Historical Sightseeing Sites in Sakata

Historical Sightseeing Sites in Sakata, Yamagata

Sakata is located in the "Shonai" Area, the northern part of Yamagata Prefecture, facing to the Japan Sea. During the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) , the marine transportation between Osaka and Hokkaido, along the Japan Sea coast, was very popular. Ships used for the transportation and transportation itself were called "Kitamae-Bune".

"Kitamae-Bune" ships stopped many port of calls. Sakata was one of them. "Kitamae-Bune" not only delivered goods between Osaka and Hokkaido, but also made trading at their port of calls. As a result, many ship owners of each port of call and commission merchants became wealthy.

Some of these wealthy merchants residences remain in Sakata. This page will introduce you two of the residences. They are "ABUMIYA" and "HONMA" Residences. In Sakata, the "Sankyo Warehouses" are well known sight seeing spots.
Please refer the page of "Sankyo Warehouses in Sakata" for more detail:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Tohoku/SankyoWarehouse_E.html

Former ABUMIYA Residence

"ABUMIYA" was a major commission merchant in Sakata. The name of "ABUMIYA" was given by MOGAMI Yoshiaki (1546 - 1614) , the feudal lord of Yamagara, in 1608. "ABUMIYA" made a great success and prosperity during the Edo Age.

Sakata was damaged by a big fire in 1845, and the "ABUMIYA" Residence was rebuilt after the fire. Inside the building, there were the store of the commission merchant and the residence.

The shop of the commission merchant was restored. You may be able to imagine how they did their businesses in the EDO Age. A wide earth floor continues to the back side of the residence.

Pails are stacked up n the wall. These pails are prepared for extinguishing fire.

A lot of small stones are placed on the roof of the "ABUMIYA" Residence. This style of roof is a typical roof structure in the north-west part of Yamagata in order to protect against string wind. ABUMIYA" was wealthy enough to have a tiled roof. ABUMIYA might be apprehensive not to be more gorgeous than feudal lords. Pink flowers were beautiful.

"HONMA" Residence

If you walk to the east from the "ABUMIYA" residence, you will see the "HONMA" Residence. The main gate of the "HONMA" Residence was dignified.

HONMA Family was well-known as a large landowner, throughout the country. This, typical "Samurai" Residence was built in 1768, originally for the "Shonai" feudal lord to be used as an accommodation for the Edo Shogunate who came on inspections. After this inspection, it had been used as the HONMA family's main residence until 1945.

The main entrance was not used for daily purpose, but was used when the feudal lords, the governors and the chief priest of the HONMA's family temple came to the residence.

The HONMA Residence is designated as an important property of Japan.

Other Historical Sites in Sakata

After visiting the HONMA Residence, I walked to the north to Kaianji Temple. Kaianji Temple was established in 1394.

You wiil see a Three-Storied Pagoda in the temple. The Pagoda was rebuilt in 1999, by using traditional methods. It looks as if it was built a couple of hundred years ago.

Sakata was very flourished during the Edo Age, because of the marine transportation between Osaka and Hokkaido along the Japan Sea coast. The prosperity remains a couple of historical sites in Sakata, It would be good to visit Sakata together with Tsuruoka, where the castle of "Shonai" Area was located.

How to get there
From Tokyo, you will take a Jyoetsu Shinkansen to Niigata, then take a limited Express "Inaho" to Sakata. It will take you twenty minutes on foot to the "ABUMIYA" Residence from Sakata Station.

Other Historical Sites near by:
The Sankyo Warehouses in Sakata
Shakado in Tsuruoka
Chido-kan, Former Clan School
Chido Museum in Tsuruoka