Sakata City

The historic port city of Sakata was once a major port city that serviced domestic trade with the rest of Japan during the Edo Period hundreds of years ago. During this time, the richest family of all of Japan called Sakata home and the streets of downtown Sakata were lined with merchant homes and a bustling entertainment district for the many merchants and government officials that did business there.

These remnants of this bygone era of prosperity can still be seen in the many historical museums and sightseeing spots throughout this city. Sakata has also continued to produce some of the finest rice and sake in all of Japan which you can enjoy throughout the city.

Sakata is a port city that prospered thanks to its perfect position where the massive Mogami River flows into the ocean. This allowed it to service the river boats that brought in rice and safflower (flowers used for dying various products red) from inland Yamagata as well as various products from the Shonai Region. From the late 1600s, boats lined the Mogami river to load cargo onto the Japan Heritage Kitamaebune ships. These ships serviced the major cities of Japan including the new capital of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and its huge need for rice that enriched this entire part of Japan.