Ken Domon Museum of Photography

What to know

The Ken Domon Museum of Photography (土門拳記念館, Domon Ken Kinenkan) in Sakata is dedicated to the work of Domon Ken (1909-1990), one of Japan's most prolific photographers and a native of Sakata. Before his death, Domon donated about 70,000 of his photographs to Sakata City, which became the foundation of the museum.

Domon first gained fame as a photojournalist, known for his realistic documentation of postwar Japan. Besides portraits and scenes of daily life, he later focused on religious and cultural treasures, such as temples and Buddhist statues.

The museum has two sections with rotating seasonal exhibits that highlight themes from Domon's collection, like religious icons or ancient pottery. A third section features rotating exhibits by photographers associated with Domon. The building, designed by renowned architect Taniguchi Yoshio, is modern and angular, set beside a pond. A mini waterfall is visible from a raised platform.

The museum is about six kilometers south of Sakata Station or three kilometers south of the Sankyo Warehouses. Take the Run Run bus on the Sakata University Line from Sakata Station via the Sankyo Warehouses to the museum. Get off at the Domon Ken Kinenkan bus stop (200 yen, 20-30 minutes from the station, 10-20 minutes from the warehouses, one bus every 1-2 hours). A taxi from the city center takes 10-20 minutes and costs around 1500-2000 yen.