Yamagata Prefecture Local Museum

Yamagata city is actually a former castle town that has over the span of its life transformed into one of the most beautiful cities in the southwest Tohoku region. Balancing contemporary life with traditional Japanese culture, there’s a lot of history to be found not only in the capital city of Yamagata but the entire region. There is, however, one particular building you can’t miss while you’re in town and that’s the national treasure, the Bunshokan, also known today as the Yamagata Prefecture Local Museum. A classic English Renaissance building, it was established in 1916 as the Yamagata prefectural government office and a prefectural assembly hall, and is a fascinating contrast to the rest of the wider Yamagata area.

Yamagata Prefecture Local Museum

Located about 1.5 km northeast of the JR Yamagata Station, the building has been recognized as a national icon of important cultural property and was restored to its current glory in 1995. Today, entry into the Bunshokan is free of charge and open to interested visitors, while its conference rooms and galleries are rented to citizens on a regular basis. If you do have an itinerary planned while visiting the area it truly isn't complete without a stop off at this unique local landmark.

Yamagata Prefecture Local Museum

These days the city of Yamagata hosts a number of major cultural events, some of which are located on or near the Bunshokan grounds. Attracting guests from around the country and the world, the building exhibits take guests through unique and generally less well known moments in Yamagata’s history. With real life size figure displays and classic style museum exhibits, exploring this fascinating building is truly a trip through time. Inside the Bunshokan sits Cybele, a popular confectionary chain and a 50-year-old icon of Yamagata. Although it is famous for its rusk and baked goods, this location offers one of the tastiest curries you’ll be able to try in this culinary pocket of Japan along with its sweet products; it’s definitely a great place for a break from a busy day of sightseeing.

Yamagata Prefecture Local Museum

Yamagata Prefecture Local Museum

Though it was once the Yamagata prefectural office, the Bunshokan has now been turned into a museum that features exhibits displaying a comprehensive history of the city. Thanks to its British Renaissance style the building gives visitors the illusion that they’re actually traversing through Europe, similar in atmosphere to similar structures in Hakodate and Sapporo. Though it’s great to visit any time of day, arguably the best time to explore the building is during the day, when the tall and imposing rooms are awash with natural sunlight that pour through the structure’s large windows.

Yamagata Prefecture Local Museum

The building is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m daily and admission is free. Do note, however, that it is closed on the first and third Mondays of the month. However, like many other popular tourist destinations if a public holiday falls on the first or third Monday, the museum will stay open and be closed the following day. It also shuts its doors for a short break from December 29th until January 3rd. The best way to get there is via public transport; take the 100 yen bus from JR Yamagata Station’s east exit and get off at the Hatagomachi-nichome stop. From there it’s just a five-minute walk to the building’s entrance.

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Yamagata Prefecture Local Museum Bunshokan

4.5

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0236355500

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