The was established in 1989 as part of the cultural building boom in Yamagata celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the city. Located about 20 minutes by train (Senzan Line between Yamagata and Sendai) from Yamagata Station, it sits on the south side of the steep river valley facing

Yamadera : ''You may also be looking for the voice actor Kōichi Yamadera.'' , (山号宝珠山; ''Sangō Hōshu-zan'') is the popular name for the Buddhist temple of located northeast of Yamagata City, in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Its main image i ...

to the north, the historic temple founded in 860 which is one of the area's most beloved sacred sites and top sightseeing destinations. The Museum focuses on the life of

Matsuo Bashō born then was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. During his lifetime, Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative '' haikai no renga'' form; today, after centuries of commentary, he is recognized as the greatest ma ...

(1644–1694) who perfected the art of

haiku is a type of short form poetry originally from Japan. Traditional Japanese haiku consist of three phrases that contain a ''kireji'', or "cutting word", 17 '' on'' (phonetic units similar to syllables) in a 5, 7, 5 pattern, and a ''kigo'', or se ...

, the concise 5-7-5 syllable verse form now appreciated and written around the world. Many treasures from Basho's own hand and writing brush are regularly displayed, along with works of literati and artists from his time, and of those who followed later. Special exhibitions on related themes are also regularly mounted in the gallery. The spacious grounds and gardens are beautiful all year round, and the facility includes many traditional Japanese style meeting rooms and tea rooms which are regularly used for citizens' tea ceremonies and other cultural programs, including seminars on literature and haiku ''taikai'' poetry writing contests　(俳句大会）, in both Japanese and English. The beautiful buildings in traditional ''

sukiya-zukuri is one type of Japanese residential architectural style. ''Suki'' means refined, well cultivated taste and delight in elegant pursuits and refers to enjoyment of the exquisitely performed tea ceremony. The word originally denoted a building in ...

'' (数寄屋造り）tea ceremony room style were designed by the well-known architect Masao Nakamura.中村昌生の仕事:数寄の空間Ｉ''Work of Masao Nakamura:Tea Ceremony Space vol.I'' pub. Tankosha, Inc. 2000, Tokyo p.9-28 Information is also available in English on the exhibitions and on Basho's life and his major work ''

Oku no Hosomichi ''Oku no Hosomichi'' (, originally ), translated as ''The Narrow Road to the Deep North'' and ''The Narrow Road to the Interior'', is a major work of ''haibun'' by the Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō, considered one of the major texts of Japanese l ...

'' "The Narrow Road to the Deep North," his travel journal of haiku and paintings based on his trip to the area. Yamadera Basho Memorial Museum 4223 Aza Nan-in, Oaza Yamadera, Yamagata-shi Japan 999-3301 telephone : 023-695-2221 The Museum is closed some Mondays, especially in the depth of winter. http://yamadera-basho.jp/?p=top

References

{{authority control Museums in Yamagata Prefecture Museums established in 1989 Literary museums in Japan Basho, Yamadera Haiku 1989 establishments in Japan Yamagata, Yamagata