Sanno Club is a historical and cultural facility in Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, housed in a former traditional Japanese restaurant. The building was originally constructed in 1895 as Uhakuro, one of the representative traditional restaurants of the port city of Sakata. Today, it introduces the city’s flourishing restaurant culture and the history of the Kitamaebune trading ships that helped Sakata prosper.
The facility features exhibition rooms introducing Sakata’s history and culture, particularly the period when the city developed through Kitamaebune trade. Visitors can also find a café and souvenir shop within the historic building. Walking through the former restaurant allows travelers to experience Sakata’s merchant culture, traditional arts, and craftsmanship while appreciating the architecture itself.
Uhakuro was once known as one of the most prestigious restaurants in Sakata and welcomed numerous notable visitors. Each room features distinctive details, including different kumiko latticework, tokonoma alcoves, and carefully selected fine woods. The building is now registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, preserving the atmosphere of a traditional restaurant from a bygone era.
Uhakuro was constructed in 1895 and became an important social gathering place in Sakata during a period when the city prospered through trade carried by Kitamaebune ships.
The appeal of the building lies not only in its elegant appearance. Each room was designed with its own distinctive decorative elements, including tokonoma alcoves, kumiko lattice doors, and ornate fusuma sliding-door pulls. These details reveal the exceptional craftsmanship that went into traditional restaurant architecture.
The reception room on the eastern side of the second floor features an impressive oriage-gotenjo coffered ceiling. By removing the partitions between the rooms, the space could be transformed into a vast banquet hall measuring approximately 106 tatami mats in area. The arrangement conveys the scale and prestige of the restaurant during its heyday.
Uhakuro is also associated with Takehisa Yumeji, the celebrated Japanese painter and poet, who visited the restaurant several times.
The museum includes a room known as the Yumeji Room, introducing his connection with Uhakuro. It provides an opportunity to discover the relationship between the historic restaurant and one of Japan’s well-known artists of the early 20th century.
The building has been renovated for modern use while preserving its historic architectural details and traditional restaurant atmosphere. As a result, visitors can appreciate both its traditional beauty and its role as a contemporary cultural facility.
The first floor introduces Sakata’s history and culture from a variety of perspectives. Central themes include the wealth and goods transported by Kitamaebune ships, the Sakata merchants who supported the city’s commercial prosperity, and the traditional restaurant culture that developed alongside them.
Sakata flourished as a port of call for Kitamaebune ships, attracting merchants, sailors, artists, and other travelers. As commerce expanded, traditional restaurants, temples and shrines, and various forms of art and culture also developed, creating a distinctive culture unique to the port city.
At Sanno Club, this historical background is presented within the actual rooms of a traditional restaurant. Seeing the exhibits while standing inside the historic architecture makes it easier to imagine how Sakata developed and how commerce influenced everyday life and culture.
The second floor features a permanent exhibition of Sakata Kasafuku, one of the city’s best-known traditional crafts. Kasafuku is considered one of Japan’s three major traditions of hanging ornaments, alongside similar traditions from other parts of the country. Numerous colorful ornaments are suspended together, creating an elaborate and festive display.
The Kasafuku Room allows visitors to take their time viewing a variety of these traditional decorations. The facility also has a Kasafuku Experience Workshop, where visitors can learn about this local tradition while trying their hand at making their own craft.
The Juzaburo Tsujimura Room on the second floor features a permanent exhibition of creative dolls by the renowned Japanese doll artist Juzaburo Tsujimura.
The collection includes works such as Sakata’s Hinamatsuri Play, as well as dolls depicting Maiko and Flower Rabbit. Through their delicate facial expressions, costumes, and intricate forms, the works convey the elegance of Sakata’s traditional culture and the artistic appeal of Japanese doll making.
Fureai Room
A welcoming space where visitors can casually stop and enjoy the atmosphere of the historic building.
Café Yoimachi-tei
A café where visitors can take a break while enjoying the atmosphere of the traditional restaurant architecture.
Souvenir Shop Kazemachiya
A shop offering souvenirs and local items associated with Sakata and the Shonai region.
Yumeji Room
Introduces the connection between Takehisa Yumeji and Uhakuro.
Kitamaebune Room
Introduces the history of Sakata’s development through trade carried by Kitamaebune ships.
Sakata Merchants Room
Explores the merchants and commercial culture that supported the prosperity of this port city.
Temples and Shrines Room
Introduces temples and shrines closely connected with the history and culture of Sakata.
Literati and Artists Room
Introduces writers, artists, and other cultural figures associated with Sakata.
Traditional Restaurant Culture Room
Explores Sakata’s traditional restaurant culture and the social customs that developed around these establishments.
Kasafuku Room
Features a permanent exhibition of Sakata Kasafuku, one of Japan’s three major traditions of hanging decorations.
Kasafuku Experience Workshop
A workshop where visitors can learn about Sakata’s Kasafuku tradition and experience making the traditional ornaments.
Juzaburo Tsujimura Room
Features a permanent exhibition of Tsujimura Juzaburo’s creative dolls, including Sakata’s Hinamatsuri Play, Maiko, and Flower Rabbit.
One of the greatest attractions of Sanno Club is that visitors can experience the traditional restaurant building itself, rather than simply viewing historical objects in conventional exhibition rooms. As you move from room to room, you can admire different tokonoma alcoves, intricate kumiko latticework, fusuma door fittings, coffered ceilings, and other details created by skilled craftsmen.
The exhibits also provide a broad introduction to Sakata’s history and culture, including the Kitamaebune trading ships, Sakata merchants, temples and shrines, artists and writers, Sakata Kasafuku, and traditional Japanese doll art.
For travelers interested in historic architecture and Japanese traditional culture, as well as those who want to understand how Sakata developed as a prosperous port city, Sanno Club offers an engaging introduction to the region’s heritage.
Combining Meiji-era traditional restaurant architecture with Sakata’s rich history and cultural traditions, Sanno Club is a distinctive destination to include when exploring Sakata and the wider Shonai region.