Museums and galleries in Yamagata

Museums and galleries in Yamagata

1. See

   Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum

   最上義光歴史館

   Mogami Yoshiaki was a daimyo of the Dewa Province. He is credited for vastly expanding Yamagata Castle and transforming the area from a modest, somewhat run-down town into a respectable modern city. He fought many battles in the region and gained territory for siding with the Tokugawa during the Battle of Sekigahara to make his domain one of the top in the nation at the time. The museum includes exhibits about the city's history in addition to those about Mogami.

2. See

   Museum of Yamagata University

   山形大学附属博物館

   Contains natural science exhibits and displays on some of the university's studies and research findings.

   09:30-17:00 (closed weekends and holidays)

3. See

   Seikai Kunii Contemporary Calligraphy Memorial Museum

   國井誠海記念館

   Seikai Kunii founded the Seishinsha, a group that studies modern calligraphy, in 1917 and this museum features his calligraphy, calligraphy he has collected, and special exhibits along with information about modern calligraphy (in Japanese).

   Sat Sun 10:00-17:00·¥300

4. See

   Yamadera Bashō Museum

   山寺芭蕉記念館

   Across the steep valley the temple overlooks, and up a short walk to the opposite hilltop is the lovely park of Fuga-no-Kuni, where you will find this museum featuring exhibitions of Basho's poetry and scrolls. The famous poet, Matsuo Basho, stopped here on his journey through the Tohoku Region. The museum gives information about him, his travels, and the poems he wrote here at Yamadera. Information is available in English, a rarity in Japanese museums.

   ¥400

5. See

   Yamagata City Industrial History Museum

   山形市産業歴史資料館

   A small museum showcasing some of the city's top quality products, particularly Yamagata imono (metal casting).

   Closed · opens 8:30 am·Free

6. See

   Yamagata Museum of Art

   山形美術館 yamagata bijutsukan

   The museum's permanent collection contains works by Kichiro Hasegawa, Matsuo Basho, and Claude Monet. Special exhibits typically show for about a month at a time, so check the museum website to see what will be featured during your visit.

   Closed · opens 10 am·¥500

7. See

   Yamagata Prefectural Museum

   山形県立博物館

   A museum with exhibits of historic artifacts from Yamagata Prefecture. It is home to the famous "Jomon Goddess" (Jomon no Megami), a ceramic statue of a goddess forged in the Jomon Period. For Japanese history buffs, it's worth a visit just to see this object. The prefecture's famous pilgrimage shrines (the Dewa Sanzan) and temple (Yamadera) also have informative exhibits. In addition to the historical exhibits, the museum also has displays on the local culture, rocks and minerals, and flora and fauna.

8. See

   Yamadera Goto Museum of Art

   山寺後藤美術館 yamadera goto bijutsukan

   A European art museum.

   ¥800

9. See

   Yamagata Prefectural Arts and Literature Museum

   山形県芸文美術館 yamagataken geibun bijutsukan

   Displays of local art and calligraphy.

   Closed · opens 10 am

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Yamagata (CC BY-SA 4.0).