Iimoriyama Park, Public park with lighthouse in Sakata, Japan
Iimoriyama Park is a hilltop green space with a white lighthouse, walking paths, and roughly 15,300 hydrangeas representing 94 different species. The grounds also provide access to the Ken Domon Museum of Photography, athletic areas, and various facilities for visitors throughout the year.
The grounds contain Japan's oldest wooden lighthouse, built in 1813 to guide Kitamaebune trading vessels at night. This tower played a crucial role in keeping ships safe along their maritime routes.
Stone monuments placed along the pathways remember writers and artists who found inspiration in the Sakata area. These markers show how the location drew creative people over many generations.
The park is accessible year-round and features well-marked paths for visitors of all abilities. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the paths are hilly and some sections become steeper.
The park displays a half-scale model of a Kitamaebune ship, the largest of its kind in Japan and an example of the large trading vessels that once sailed these coasts. The model reveals the impressive size of these historic watercraft from the era of maritime trade routes.
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