SAKATA SHORE EXCURSION: MERCHANT HOUSES, RICE WAREHOUSES & SAKE BREWERY

Sakata is a quiet port town on the Sea of Japan side. It grew rich on rice shipping, and most of what you see today comes from that. It is a slow, easy day of about 6 hours, good for people who like old buildings more than crowds.

The route

• Hiyoriyama Park, a small hill park by the sea with an old wooden lighthouse.
• Kaikoji Temple. It keeps two self-mummified monks, which some visitors find strange and others very interesting. Your guide will explain before you go in, and you can wait outside if you prefer.
• Sannou Club, an old restaurant building now open to visitors, known for its rooms of hanging cloth dolls.
• Former Homma family residence. The Homma family were rice merchants so rich that an old local song says you could never be as rich as the Hommas, but you might at least become a lord.
• Sankyo Warehouses, long rice storehouses from 1893 with a line of tall zelkova trees behind them. This is the photo of Sakata.
• Hatsumago Sake Brewery for a look at how sake is made and a tasting.

How our Japan shore excursions work

• Private tour for your group only, from about 5 people in a minivan up to 40 in a full coach.
• A licensed English-speaking local guide meets you at the cruise terminal.
• We plan the day around your ship's times and bring you back to the pier well before all-aboard.
• The times on this page are a guide. Send us your ship name and port date and we fit the day to it.

Included

• Licensed English-speaking guide
• Private vehicle with driver, highway tolls and parking
• Entrance fees for the sights listed in the route you choose

Not included

• Lunch and drinks (your guide will point you to a good place)
• Tips for the guide and driver

Price

The price per person depends on how many people are in your group: a group of 30 pays much less each than a group of 6. Tell us your ship, date and group size and we will send a price.

See all our Japan shore excursions.