The Homma Museum of Art is a registered museum in Yamagata Prefecture that preserves and exhibits artworks, crafts, historical documents, and other treasures collected and passed down by the Homma family, one of the most influential landowning and merchant families in the Shonai region.
The museum occupies a former villa of the wealthy Homma family of Sakata. In 1947, the family opened the villa, known as Seienkaku, and its beautiful garden, Chidokuen, to the public as a private museum. It became the first private art museum established in Japan after World War II.
The museum’s collection centers on fine arts and traditional crafts that were carefully collected and preserved by successive generations of the Homma family. Among the highlights are “Weasel” by Maruyama Ōkyo, objects presented to the Homma family by feudal lords, historically valuable documents, and tea ceremony utensils favored by members of the family. The collection also includes numerous Important Cultural Properties and other designated works of cultural significance.
The Chidokuen Garden, which incorporates Seienkaku into its landscape, is designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty. The garden has also received a two-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide Japan, while Seienkaku and the museum itself have each received one star.
The Homma Museum of Art consists of the historic main building, Seienkaku, and a newer museum building completed in 1968, with the scenic Chidokuen Garden between them.
Seienkaku was built in 1813 as a villa for the Homma family. The two-story building features a combination of copper-sheet and tiled roofing and was originally constructed as a resting place for Lord Sakai during his inspections of the domain.
During the feudal period, Seienkaku served as a reception residence for the lords of the Shonai Domain and important officials of the shogunate. After the Meiji period, it welcomed members of the Imperial family, senior government officials, writers, artists, and other distinguished guests. In 1925, it also served as accommodation for the Crown Prince, who later became Emperor Shōwa.
The architecture combines refined Kyoto-style craftsmanship with furnishings that evoke the elegant atmosphere of the Taishō era. The building itself is an important part of the museum experience.
Seienkaku has welcomed members of the Japanese Imperial family as well as Helen Keller. Visitors can also see valuable objects presented to the Homma family by feudal lords, historically important documents, and tea ceremony utensils collected by the family.
The garden contains famous stones transported from various parts of Japan aboard Kitamaebune merchant ships. These ships played an important role in Japan’s coastal trade, and the stones brought to Sakata became part of the landscape surrounding Seienkaku.
A tea and coffee area inside the villa provides a relaxing place to enjoy the garden. Visitors can sit quietly and appreciate the seasonal scenery from the traditional building.
The café inside Seienkaku offers views across Chidokuen Garden. Visitors can enjoy original coffee, matcha green tea, and sweets while taking in the changing scenery of the garden.
One of the sweets available is Kitamae Castella, created by Tanbaya Seika, a confectionery company with around 40 years of history. It is made with wheat flour from Hokkaido, sugar produced from sugar beets, and eggs from the Shonai region. The cake contains no additives and is designed as a simple, flavorful local sweet.
Enjoying Kitamae Castella and a cup of tea or coffee while looking out over the garden provides a particularly relaxing way to experience the historic atmosphere of Seienkaku.
Homma Mitsumichi, the fourth head of the Homma family, built Seienkaku as a villa in 1813.
In 1925, Seienkaku was honored by the visit of the Crown Prince, who later became Emperor Shōwa.
In 1947, the former villa and garden were opened to the public as a private art museum. This marked the beginning of the Homma Museum of Art.
In 1965, the Homma Museum of Art was reorganized as a juridical foundation.
A new museum building was completed in 1968, expanding the museum’s exhibition facilities.
In 2012, the garden known as Chidokuen was officially designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.
In 2013, the Homma Museum of Art became a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation.
The museum is associated with a number of valuable cultural properties, including:
The Tales of Ise — a manuscript traditionally attributed to the handwriting of Minbu-kyo no Tsubone.
Ichikawa Documents — a collection of 147 historical documents.
Letter by Fujiwara no Teika — a letter dated October 8.
Maki-e Double Short-Sword Box — a beautifully decorated lacquer sword box currently deposited with the Tokyo National Museum.
Homma Family Villa Garden, Chidokuen is designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty for its artistic composition and historical value as a traditional Japanese landscape garden.
Chidokuen, formally known as the Homma Family Villa Garden, was created in 1813 by Homma Mitsumichi, the fourth head of the Homma family. It is a traditional strolling pond garden, or kaiyū-shiki teien, designed so that visitors can walk around the pond and experience different views of the landscape.
The garden makes use of famous stones transported by Kitamaebune merchant ships, including Red Ball Stone from Sado Island and Blue Stone from Iyo. Granite stone lanterns from Shōdoshima are also incorporated into the garden.
White azaleas are particularly beautiful in early summer, while autumn brings vivid foliage. The scenery changes dramatically throughout the year, making the garden attractive in every season.
The garden is said to have received its name, Chidokuen, after a crane descended onto the small island in the center of the pond. The name was given by Lord Sakai, the lord of the Shonai Domain.
The construction and maintenance of the garden also had a social purpose. Work on the garden was carried out during the winter, when fewer people were able to work at the port, providing employment for local workers during the off-season.
One of the most distinctive features of Chidokuen is its use of Mount Chōkai as a borrowed landscape. Known as shakkei in Japanese garden design, this technique incorporates distant mountains and other surrounding scenery into the composition of the garden.
From the second-floor tatami room of Seienkaku, Mount Chōkai forms a magnificent backdrop to the garden. The changing terrain, pond, islands, stones, lanterns, and carefully arranged vegetation create a sophisticated landscape that reflects traditional Japanese aesthetics.
The garden offers a different appearance in every season. White azaleas bloom in spring and early summer, fresh green foliage dominates in summer, autumn brings brilliant red and gold leaves, and winter covers the garden in snow.
Chidokuen is officially protected as a National Place of Scenic Beauty because of its outstanding artistic design and composition as a traditional pond garden.
The garden’s combination of changing terrain, carefully positioned stones, water, vegetation, and the distant view of Mount Chōkai creates a landscape of considerable artistic and cultural value.
The Homma Museum of Art offers more than an opportunity to view artworks. Visitors can explore a historic villa, admire a nationally designated Japanese garden, discover objects preserved by one of the Shonai region’s prominent merchant families, and enjoy seasonal scenery in a peaceful setting.
From the refined architecture of Seienkaku to the carefully designed landscape of Chidokuen, the museum provides an opportunity to experience several aspects of traditional Japanese aesthetics in a single destination.
Whether visiting to appreciate the museum’s cultural treasures, stroll through the garden, admire the view of Mount Chōkai, or simply enjoy tea and sweets in the historic villa, the Homma Museum of Art offers a tranquil introduction to the history and culture of Sakata and the Shonai region.