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' Band
Akiko Yamanaka (born 1945), Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party
Chihiro Yamanaka, Japanese jazz pianist and composer
Daichi Yamanaka (born 1990), Japanese speed-skater
Hirofumi Yamanaka (born 1985), professional Japanese baseball player
Hiroko Yamanaka (born 1978), retired Japanese female mixed martial arts fighter
Lisa Yamanaka, Japanese Canadian actress and voice actress
Lois-Ann Yamanaka (born 1961), Japanese American poet and novelist from Hawaii
Miwako Yamanaka (born 1978), retired Japanese long-distance runner
Noriko Yamanaka, former Japanese female table tennis player
Norio Yamanaka (born 1928)
Ryoji Yamanaka (born 1983), former Japanese football player
Ryosuke Yamanaka (born 1993), Japanese football player
Sadajirō Yamanaka (1866-1936), Japanese art dealer
Sadao Yamanaka (1909–1938), Japanese film director and screenwriter
Sawao Yamanaka (born 1968), the frontman of the bands The Pillows
Seiko Yamanaka (born 1989), Japanese football player
Shino Yamanaka (born 1990), Japanese modern pentathlete
Shinsuke Yamanaka (born 1982), Japanese professional boxer
Shinya Yamanaka (born 1962), Japanese Nobel Prize-winning stem cell researcher
Toshio Yamanaka
Tsuyoshi Yamanaka (born 1939), Japanese olympic swimmer
Yamanaka Yukimori (1545–1578), Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period
