Yamagata Museum of Art

The Yamagata Museum of Art is an art museum in Yamagata with works displayed across three floors, covering both European and Japanese artistic traditions. The collection includes 19th-century French paintings and classical Japanese masterworks.

The museum was founded in 1962 and opened to the public in 1964. A major renovation in 1985 modernized the building and expanded its exhibition capacity.

The museum displays works by Yosa Buson from the 18th century, including a six-panel screen depicting scenes from a famous pilgrimage journey. These pieces connect to local artistic traditions and Japanese literary history.

The museum is located in the Ote-machi area and is easily accessible by public transport. Plan to spend at least two to three hours to explore the different exhibition sections at a comfortable pace.

A large portion of the Impressionist paintings on display come from a private collection by a Japanese company and are permanently housed here. This unusual partnership made it possible to bring significant European artworks to this region.

Location: Yamagata

Inception: 1962

Founders: Yoshio Hattori

Official opening: August 20, 1964

Website: http://yamagata-art-museum.or.jp/en

GPS coordinates: 38.25589,140.33240

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:03