Last year (I think?) I filmed this walk through central Sakata:
Well, I’m thrilled to let you know that were there was once an empty plot of gravel, there is now a police box. Then just down the road where there was once a police box, there is now an empty plot of gravel (I wish I could make this stuff up). And, what was once a whisky bar covered in ivy, is now just a whisky bar. Which looks quite cool, to be honest, see below for more.
Sakata’s Strip
Downtown Sakata on a busy Monday afternoon. Those ‘Welcome to Sakata’ signs to the left popped up after we started getting cruise ships. The Kuroneko Takkyubin sign is so you can send your souvenirs to your friends and family elsewhere in Japan (don’t use Kuroneko to send stuff overseas, they’re not very good! But do use them domestically!)
Big Red: This was the building that inspired today’s walk. Imagine thinking it would be viable to set up such a shop in lowly Sakata. You can’t tell, but there were those hair-curling machines inside, so I know it was a hairdresser.
And now a completely different scale: Bridgestone Bikes. Mukai Bike Shop. Did you know Bridgestone started out making Jikatabi? The shoes we yamabushi wear? (It’s mentioned here). I had to try really hard to fit this building in the frame, this is directly across the road from the pink kindergarten coming up.
Abandoned hairdresser #2. Called “Tommy”. Powerlines make it look like its tied up. Perhaps that’s what strangled the business? I’ll show myself out…
I like this building. And I like trees. But maybe not this tree for blocking the view. No powerlines! Well, in the front at least.
Ok, now, this building is a real mix I can’t quite figure out. To the left it says ‘酒田幼稚園’ ‘Sakata Kindergarten’. The on the top right it says ‘トレーニング センター’ ‘Training centre’. I’m not sure what those kindergarteners are training for, but obviously it didn’t last very long. Cool paint job though.
Further (Required) Reading:
I have since read the book mentioned in this post, and admittedly I cried a few times. I’m working on a write-up now, but it’s not quite ready yet. Something for you to look forward to.
Daily Yamabushi Posts for May 1 to 7, 2026
Liberty does exist in Japan… well, in 1982…. The whisky bar from before. With a fresh coat of paint, but I guess they couldn’t get rid of the ivy after all…
