Sankyo Rice Warehouses
Sakata City
With the stark contrast of the black wooden paling and tiled rooves against the white plaster walls, not to mention the awe-inspiring row of Zelkova trees along the back, the Sankyo Rice Warehouses are the iconic symbol of Sakata in its glory days.
Constructed in 1893, the warehouses were so well-designed that nine of the 12 are still being used for their original purpose. A few notable features include the raised roof to allow ventilation throughout the year, and the Zelkova trees that provide much-needed shade in the summer, and protection from the harsh winds in winter.
The other three warehouses have been converted into Sakata Yume-no-Kura, a sake and snack bar, souvenirs, and Hokotei, a traditional Japanese restaurant that showcases the original roof from the inside. There is a museum at the northern end features many handmade tools and artefacts used for rice farming showing the effort that went into growing the staple grain for a growing nation.
Quick Info:
The Sankyo Rice Warehouses are located in the center of Sakata at the below address. There is a large parking lot and it is also reachable by foot from Sakata Station.
The Honma Historical Residence and Abumiya are a 5-10 minute walk away. Just follow the paved-stone path.
〒998-0838 Yamagata-ken, Sakata-shi, Sankyomachi, 1 Chome−1−8
Prices:
Entry is free but there is a ¥300 to the rice museum. Please be aware that the museum does not have English support, but it is still worth seeing.
The line of zelkova trees during the Fall.