I participated in the event "An Evening to Enjoy Sake and Food in Minatomachi Sakata"! Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture

  • Yamagata
  • Eating

Feel the great nature.

Departing from Sendai by bus!
The weather was beautiful and we headed for Sakata City in Yamagata Prefecture, feeling the great nature.
Chokai, a famous mountain that straddles Yamagata and Akita Prefectures.

Enjoying an Evening of Sake and Food in the Minato Town of Sakata".

Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, is a minato town overlooking the Sea of Japan and the Chokai Mountains, and the vast Shonai Plain. The rich fishing grounds of the Sea of Japan, mountains nurtured by the bounty of nature, delicious rice grown in the vast plains, and the Mogami River that carries these blessings. Sakata is a "city of sake and gastronomy" full of rich culinary ingredients.

Sakata prospered as a port town and a merchant town through trade on the Kitamae-bune, a ship that operated in the Edo period (1603-1868). Ingredients from all over the country and various cooking methods were brought into the city, and the combination of the enterprising spirit of a minato town, the spirit of hospitality for guests, and the friendly rivalry of the townspeople have led to the present day.

Local cuisine using regional ingredients

This time, participants were presented with choko (sake cups). The table was then immediately filled with dishes from Le Pot Fou, a French restaurant that has been loved by cultural figures such as writer Ken Kaiko and Saiichi Marutani, both of whom were well-known as food connoisseurs.

(Name of dishes)
・Chawanai Nagamo consommé Western style steamed egg custard
・Sautéed Mikawa Migaki shiitake mushrooms and black olives
・Homemade smoked chicken salad with soft white onion sauce
・Gassan wheat grissini
・Shonai pork liver pate

Unique sake

The rich nature of the area creates a variety of ingredients such as underground water from Chokai Mountain and the Shonai sand dunes, Shonai rice that has received high praise nationwide, and the richness of the nature. Shonai rice, which is highly acclaimed throughout the country, and sake from nine breweries in Sakata and Yusa, which are brewed in the air and have rich individuality.
Sake from 9 breweries in Sakata and Yusa
Sake lecture by Mr. Shuichi Takahashi, Kigawaya Sake Shop
A total of 18 varieties will be available, from the well-known "Kamikigen Daiginjo National New Sake Competition Gold Medal Winner" to "Tatenokawa SHIELD Junmai Daiginjo Kame no O," which will arrive on March 22 of this year. Mr. Shuichi Takahashi of Kigawaya Sake Shop gave a sake lecture on how to drink delicious sake. After a brief introduction of today's sake, Mr. Takahashi selected the sake to match the dishes and explained the characteristics of each sake in the order selected.

He explained that the aroma of each sake can be easily recognized by sipping it lightly and raising the temperature of the sake to allow it to volatilize.
I was tempted to drink a lot of sake, but I held back a little...
Enjoy the pairing while drinking.

Local cuisine familiar to Shonai locals

Nuta of Ego-Kikomoto (example of a dish)
Muki soba (soba with peeled skin) (example of a dish)
This is a dish by "Japanese Cuisine Seasonal Aji Izutsu," which offers a diverse menu of seasonal dishes including local cuisine that makes the most of carefully selected ingredients in a way that draws on the Kamigata and Edo cultures.


Ego and Kimono Nuta"
Ego is a local cuisine using seaweed eaten in the Sea of Japan and Sado Island in northern Japan. It is said that the "oxtail culture" of Kyushu was introduced to Sado Island from Hakata via Wajima on the Noto Peninsula through the Kitamae Ship and fishing boats, and then to various places in Echigo. *Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries "Our Local Cuisine"
The name "kimoto" (asatsuki) comes from the fact that it is used when the leaves are still shallow in color, before they turn green. In the Shonai area, it is called "kimoto. In the Sakata City area, relatively thick and tasty ones have been selected and cultivated in sandy soil for food. *Source: Delicious Yamagata "Yamagata's Good Food"

"Muki soba"
"Muki soba" is a local dish of Sakata where buckwheat seeds are peeled, boiled, and served with dashi (Japanese soup stock). It is said that it was originally a vegetarian dish served at temples in the Kamigata (Kansai region) and was introduced to Sakata by the Kitamae Ship in the Edo period (1603-1868). Its smooth, refreshing taste and crunchy texture make it a gentle dish for a tired body. Source: "100-year food" by the Agency for Cultural Affairs

We enjoyed Sakata's local cuisine and many kinds of sake, which are not usually available in Sakata.

