The Sakari Shopping District

Photo of the Sakari Shopping District

While the downtown area of Sakari, a district in Ofunato City, might not be as bustling with life as a large city, it’s nonetheless cherished by locals, and is full of small business. The Japanese character for Sakari, 盛, means to prosper, or to bustle with activity, which I feel is a good representation of the area. While some of the shop-owners in Sakari might be a little shy at first, the area is full of kind people who are happy to welcome visitors. Local businesses in Sakari range from everyday shops selling goods such as bicycles and clothing, to restaurants and bars.

Before showcasing some of my favorite shops in the Sakari area, I’d like to go over some of the events which bring the shopping district to life.

Sakari Lantern Tanabata Festival

Every August, the neighborhoods in Sakari work together to put on the grand Lantern Tanabata Festival. Neighborhood groups throughout the Sakari district spend months leading up to the festival to hand-make and paint festival floats, as well as to practice for the street performances during the festival. At the festival, the streets are lined with food stalls, and they bustle with dance and music as the floats are pulled down the streets.

Sakari Shopping Area during the Tanabata festival

Tanabata Floats being parading the Sakari shopping street

While the Tanabata Festival is only held two days a year, there’s another reoccurring event to enjoy in Sakari: the morning market.

The Sakari Morning Market

The morning market is held on every day of the month that ends in a 0 or a 5, coming out to a pace of about once a week. At the market, you can buy fresh vegetables and fruits from local farmers. A fishing company also comes to sell seafood, while other locals sell homemade sweets and appetizers. Aside from food, there are merchants selling flower bouquets, clothes, and handmade knives for cooking. If you become a regular customer at the market, you can expect to end up with extra fruits and vegetables, as bonuses!

Restaurants in the Sakari Shopping District

The Sakari area has a wide array of restaurants to choose from, including restaurants serving up Japanese foods like sushi and soba noodles, to international foods such as curry and burgers.

The Burger Hearts

Outside The Burger Hearts

The Burger Hearts arguably serves up the best burgers in all of Iwate Prefecture. The inside of the restaurant has a lovely atmosphere—it’s decorated just like a traditional American diner, and has a record player which plays nostalgic tunes from the US. Best of all, the restaurant has endless burger options to choose from, as well as plenty of seasonal menus and sides.

A burger and fries from The Burger Hearts

Address: Machi-10-10 Sakaricho, Ofunato, Iwate 022-0003

Hours: 11:30~20:30 (Closed Mondays)

Lorient Cafe

Outside Lorient Café

Lorient Cafe is a café located right next to the main Sakari shopping street. It offers western foods such as pizza and sandwiches, in addition to coffee, tea and deserts. Besides the delicious food, the restaurant features a cozy interior. It’s the perfect place to come and relax by yourself, or to casually chat with friends.

A sandwich gratin set from Lorient

Address: Machi-11-20 Sakaricho, Ofunato, Iwate 022-0003

Hours: 11:00~23:00 (Closed Wednesdays)

Besides eating at restaurants, you can also enjoy street food in Sakari!

This shop sells shaved ice to-go in the summer, and buns filled with red bean paste during the winter.

Sun-lia

Outside Sun-lia

Sun-lia is a small mall located in the Sakari shopping district, which works as an activity hub for locals. Inside, in addition to a grocery store and food court, there are also gift shops, clothing shops, and home interior shops. Seasonal events and markets are also held on main floor, such as craft sales by vendors, art displays, and even live performances.

Inside Sun-lia

Sun-lia is also the place to go if you’re looking to take purikura (photobooths with cute decoration options for the photos) in Kesen! The purikura booths are especially popular with local school children in Kesen.

View of the Sakari District (and surrounding areas) from the Tenjinyama Park

If you’re looking to do some shopping when you visit Kesen or would like to grab a bite to eat, you can’t miss the Sakari Shopping District. Not only does the district offer the perfect chance to support small businesses in the area, it also allows you to get a feel of the daily life of Kesen locals.