During the Edo period, the city of Sakata, in the Yamagata Prefecture, was an important center for rice commerce, being also an important harbor on the route Maizuru Bay to Hokkaido. Because of this, an impressive row of rice warehouses were built here in 1839.

Probably the most amazing fact is that these warehouses were designed so well that even today 9 of them are still used for their original purpose. Their raised roofs were made to ensure ventilation, and the surrounding Zelkova trees were planted to keep the area cool in summer and to block the cold winds during winter.

Sankyo Warehouses, Sakata, Yamagata

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Sendai Mediatheque in autumn night