Sakata Sankyo Warehouses
A row of elegant 120-year-old double-roofed rice storage warehouses beside the Mogami River mouth, built with a clever double-layer roof to keep rice cool in summer. Zelkova trees line the approach in a perfect symmetry.
1–2 hours
Free (exterior grounds); exhibition facilities temporarily closed (as of 2025)
Exterior grounds: always accessible; Shonai Film Village (nearby): check for current hours
Year-round; April–May (cherry)
Approx. 20-min walk or short bus ride from Sakata Station
Location
Why Visit
- 1
The ten warehouses are still owned by the Honda family whose merchant empire was based here
- 2
The zelkova trees lining the approach are 270 years old — planted when the warehouses were built
- 3
A small museum inside explains how Sakata merchants controlled rice distribution across Japan
- 4
The Mogami River sunset from the warehouse wharf is a photographer's classic
Local Tips
The row of black cedar-shingled warehouses along the Minamoto River — used to store Shonai rice before shipping — is one of Tohoku's most photogenic historic industrial sites. The Homma Art Museum nearby has an outstanding traditional garden. Combine with Ginzan Onsen (1.5 hours by car) for a Yamagata cultural day.
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