Hiyoriyama Park

Hiyoriyama Park sits on an artificial hill overlooking the port of Sakata and offers views across the Japan Sea and surrounding cityscape. A replica cargo ship is accessible by crossing a bridge from the main park area, allowing visitors to explore maritime history.

The site was created by bringing soil to build an elevated point where trading agents watched merchant ships entering the port. This location was important during Japan's period of active maritime commerce.

The park preserves Japan's oldest stone compass and wooden lighthouse, which represent the maritime heritage of the Yamagata region. These objects show how important this location was to the area's seafaring traditions.

The park is easy to walk around, with the bridge to the ship straightforward to find and accessible for most visitors. Allow enough time to enjoy the views, especially if you want to take photographs in different light conditions.

From the observation point, visitors can watch sunsets over the Japan Sea while standing next to historical navigation instruments. This closeness to the old equipment creates a direct connection to the seafarers of the past.