Sōmarō

Overview

Somaro is a cultural attraction in Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, formally known as the Maiko Chaya and Hinagura Gallery Somaro. Housed in a former ryotei restaurant building, it offers performances by Sakata's maiko dancers along with displays of hina dolls and paintings. It preserves the refined culture of Sakata, a port town that once flourished with the kitamae-bune trade, and makes an elegant stop on a stroll through town.

Highlights

• ●A cultural facility set in a historic building tracing back to 1808
• ●Townhouse architecture registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan
• ●A teahouse where you can watch the graceful dance of Sakata's maiko
• ●The Hinagura Gallery displaying hina dolls and paintings

History

The building's roots are said to date back to 1808, and for generations it carried on Sakata's ryotei dining culture. In 2008 it was reopened as the Somaro cultural facility, operated by Hirata Bokujo, a company headquartered in Sakata. The historic townhouse architecture has been recognized for its value and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. A building that grew with the port town's prosperity now serves a new role in passing on its culture.

Map

38.9194, 139.8333 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Step into the registered cultural property and take in the ryotei atmosphere
2. 2View the hina dolls and paintings at the Hinagura Gallery at leisure
3. 3Enjoy the elegant maiko dance at the teahouse
4. 4Afterward, stroll out into the streets of the port town of Sakata

Did you know?

💡 True to its distinctive name, Maiko Chaya and Hinagura Gallery, Somaro combines a teahouse where you can watch maiko dance with a gallery displaying hina dolls and paintings. It is run by the local Hirata Bokujo company, so you can savor the appeal of Sakata through both culture and cuisine.

Nearby spots