The Sankyo Soko Warehouses are a historic group of rice warehouses in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, known for their distinctive black wooden walls and rows of zelkova trees. Built in 1893, the warehouses were originally used to store rice from the fertile Shonai region.
Located near the mouth of the Nadaigawa River in the southern part of Sakata, the warehouses have a history that goes back to the period when the area was governed by the Shonai Domain. Today, 12 traditional earthen-walled warehouses stand in a row, together with the former riverside loading area and the beautiful zelkova-lined path behind the buildings.
One of the warehouses is open to the public as the Shonai Rice History Museum and the Sakata Yumenokuraku Tourist and Local Products Center.
The warehouses are also remarkable for their traditional methods of protecting rice from heat and humidity. Double-layered roofs provided additional insulation, while the zelkova trees planted behind the buildings protected them from strong sunlight and seasonal winds. These ingenious techniques helped maintain a stable environment for storing rice.
After 129 years of use as rice warehouses, their original role came to an end in 2022. Today, the site preserves an important part of Sakata’s commercial and agricultural heritage.
The Sankyo Soko Warehouses were built in 1893 as affiliated warehouses of the Sakata Rice Exchange. The rice exchange was abolished in 1939 following the enactment of wartime rice distribution control legislation, but the warehouses continued to be used for rice storage for many decades afterward.
Of the 12 warehouses, nine continued to function as rice warehouses until 2022. One was opened in 1985 as the Shonai Rice History Museum, while two were opened to the public in 2004 as the Sakata Yumenokuraku Tourist and Local Products Center.
Since 2016, the warehouses have also been illuminated from sunset until 10 p.m., creating a striking nighttime view.
The warehouses were built using traditional earthen-walled storehouse construction, designed by master carpenter Takahashi Kanekichi, who was originally from Tsuruoka City.
The site occupies Sankyo Island, a small island-like area in the Nadaigawa River. Its location close to the port made it highly convenient for transporting rice by boat. However, the ground was relatively soft, so the site was reinforced with approximately 3.6 meters of earth fill and stone walls, together with piles approximately 3.6 meters long driven beneath the foundations.
On the western side of the warehouses stand 41 zelkova trees. Their dense foliage helps block strong sunlight, while the trees also protect the buildings from the powerful seasonal winds that blow through the region during winter.
The roofs feature a double-layered structure designed to provide insulation. Inside the warehouses, the earthen floors were hardened using a mixture containing nigari, the mineral-rich liquid left over from traditional salt production, while salt was spread over the floor to help maintain stable temperature and humidity conditions.
These techniques demonstrate the practical knowledge developed by people who needed to protect valuable rice stocks from the heat and moisture of the coastal climate.
A loading dock facing the river once served as an important transportation point. From the Edo period through the Meiji period, the area played a role in the Mogami River boat transportation network, which connected the inland areas of Yamagata with Sakata and the Sea of Japan.
Women known as onnachōmochi also played a role in transporting rice. Historical records describe women carrying as many as five 60-kilogram rice bags, or approximately 300 kilograms in total, on their backs.
The zelkova-lined avenue at Sankyo Soko has frequently appeared in television programs, magazines, advertisements, and films. It was also featured in commercials and posters starring Japanese actress Sayuri Yoshinaga.
In 1982, writer Sugako Hashida and members of the production team visited Sankyo Soko while searching for locations for the NHK television drama “Oshin.” They were impressed by the atmosphere of the warehouses and selected the site as one of the settings for the drama.
The warehouses have also attracted attention as a filming location for works such as the movie “Departures”. Their traditional appearance has made them particularly suitable for productions seeking to evoke an image of historic Japan.
With its black wooden walls, traditional warehouses, stone paving, riverfront, and rows of zelkova trees, the site can give visitors the feeling of stepping back into the world of the Meiji era.
The warehouses extend deep into the site, creating a distinctly nostalgic atmosphere. The area preserves the feeling of Sakata’s past as a busy rice-shipping port and has become a popular location for photography.
On the front side of the warehouses, visitors can see the river flowing alongside the buildings. The white walls and triangular roofs create an attractive contrast with the dark reflections of the buildings on the water.
The former loading dock along the Mogami River and traditional small boats once used for transporting rice provide further reminders of the site’s history as a center of river transportation.
Behind the warehouses, a long avenue of zelkova trees runs alongside the black wooden walls and stone pavement. The combination of dark walls, green foliage, and traditional architecture creates one of the most recognizable scenes in Sakata.
The landscape changes beautifully with the seasons and time of day. Fresh green zelkova trees are particularly attractive in spring and early summer, while snow-covered triangular roofs create a striking winter scene. At dusk, the lights of the warehouses create a warm atmosphere, and after rain, the wet stone pavement produces beautiful reflections.
The Sakata Yumenokuraku Tourist and Local Products Center is located within the Sankyo Soko complex and offers a convenient introduction to the food and products of the Shonai region.
Visitors can purchase locally produced rice, sake, and regional specialties as souvenirs. The center also includes dining facilities where guests can enjoy dishes made with seasonal seafood from the nearby coast and produce from the surrounding countryside.
An open-air terrace provides a pleasant place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the historic warehouse district.
Sankyo Soko is more than a row of beautiful historic buildings. It tells the story of Sakata’s rice trade, river transportation, traditional architecture, and local ingenuity.
The combination of historic warehouses, black wooden walls, zelkova trees, the riverfront, and seasonal scenery makes the site particularly appealing to visitors interested in traditional Japanese landscapes and photography.
Today, the former rice warehouses continue to serve as a cultural and tourism destination, allowing visitors to explore Sakata’s history while enjoying local food and products. Whether visited in the fresh greenery of summer, beneath autumn foliage, or surrounded by winter snow, Sankyo Soko offers a memorable glimpse into the commercial history and nostalgic scenery of the Shonai region.