenger train service to Yangjiang has been available since July 2018.

Do
There is a kite festival on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month.

Buy
The city is moderately famous for making knives, scissors, swords — anything that cuts. There is quite a range, everything from basic cutlery to highly ornamental swords. It is the base of Yangjiang Shibazi, a knife manufacturer.

Kites are also a local specialty.

title: Yangjiang


text:
Yangmingshan National Park

Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園); Yáng Míng Shān Guójiā Gōngyuán) is a collection of peaks in Taiwan, located to the northeast of Taipei.

Understand
Yangmingshan's original name was Caoshan (Grass Mountain in Mandarin), referring to the tall silvergrass that covers the highest slopes. Chiang Kai-shek renamed it Mount Yangming after his favorite Ming philosopher Wang Yang-ming (AD 1472-1529).

The tallest peak, Mount Qixing (Seven Star Mountain), has an elevation of 1,120 m (3,674 ft), and its peak is the highest point in Taipei City. Trails leading throughout the entire park consist of basalt pavers, are steep in places, and can be fairly treacherous during periods of rain. Expect to be passed by septuagenarian locals who make the trip every week!

Below approximately 1,000 m (3,280 ft), the park is characterized by subtropical rainforest, whereas above 1000 m, scrub-like trees and tall clumping grasses are the main form of vegetation.

Get in
Bus 260 leaves from Civic Blvd (outside Taipei Main Station) for the park every ten minutes, traveling along Zhongshan North Road, and turning right onto Zhongzheng Road in Shilin. From Jiantan MRT Station, Bus Red 5 leaves for the park every 15 minutes. From Beitou, bus 230 plies the route every thirty minutes. It is a short walk from the bus terminal station to the cultivated area of the park. The journey from Taipei Main Station takes about forty minutes and costs NT$30.

Mini-bus number 15 departs hourly from Beitou for Judz-hu (also spelled Zhuzi Hu - refer to See section below).

Fees and permits
There is no fee to enter the park.

By road

 * The mountains are covered in a network of roads, and there are several mini-buses that leave from Zhongzheng Road (directly in front of exit 1 at Shilin MRT Station) that traverse the mountains.
 * Public transport information is available online
 * For NT$60, you can take the 108 bus around the park as often as you want during its operating hours (07:00 - 17:30). There are plenty of stops at various locations around the park, but you may have to wait 15 or 20 minutes between buses, so plan accordingly.

On foot
The mountains are connected by well maintained hiking trails.

See

 * Azaleas, cherry blossoms every spring, in Yangming Park (Houshan Park).
 * The panorama of Taipei (especially attractive at night) from an observation platform at the entrance to Zhuzi-hu (bamboo lake).
 * The fumaroles at Xiaoyoukeng.
 * The best grassland in Taipei, Qingtiangang. This area is popular with picnicking students and families.
 * The Master of Humor - Lin Yutang (林語堂) was one of the well-known scholars in China and Taiwan. His former residence is one of the most popular tourist spots in Yangmingshan. The Lin Yutang House 's address: 141 Yangde Blvd Sec. 2. Open: 10:00 - 21:00.

Hiking
The mountain peaks are accessible by a network of well maintained hiking trails.

 * Tianmu Trail (天母古道), a pathway up the side of Yangmingshan from Tianmu (天母), the end of the Zhongshan North Road Sec. 7. The entrance is marked with a large signboard and map (in English). Up the trail about 1000-step stairway, you can see a historic water pipe line along the trail, built in 1940s. End of the steps, the trail becomes flat and comfortable, walk along in the forest and enjoy the clear air. Great! This trail is today one of Taipei's most popular day hiking destinations. You can take the MRT (Danshui line) to Zhishan Station and take the 220 bus from the intersection of Zhongshan North Rd and Zhongcheng Rd to the terminal station, then walk north up Zhongshan North Road past the circle about to the end of the road (about 5 minutes), and you can see the entrance with a large signboard.

