Homma Art Museum Garden

Walking distance from Yamagata’s amazing Somaro Tea House and its gorgeous Maiko, you will find in the city of Sakata and the Homma Art Museum Garden. Built in 1813 by the fourth head of the Homma clan, the property includes the actual main house, the Seienkaku, as well as the magnificent Kakubu-en or “Dancing Crane garden”.

Turned into a museum in 1947, with a dedicated wing build for that very purpose, the Seienkaku used to host many dignitaries including members of the Sakai and Uesugi clans, lords of the Shōnai and Yonezawa Domains, as well as in 1925 the future Shōwa emperor. Also, it is interesting to note that the second storey had been added in 1908 in advance of a planned visit by the future Taishō emperor.