Yamagata Prefecture Folk Museum

Bunshokan is a facility located about 10 minutes by bus from JR Yamagata Station; get off at “Yamagata City Hall-mae” and walk 1 minute. It is a reconstruction of the former prefectural office building and prefectural assembly hall, which were destroyed in the 1911 Yamagata Kita-Taika (Great Fire of Northern Yamagata). The rebuilding was designed by Shin-nosuke Tahara and others, disciples of Josiah Conder, who is famous for designing buildings such as Rokumeikan and Mitsubishi Ichigokan. This facility is regarded as a symbol of Taisho-era Western-style architecture and was later designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Loved by citizens as the “Yamagata Prefectural Local Museum,” it has been used for cultural promotion. The building is full of highlights: a dignified and refined exterior, marble columns, stained glass designed with laurel-leaf wreath motifs, chandeliers, and more. It also became a filming location for famous movies. Exhibits introduce notable writers from Yamagata and the cultures of the four regions—Okitama, Murayama, Mogami, and Shonai—helping visitors learn about Yamagata’s charm. The gardens are also very beautiful, and on clear days many tourists can be seen strolling leisurely.