Somaro has been opened by renovating the famous Somaya restaurant that was in business since the days when kitamaebune (ships that sailed the Sea of Japan during the Edo period) came and went. You will come to an eye-catching vermillion wall and thatched roof when you climb up Maiko Slope laid with stone paving. The fan-shaped stone paving is elegant. The appearance will remind you of the times when this facility prospered as a restaurant. The inside is laid with a red carpet. There are fusuma (sliding doors) depicting ink paintings and pictures. There are also porcelain-made handles. You will find delicate craftsmanship throughout the building here. Some of the rooms also display works of Takehisa Yumeji who was famous for painting beautiful women. Why don't you immerse yourself in the world of Takehisa Yumeji rich in lyricism?

The reception hall on the second floor is a theater for Sakata maiko. You can watch dance performance every day from 2 p.m. The program contains three songs. These start with Sakata Jinku that tells the appearance of Sakata in those days when it bustled with kitamaebune. Please enjoy the performance of the charming maiko to your heart's content. You can take your photograph together with the maiko after the performance. Maiko Gozen is also popular. This allows you to enjoy lunch while watching the dancing of Sakata maiko. (You will need to make a reservation at least two days in advance.) You can also take a break while drinking matcha (powdered green tea) or coffee in the Maiko Cafe relaxation space on the first floor. If you are unable to watch a performance due to time constraints, order a drink here and take a commemorative photograph together with maiko.

There is a special exhibition of hina dolls carried on kitamaebune from March to early April every year. This exhibition displays hina dolls handed down through the generations with care in the state at the time when they were made. For example, they wear kimonos dyed with safflower and finely crafted hair ornaments. This is a magnificent sight.

A thematic journey in the Tohoku region:photogenic