Gassan Hanagasa Line A skewer of konjac balls along a fresh green mountain road

I drove the Gassan Hanagasa Line and stopped at the Gassan Lake Water Culture Museum. I’d been looking forward to this stop along Route 112. I pulled my red car into a parking space and stepped out. The forest’s greenery caught my eye. After the drive, I wanted to take my time looking at every leaf.

I wore a mint cardigan with a purple pleated skirt. As I crossed the plaza in my white sneakers, I spotted a bench beneath the gazebo. On a sunny early afternoon in June, that patch of shade felt so welcome. My driving friend and I decided to take a little break here first.

I had a skewer of round, brown konjac balls in my hand. Seeing them lined up made me wonder which one to eat first. They’re a beloved Yamagata specialty, and I hear you can get them at Seki no Chaya, too. The smell of soy sauce reached my nose, and I wanted a bite before I’d even taken in the view. Perfect for a little break in the middle of a trip.

I bit into one at the end of the skewer and loved its springy texture. My friend had a skewer too and laughed. “Eating these makes me feel like I’ve really arrived in Yamagata,” she said. As I listened, I looked toward the forest beyond the gazebo. I love how even a simple skewer can help me remember the time I spent here.

I hear that pilgrims once traveled the old Rokujurigoe Kaido on their way to the Dewa Sanzan mountains. It’s the route that inspired the road we drive today, where we can stop along the way for local specialties. The road has a different purpose now, but people are still making the journey toward the mountains. I love thinking about that. After finishing our skewers, my friend and I talked about going to see the lake too.

When my break was over, I looked over at the red car in the car park. I didn’t want to just hurry through; I wanted to remember the skewer I’d eaten in the plaza, too. My friend and I talked about where to go next and returned to the car. Once I was in the driver’s seat and had checked the road ahead, I set off again to continue my early-summer drive through the fresh greenery.