Tendo produces over 95% of all shogi (Japanese chess) pieces in Japan, and the town’s artisans hand-carve and ink the characters onto boxwood pieces using techniques unchanged for 150 years. The Tendo Shogi Museum and craft workshops welcome visitors, and each spring the city hosts the famous ‘Ningen Shogi’ (Human Shogi) tournament, where people in Sengoku costume play as the living pieces on a giant outdoor board atop Maizuru Park.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Tendo, Yamagata |
| Hours | Museum ~9:00–17:00 |
| Admission | Around ¥400 (museum) |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
| Best time | April (Human Shogi); year-round craft |
What to See
- Hand-carved shogi pieces using 150-year-old techniques.
- The Tendo Shogi Museum and working craft studios.
- The spring ‘Ningen Shogi’ (Human Shogi) tournament.
- Costumed players as living pieces on a giant board.
Combine Your Visit
- Pair with Kaminoyama onsen nearby.
- Visit Yamadera for temple and cherry blossoms.
- Try Yamagata soba .
Getting There
- By train: JR to Tendo Station.
- On foot: museum and Maizuru Park central to the town.
Tips
Time your visit for April’s Human Shogi if possible — it’s a genuinely unique, theatrical event. A hand-carved shogi piece or set makes a distinctive Yamagata souvenir.
