Sakai: Old Harbor, Daisen Park, and Tea Culture

Sakai offers a range of starting points for planning a trip: historic monuments at the old harbor, a boat ride through preserved waterways, Daisen Park, and themes related to tea and literature. If you’re looking for a hotel in Sakai, you can first decide which of these interests will shape your trip.

Historic monuments at the old harbor

The Old Sakai Lighthouse is an 11.3 m-high, hexagonal, spindle-shaped lighthouse. It was built in 1877 on the south quay of Sakai’s old harbor. When coastal land reclamation ended its function as a lighthouse, the structure remained as a symbol of Sakai. Today, it is designated a national historic site and is considered Japan’s oldest surviving wooden lighthouse.

Old Sakai Harbor preserves historic monuments, including the lighthouse and Sakai Fort. There is a waterfront promenade in the surrounding area, used for recreation and leisure. The old harbor thus offers historic buildings as well as an outdoor recreation area as distinct points of interest.

Through the waterways by small boat

The Sakai Kango Cruise offers a different perspective: the 7 km small-boat ride travels through part of Sakai’s preserved waterways. It starts in front of Sakai Station, passes through residential areas and alongside the lushly landscaped Xavier Park, then continues toward the old harbor. Along the route, you pass 16 individual bridges and the Ryujo statue in the old harbor. Unlike the waterfront promenade at Old Sakai Harbor, the Kango Cruise is a boat ride with named landmarks along the way.

Tea and literature at Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko

Sakai Taian is a reconstruction of the Taian tea room, the original of which is designated a National Treasure. The original is the only surviving tea room created by Sen no Rikyu. Visitors can also see inside Sakai Taian.

The complex includes the Sen no Rikyu Tea Hall, which explores the history and culture of Sen no Rikyu (1522–1591), and the Akiko Yosano Memorial Hall, about the life and work of poet Akiko Yosano (1878–1942). Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko also includes an exhibition offering tourist information about Sakai.

At the Tea Ceremony Experience Facility at Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko, tea and Japanese sweets from the three Senke schools—Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushanokojisenke—are served. With guidance from tea ceremony practitioners, you can also pour the tea yourself. Alongside history and literature, the Plaza therefore focuses on served tea and guided participation in the tea ceremony.

Daisen Park: lawns, ponds, and trees

Daisen Park covers 35.6 hectares and is located between the Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun and the Richu-tenno-ryo Kofun. Surrounded by trees, it features wide lawns, ponds, and a variety of tree species. The park thus offers a different focus from the monuments at the old harbor and the topics explored at Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko.

These are different points of reference for planning a trip: the Sakai Kango Cruise focuses on route length and landmarks, while Daisen Park focuses on its size and landscape features.

Discover more destinations: Tannowa, Ibaraki, Toyonaka, Ōsaka, Tondabayashi, Kaizuka, Suita, Kawachinagano.

For the broader travel overview: Ōsaka Prefecture.