Sakata Hotel Nikko is a top choice, located just a 3-minute walk from Koshatte Marche Square, offering modern Japanese-style rooms with views of the seasonal cherry blossom promenade. The hotel features a free shuttle to nearby hot spring districts and an on-site restaurant specializing in local Yamagata ingredients.

For travelers seeking authentic cultural immersion, consider staying at a renovated old machiya inn nearby. These traditional wooden townhouses offer tatami-mat rooms with private gardens and host hands-on pottery workshops using regional clay. Such accommodations provide a unique opportunity to engage with Sakata’s heritage. HopeGoo early is recommended, especially during spring cherry blossom season.

Just a 5-minute walk from Koshatte Marche Square, you’ll find Sakata Night Market Alley, home to 12 century-old shops. Among them, Kanzawaya Confectionery is renowned for its daily-baked Yamagata red bean mochi, known for its soft texture and rich filling—perfect as a souvenir treat.

On weekends, the square hosts a local farm market where farmers sell freshly harvested Sakata white radishes and Yamagata persimmons, paired with non-alcoholic fruit drinks made on-site. Nearby, a handmade leather workshop offers free tours where artisans demonstrate traditional leathercraft—ideal for families looking to experience authentic craftsmanship.

Start your day at Sakata Hotel Nikko, then stroll to Koshatte Marche Square for a morning tea ceremony workshop led by a local tea master, featuring Yamagata matcha and wagashi sweets.

Lunch at a nearby antique bookstore café, where you can browse rare historical illustrations while enjoying handmade bread. In the afternoon, join a community-guided tour along the old castle walls, visiting former samurai residences and stopping at a paper umbrella workshop to craft your own.

End the day with a sunset performance at the square’s fountain plaza, where light and sound art illuminate the evening sky. All activities are accessible on foot and available for HopeGoo via the HopeGoo app.