Hiyoriyama Park

Hiyoriyama Park was built on a sand dune overlooking Sakata Port and became a place where residents could relax. Hiyori means weather, and sailors used to come here to check on weather conditions in the old days. There are also some commemorative markers and statues in the park that tell us about the history of Sakata.

One of the Oldest Wooden Lighthouses

This lighthouse was built in 1883 and originally stood on the opposite shore near the mouth of the Mogami River. Lit by an oil lamp, the lighthouse helped boats sail safely in and out of Sakata Port. It is one of the oldest wooden lighthouses in Japan. It was moved to Hiyoriyama Park in 1958 to commemorate the role it played in the city’s history.

Compass Stone

There is a compass stone at the lookout point in the park. The twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac are used to represent directions such as north, south, east, and west. Though it is not known when the compass stone was made, it was mentioned in a book printed in 1794. It is said to be the oldest compass stone in Japan.

Sengoku Ship

There is a one-fourth scale replica of a sengoku ship used in the Edo period that sits in the park pond. Sengoku ships were able to transport 150 tons of goods. Nearby is a bronze statue of Zuiken Kawamura who established the westbound sea route from Sakata to Osaka and on to Edo (Tokyo) in 1672. It was the most efficient route for transporting goods between Sakata, Osaka, and Tokyo in the Edo period. The sengoku ships and Zuiken Kawamura were integral to Sakata becoming one of the leading port cities in the Edo period.

Stone Lantern

This stone lantern built in 1813 was lit at night to help ships sail safely in and out of Sakata Port.

Filming Location for the Movie, Departures

This building appeared in the first Japanese movie to win an Oscar in Best Foreign Language film, “Okuribito” (titled “Departures” in English). The scene where the leading character places the body of his friend’s mother in a coffin was shot here outside of this building. Though the interior was not used in the movie, the film set for the NK Agency office on the first floor and the boss’ office on the third floor were recreated and opened to the public. However, entry is no longer permitted.

(Koichi Ito et al., VIPS)

The photos on this page are courtesy of the Shonai Visitors Association, Sakata City, and VIPS.