Spring Walking Tour in Sakata, Japan

Sailing into Sakata by cruise ship was a peaceful start to a photo-filled spring day. This port town in northern Japan (酒田市 – Pronounced [sah-kah-tah]) sits along the Sea of Japan in Yamagata Prefecture and once flourished as a hub of rice shipping and merchant trade.

While the modern town is small and easy to walk, its Edo-period legacy lives on through its preserved storehouses, charming canals, and shrines tucked into quiet neighborhoods. Visiting in April gave me the bonus of cherry blossoms just starting to bloom.

From the moment I stepped off the shuttle into town, Sakata welcomed me with a mix of serenity and celebration.

I started my walk at the Sankyo Soko Rice Warehouses, a beautiful row of historic buildings flanked by a quiet canal and footbridge. Decorative manhole covers hinted at Sakata’s maritime past, while the preserved storehouses gave a sense of the city’s shipping-era importance. Trees near the warehouse grounds were just beginning to blossom, twisting like sculptures above the walking paths.

Not far from there was the Somaro teahouse, known for its connection to geisha culture. I didn’t stop in, but the courtyard and building design were worth the stroll. Throughout the city, moss-covered trees, pink plum blossoms, and traditional tile roofs made every turn photo-worthy. I stumbled across a lucky cat shrine tucked in an alley and paused at a few smaller torii gates and shrines on my uphill walk to Shimohie Shrine.

The real surprise came at Hiyoriyama Park, where a spring festival was in full swing. Locals were out enjoying hanami picnics, children played near vendors and balloon stalls, and a wooden sailboat floated in a small pond beside a historic white lighthouse. The whole park was framed in cherry blossoms and festive energy. Before heading back, I took in a last glimpse of Mount Chokai, snow-capped and majestic in the distance.