Yamanaka (山中, literally "Middle of Mountain") is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Akira Joe Yamanaka, singer for the Flower Travellin' BandAkiko Yamanaka (born 1945), Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic PartyChihiro Yamanaka, Japanese jazz pianist and composerDaichi Yamanaka (born 1990), Japanese speed-skaterHirofumi Yamanaka (born 1985), professional Japanese baseball playerHiroko Yamanaka (born 1978), retired Japanese female mixed martial arts fighterLisa Yamanaka, Japanese Canadian actress and voice actressLois-Ann Yamanaka (born 1961), Japanese American poet and novelist from HawaiiMiwako Yamanaka (born 1978), retired Japanese long-distance runnerNoriko Yamanaka, former Japanese female table tennis playerNorio Yamanaka (born 1928)Ryoji Yamanaka (born 1983), former Japanese football playerRyosuke Yamanaka (born 1993), Japanese football playerSadajirō Yamanaka (1866-1936), Japanese art dealerSadao Yamanaka (1909–1938), Japanese film director and screenwriterSawao Yamanaka (born 1968), the frontman of the bands The PillowsSeiko Yamanaka (born 1989), Japanese football playerShino Yamanaka (born 1990), Japanese modern pentathleteShinsuke Yamanaka (born 1982), Japanese professional boxerShinya Yamanaka (born 1962), Japanese Nobel Prize-winning stem cell researcherToshio YamanakaTsuyoshi Yamanaka (born 1939), Japanese olympic swimmerYamanaka Yukimori (1545–1578), Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period