 * Lengshuikeng (冷水坑), contains Taiwan's sole bed of precipitated sulfur. Sulfurous fumes vented in the bed of this marshy lake turn the water murky. After gradually precipitating, the sulfur forms whitish-yellow or pale gray layers in the lake bed. Popularly known as Milk Lake, the lake is only approximately 40°C (104°F) in temperature, and not the 90°C (194°F) or more found in some hot springs. For the convenience of visitors who wish to wash and relax, there are two hot springs pools and one foot-soaking pool. When you are in Lengshuikeng, be sure to go to the observation platform on the northeast side to enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounding you. A milky white lake is below. This is the location of the explosion vent of Lengshuikeng. You will have a better view of it while walking down the trail from the Seven-Star Park to Lengshuikeng. The arrival of early spring in northern Taiwan is marked by the presence of migratory swallows. These can be seen behind the Lengshuikeng Visitor Center. Note that these birds eat on the wing. While on the ground they do not eat, but are busy gathering mud for nest building. There are two kinds of swallows in the Lengshuikeng area. The one with a snow-white belly is the summer migratory Barn Swallow, the other one with a brownish-gray belly is the resident Pacific Swallow. Due to the severe winter, they only appear in Lengshuikeng in the summer season to build their nests and breed. They are transit visitors.
 * Qingtiangang (擎天崗), is a terrace formed by lava flowing to the north from Mt.Zhugao. This flat area is today an undulating grassland several kilometers across surrounded on all sides by mountain peaks higher than 800 m (2,624 ft) in elevation. [[Image:Yangmingshan 080320 03.jpg|thumb|Erzihping]]The area was once used for grazing cattle under the administration of the Taipei City Agricultural Association, and private individuals could send their cattle to graze here, and popular with picnicking students and families.
 * Jinbaoli Trail (魚路古道), was built long ago as a shortcut over the mountains of Yangmingshan, enabling deliveries of fish from the sea. Starting at Jinshan, the route passes Payen, Qingtienkang, and Zhishanyen before eventually reaching Shilin, Dalongdong, and Dadaocheng, where the fish were sold in local markets. It is also known as the "Old Fish Trail". Still in good condition, the trail is surrounded by old cultural sites and splendid natural scenery. Walking the trail allows one to really appreciate the spirit of the long-ago Chinese settlers who opened up Taiwan.
 * Erzihping Trail (二子坪步道), facilities in the recreation area include a 1,700 m-long (5,577 ft) obstacle-free trail, trail explanations, a wooden plank path, an ecological pond, explanation boards, gazebos, picnic benches and chairs, public toilets, and free wheelchair and baby trolley borrowing service. Opening hours of the obstacle-free trail: 08:00-18:00. Unauthorized vehicles are not allowed to enter the Erzihping area. No bicycles or motorcycles are allowed in the area.

 * Xiaoyukeng (小油坑) is the best-known recreation area in Yangmingshan National Park, and offers some of the most typical scenery. Located above the Datong Bridge along the Yangmingshan-Jinshan Highway, Xiaoyukeng is at an elevation of 800 m (2,624 ft) and contains a host of volcanically-created fumaroles, sulfur crystals, hot springs, and landslides. Sulfur vents noisily spew forth gases, and hot springs discharge endless streams of boiling water. The bright yellow sulfur crystals that can be seen here are exceptionally lovely. Mt. Cising provides breathtaking views in all directions.

 * Mt. Cising (Qixing) (七星山), is the highest peak in the Datun Volcano Group. Because Mt. Cising's main and subordinate peaks are in the form of the Chinese character for "mountain," it is especially majestic and easy to recognize. Located in the center of Yangmingshan National Park, Mt. Cising is the highest peak in the administrative area of Taipei City. Cising Park is to the south of the mountain's eastern summit. This park contains four pavilions of different sizes, plus stone tables and chairs. It is a popular rest stop for people climbing Mt. Cising. Trails lead from Cising Park to Menghuan Lake, Lengshuikeng, and the eastern and main summits of Mt. Cising.
 * Mt. Datun (大屯山), is a volcanic basin popularly known as Datun Nature Park. It is defined as an area in the western section of Yangmingshan National Park, extending from Mt. Datun northward to Mt. Tsaikungkang. Located on a broad saddle between two mountains, the area contains the marshy Datun Pond. Wooden boardwalks around the pond makes it convenient for visitors to see the scenery and lush aquatic vegetation. The area includes an azalea restoration area where the spectacular blossoms of various kinds of rhododendron and azaleas can be seen in the spring.

A particular interesting route is the following:

Hot springs
Soak in sulphur hot spring baths - Yangmingshan is dotted with hot spring resorts. There are also a few free baths maintained by the city government.

Relax
Yangmingshan is all about relaxation and recuperation. It is the first place Taipei citizens think of when stressed out or feeling run down. Fill your lungs full of fresh mountain air, let your eyes rest on miles of lush green hills, and let your body melt away in a milky sulphur bath.

Stay safe

 * Besides beautiful scenery, Yangmingshan is also famous for its venomous snakes. Don't go wandering off into scrub land.
 * People with high blood pressure, heart disease or open wounds should not enter the hot springs.

Respect

 * It is illegal to pick flowers.
 * It is illegal to kill or disturb wild-life.
 * Obviously, don't litter.
 * Public hot spring etiquette requires that bathers thoroughly wash and rinse off their bodies before entering the bath, do not wear clothing (including swim wear) in some of the baths, and tie up their hair so that it does not touch the water.

title: Yangmingshan National Park