In the old days, rice was the value of money. It is evident that rice was so plentiful that sake could be made without eating the rice.

According to Mr. Takahashi, there are not many areas where you can buy and drink a wide range of sake, and the level of quality is very high. If you like sake, why don't you compare various kinds of sake in Sakata and try to find your "favorite drink"?


Everyone who attended the event was a lover of both food and sake, and enjoyed the food and sake while chatting with Mr. Takahashi.

Enjoy Sake and Relax in Sakata

Moon Hotel (example of a room)

After a night of drinking, we stayed overnight at the "Moon Hotel," which was also the venue for this event.


The hotel was open until 9:00 p.m. that day, so we got a map of the Sakata area recommended by a local resident and a pamphlet on sightseeing in Sakata, which we read in our room.

The next day, we will go sightseeing in Sakata City!

9:00 Yamai Warehouse

First, we came to the "Sankyo Soko," a symbol of Sakata.

It is still used as an agricultural warehouse today, but it was built in 1893 by the Sakai family, the lords of the former Shonai Domain, as a warehouse attached to the Sakata Rice Exchange for the purpose of preserving and accumulating rice. The 12 buildings stand side by side with rows of zelkova trees, and the scenery can be enjoyed from season to season.


This time, we were guided by the Sakata City Tourist Guide Association. He told us in detail about the construction of the warehouses until the rows of zelkova trees took on their current appearance, how they were transported from the landing area to the warehouses, the origin and history of the name of the San'i Inari Shrine on the site, and the connection between the form of the worship hall and the Honma family, known as the largest landowner in Japan.


It was a very enjoyable learning experience, full of surprises and discoveries!

10:30 Maimusume Tea House Somaeru / Takehisa Yumeji Museum

Next, we came to "Maimusume Tea House Somaeru and Takehisa Yumeji Museum" located about 5 minutes by car from the Yamai Warehouse.


This place was opened after restoring "Somaya," which had been a representative ryotei of Sakata since the Edo period (1603-1868); the large hall on the second floor serves as a performance hall where visitors can enjoy dancing and dining with Sakata Mai-musume. Inside the building, art works by Takehisa Yumeji, famous for his paintings of beautiful women, are on display, and hina dolls are displayed in the storehouse. The inside of the building is spacious, with various rooms, corridors, sliding doors, and a garden, where you can enjoy the retro atmosphere.

This time, we were treated to a performance of three songs, including Sakata Jinku, a song about the prosperous days of the Kitamae-bune. The dancers' dance and behavior were very beautiful and graceful.
We hope that everyone will come and see the history and future of the Sakata Mai-musume tradition!

12:00 Lunch at Sakata Seafood Market/Sakata Minato Market/SAKATANTO

For lunch, we visited Sakata Kaisen Ichiba, where you can buy and taste fresh seafood right next to Sakata Port, and the Kaisen Don-Ya "Tobishima" on the second floor is very popular, where you can enjoy a variety of dishes such as Kaisen Don-don and Funamori Zen while looking out over Sakata Port.

In this area, there is "Sakatanto," which opened in September 2022 in the East Pier shed that was once used as a warehouse for the Sakata Port, and "Sakata Minato Market," where you can buy fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, and souvenirs such as local specialty products.

On a fine day, eating outside while enjoying the view of Sakata Port is also recommended.

The tour ended here. After enjoying Sakata's history, culture, and delicious sake and food, we will return to Sendai.

Click here for information on sightseeing in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture "Yamagata Sakata Sanpo
For train + lodging "Yamagata Area" reservations, please visit [ JR East View Dynamic Rail Package ]

Why don't you come and enjoy Sakata's sake and gastronomy?



Information as of April 2023.
*All photos are for reference only.
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