Warabe no Sato is a museum comprising five historic buildings filled with mostly art and artifacts from the Edo period (1603–1868). The museum is run by the Takamiya Hotel Group, which also operates a 300-year-old ryokan in northeast Zao. The many beautiful objects on display at Warabe no Sato museum give a clear image of the lives of the wealthy during the Edo period (1603–1868), and many of the pieces stored here once belonged to the local daimyo. The buildings themselves are also historical treasures, and several were relocated to the site from other areas. Two of the buildings are from Miyagi Prefecture, and a few of the other of buildings were moved here from Yamagata city.
In addition to a large collection of art pieces, the museum has a number of items used by various visiting dignitaries. One of the houses in the complex, originally built for the visiting Emperor Meiji (1852-1912), has been remarkably preserved with the original decorations still on display. Visitors to Warabe no Sato can expect to learn a lot about the history of Yamagata and the Takamiya Ryokan that runs the museum. The museum is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and entry is 700 yen.