It is about 55 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Yamagata Airport and about 1 hour 20 minutes from Kansai International Airport to Yamagata Airport. It takes about 40 minutes from Yamagata Airport to Yamagata Station by bus and about 2 hours 30 minutes from Tokyo Station to Yamagata Station by the JR Yamagata Shinkansen. There are flights from Yamagata to Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo and Tokyo.

It is about 2 Hours 48 Minutes to Yamagata Station from Tokyo Station by the JR Yamagata Shinkansen, and about 5 Hours 13 Minutes from Shin-Osaka Station, with a change at Tokyo Station via the JR Tokaido and Yamagata Shinkansen Line. The JR Yonesaka line links Yamagata with Niigata in 3 hours and 15 minutes by limited express. A change to the JR Uetsu line is usually necessary at Sakamachi.

It is about 2 Hours 48 Minutes to Yamagata Station from Tokyo Station by JR Yamagata Shinkansen Line, and about 5 Hours 13 Minutes from Shin-Osaka Station, with a change at Tokyo Station, by JR Tokaido and Yamagata Shinkansen Line. It is about 55 minutes to Zao Onsen from Yamagata Station by bus. In winter, there is also a regular bus service to from Tokyo.

You can get to Yonezawa in about 2 Hours 15 from Tokyo Station by the JR Yamagata Shinkansen Line, and about 5 Hours from Shin-Osaka Station, with a change at Tokyo Station, by the JR Tokaido and Yamagata Shinkansen Line. The JR Ou line connects Yonezawa with Yamagata in 45 minutes and trains run east from Yonezawa on the same line to Fukushima in 45 minutes. The JR Yonesaka line links Yonezawa with Niigata via the JR Uetsu line.

To get to Gassan or Mt. Haguro, take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen Line for 2 hours from Tokyo Station to Niigata Station. Transfer to the Limited Express Train on the JR Haetsu Honsen Line for 1 hour 50 minutes from Niigata Station to Tsuruoka Station. You can then take a bus for 55 minutes from Tsuruoka Station to the top of Mt. Haguro, or for 1 hour 17 minutes to Mt. Gassan.

To Yamagata Zao
Take the Tohoku Shinkansen north, and the Yamagata Shinkansen to Yamagata city.  By local train, take the Tohoku line up to Fukushima station, and then take the Ou line from Fukushima to Yamagata city.  

To the Yamagata Zao region
If you are coming from Tokyo to Yamagata using the expressways - for a direct drive to the main skiing areas of Yamagata from the Tokyo area, the best way to go is using the Tohoku Expressway from Urawa in northeastern Tokyo, and then the Yamagata Expressway. At Murata Junction, head west on the Yamagata Expressway towards Yamagata city. At the Murata Junction of the Tohoku Expressway, turn onto the Yamagata Expressway and head towards Yamagata. Please consult each resort's access information for details as to which is best.