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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Tendo
天童
Spend a half day in Tendo to see the Shogi Museum and Hiroshige Museum; add a quick onsen visit if time allows.
Tendo is a small city in Yamagata known for shogi piece production. The main sights are within walking distance of JR Tendo Station, so a half‑day covers the museums and a bite; an extra night lets you enjoy the onsen hotels.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 天童
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (heavy snow)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Shogi piece (single, basic) | ¥1,000–2,000 |
| Shogi piece (hand‑carved, high grade) | ¥20,000–80,000 |
| Museum entry (Shogi) | ¥300 |
| Museum entry (Hiroshige) | ¥600 |
| Meal at a local restaurant | ¥800–1,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GAJ · Yamagata Airport
- Domestic flights; bus ~1 h to Tendo (check schedule)
Typical fares
- JR Tendo Station → city centre (walk)
- 0 ¥, 0 min (walk)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
All attractions are within a 10‑minute walk from JR Tendo Station; no public transport needed.
See and do
Known for
- Shogi piece manufacturing
- Tendo Shogi Museum
- Hiroshige Museum of Art
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Yamagata City | JR Yamagata Shinkansen, about 20 min from Tendo | ≈ 45 min total |
| Shinjo | JR Ou Main Line, about 30 min north | ≈ 1 h total |
Sleep
- Comfort Hotel Tendo
- Business hotel next to the station; easy access for museum visits.
- Takinoyu Hotel
- Onsen hotel east of station; rooms have private onsen.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the museum? | 博物館はどこですか？hakubutsukan wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Shogi Museum closed Tue‑Thu; check opening days before you go.
- Hiroshige Museum hours change seasonally; verify current times.
Tendo is a low‑crime town; typical precautions apply, especially at night on quiet streets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tendo yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Shogi piece manufacturing
- Tendo Shogi Museum
- Hiroshige Museum of Art
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tendo tourist association (Japanese): bussan-tendo.gr.jp/
- City of Tendo official site: www.city.tendo.yamagata.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Tendo, revision 4981513 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4981513
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tendo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.