It was designed by architect Kengo Kuma. The natural slate roofs, narrow paths, and earthen walls all fit perfectly with the atmosphere of Tome's townscape. The receptionist also provided detailed explanations, which I appreciated. The exhibits include swords and helmets associated with Toyoma and his friends. The special exhibition was also worth seeing. Admission is 400 yen, but a 1000 yen combined ticket to all six facilities is a great deal.
I visited on Saturday, October 11th, around 10 AM.
The building is relatively new, constructed in 2019 (Reiwa 1), and designed by Kengo Kuma, who also designed the National Stadium.
The roof is adorned with local slate and moss, creating a pleasing design that harmonizes with the adjacent Shunrantei Pavilion and its garden.
However, I've heard that buildings with such extensive use of wood deteriorate quickly if not properly maintained; that's my only concern.
My purpose was to see the special exhibition, "The Soul of the Warrior: The Beauty of Ayasugi-hada, Local Swordsmiths."
Among the exhibits, including spears by local swordsmith Soryushitamateru and famous swords from the Gassan school in Yamagata, I was particularly drawn to a sword by "Tajima-no-kami Munetsugu."
The blade pattern spread out like paint dropped into water, resembling a "gunome" (irregular wave) pattern.
I'm glad I came to clear my head.
The building was designed by Kengo Kuma, and the gardens within the facility were beautifully maintained.
I was able to learn more about the history of the Tome region. Armor and swords of the Date family were on display.
A common ticket allowing entry to six nearby facilities costs 1000 yen for adults, but entry to this museum alone was 400 yen. Since I only planned to visit two other places, I didn't buy the common ticket.
Revisited in November 2025. The green roof had changed from the green roof of summer to the red roof of autumn.
First visit in August 2025. The green roof, designed by Kengo Kuma, was impressive.