Arrive in Yonezawa, a castle town in Yamagata Prefecture historically known as the domain of the Uesugi clan. Meet your local guide at the starting point and get an immediate sense of how the city’s evening culture is concentrated into a tight, walkable area where regulars and locals gather after dark.

Head to the first bar, where you order drinks and settle in before moving on to the second and third venues across the course of the evening. Each stop brings a different atmosphere within Yonezawa’s bar scene — from izakaya-style spots to smaller local watering holes.

Learn about the area, the drinks, and what makes each place part of the city’s social fabric. Over three bars and roughly three hours, build a picture of how Yonezawa locals actually spend an evening out.

Handle your own orders at each venue, choosing food and drinks that interest you, which means the night takes shape around your own pace and preferences. By the final stop, leave with a grounded sense of the city’s bar culture that goes beyond what any map or guidebook provides.