STAY YAMAGATA

The Yamagata Prefectural Folk Museum (nicknamed "Bunshokan") was built in 1916 (Taisho 5) and was used as a prefectural government building and a prefectural capitol until 1975 .
It was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1984, and over 10 years from 1986 (Showa 61), restoration work was faithfully carried out based on the construction method at that time.

it is now open to the public free of charge as yamagata prefecture folk hall (nicknamed "Bunshokan").

The former prefectural government building is a three-story brick building, and the outer wall is covered with stone paste, and it has a profound appearance. The clock tower, which shows its face to the 4 side as the symbol of Bunshokan, is the second oldest in operation in Japan after the Sapporo clock tower. Watchmakers manually manipulate the weight that moves the pendulum once every five days and have been used carefully. Thanks to that, we have continued to tick the time to the present.

The former Prefectural Capitol building is partly brick and has been used as a venue for concerts and other venues when it is not used by prefectural associations from the beginning, and is still used for various events nowadays.

The interior of the building is also decorated with luxurious decorations. The entrance hall where you enter the inside and jump into your eyes first is full of the atmosphere of Western architecture. The stair railings are also decorated, and the landing is a lovely stained glass with a laurel ring decoration motif. On the ceiling of the front of Government Office (now an auditorium) just up the stairs, plaster decorations that shine with the fine skills of craftsmen are restored. Yamagata prefecture's specialties such as safflower and cherries are hidden, so please check and look for them.
Other rooms also have gorgeous decorations such as parquet floors made from a combination of wood and carpets woven in Yamagata. If you have a time, you can enjoy it even more by guided by a guide volunteer (free of charge).