Introduction to Akita Prefecture
Akita’s natural beauty is a perfect harmony of deep green mountains, blue sea, and expansive countryside. In particular, the “Kakunodate Buke Yashiki Street” in Daisen City is lined with Edo period samurai residences, and its elegant atmosphere reminds us of the passage of time. Visitors can also enjoy the seasonal atmosphere of autumn foliage, snow-covered winter, and cherry blossoms in spring.
If you want to experience history, the historic “Kakunodate Castle” and the “Akita Castle Ruins” in Akita City are recommended. These historical buildings provide an opportunity to experience Akita’s samurai culture and history. In Yokote City, “kamakura” (traditional snow houses built in the snow) can be enjoyed during the winter season, giving visitors a taste of the unique culture of the area.
Food culture is also part of Akita’s charm. The local cuisine, which is a combination of fresh seafood and mountain delicacies, promises visitors a rich taste experience.” Get acquainted with local ingredients while tasting traditional local dishes such as kiritanpo hot pot and inaniwa udon noodles.
Akita’s festivals are also not to be missed. In summer, the nationally famous “Akita Kanto Festival” is held, with colorful lanterns decorating the night sky. In winter (December 31), the “Namahage Event” held in Oga City is a powerful and powerful event that brings traditional Japanese festivals close to home.
Lush green land, stately history, delicious food culture, and traditional festivals. Akita Prefecture is a place of diverse attractions, offering visitors a journey of excitement and discovery.
Geographic location
Akita faces the Sea of Japan and is blessed with natural scenery. It is characterized by mountains, lakes, and coastlines.
History
Akita Prefecture is a region of significant historical events and cultural development. Kakunodate Buke Yashiki Street in Senboku City, where samurai residences from the Edo period still remain, offers a tasteful atmosphere that evokes the life of the samurai of that time. Kakunodate Castle, built in the Keicho era, is a historical structure that attracts visitors. In Akita City, the ruins of Akita Castle, built in the Warring States Period, are a historical site where visitors can follow in the footsteps of the warlords.
Akita is steeped in samurai culture, with bushido (the way of the samurai) and traditional martial arts taking root in the area. These historical buildings and cultural facilities offer visitors a time trip to a bygone era.
Culture
The Akita Kanto Festival, held in the summer, is a nationally famous festival that features colorful lanterns and sandongs decorating the night sky, dancing, and a parade. It is a traditional event where the people of Akita celebrate a bountiful summer and feel the unity of the community.
The “Namahage Event” held in winter is a powerful festival in which Namahage make an appearance. Namahage is a legendary Akita demon and can be seen at these festivals. These festivals and events convey Akita’s unique culture and beliefs.
Traditional arts and crafts are also part of Akita’s culture.” Each region has its own traditional crafts, such as “Akita kogin sashimi” and “kaba-zaiku,” and these techniques are showcased at tourist attractions and events. These cultural elements give Akita’s history and modernity a breath of fresh air, making a deep impression on visitors.
Tourist attraction
Akita is dotted with natural beauty and historical sites.
Kakunodate Buke Yashiki Street
The Kakunodate area is well known for the group of samurai residences in Uchimachi, but do not miss Tamachi, where samurai who received a stipend from the direct vassal of the Satake clan, lord of the Akita domain, lived. The Nishinomiya Family, a samurai residence with five storehouses, the Shinchosha Memorial Literature Museum built in memory of the founder of Shinchosha, the Western-style house of the Ota Family, and other buildings dot the area and are a sight to behold along with the cherry blossoms in spring and the autumn foliage in fall.
Lake Tazawa
Lake Tazawa is an almost circular lake with a circumference of approximately 20 kilometers. With a depth of approximately 423 meters, it is the deepest lake in Japan. Around this mystical lake, which is colored by the legend of Princess Tatsuko, who became a dragon after drinking water from Lake Tazawa, which is said to bring eternal youth and beauty, there are many historical sites, historic ruins, and leisure spots. The sightseeing boats are especially popular, offering the feeling of a small boat trip.
Nyuto Onsenkyo
Nyuto Onsen-kyo is the collective name for seven hot springs scattered around the foot of Mount Nyuto in the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Each of the seven inns has its own unique hot spring, and in total, there are more than ten different types of hot springs. Surrounded by a virgin forest of beech trees, you can enjoy the cool air, wild vegetables, and mushrooms that grow wild in the area.
Namahage-kan
Designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset, the “Namahage of Oga” is held every year on the evening of New Year’s Eve in almost all areas of the Oga Peninsula. This is a museum where you can learn all about Namahage, including its history and customs. In addition to displaying 110 Namahage masks & 40 various masks that were actually used in the towns and villages in Oga, there is a unique corner where visitors can take commemorative photos wearing a real Namahage costume.
Oyu Stone Circle
Designated as a Special Historic Site of Japan, this is a large stone circle site from the late Jomon Period. The site consists mainly of two stone circles, Manza and Nonakado, both of which are collections of more than 100 stone circle remains, and a hole that is believed to be a grave has been found under the stones. The Oyu Stone Circle Museum is also equipped with an exhibition that explores the mysteries of the stone circles and a “Oyu Stone Circle Museum” where visitors can try their hand at making earthenware, earrings, and other artifacts.
Oga Peninsula
The Oga Peninsula, jutting out into the Sea of Japan, is one of the most recommended tourist spots in Akita Prefecture, which has many attractions. Among them, don’t miss “Oga Aquarium GAO,” located at the edge of the Sea of Japan, “Godzilla Rock,” which resembles Godzilla in silhouette, “Mayama Shrine,” with its 1,100-year-old Japanese nutmeg tree, and “Namahage Museum,” which is a must-see.
OgaNavi | Akita Prefecture Oga City Official Tourist Information Site
Food culture
Akita Prefecture’s culinary culture is rooted in fresh local ingredients and traditional cuisine.
Activities
There is a wide range of activities that can be enjoyed in Akita Prefecture.
Lake Tazawa
Lake Tazawa is an almost circular lake, the deepest lake in Japan with a depth of about 423.4 metres. It can be visited by driving, cycling and sightseeing boats.
The highlight is the beautiful lapis lazuli surface of the lake, which looks even more magical in winter when the surrounding area is covered with snow.
Tour of a hot spring
There are so many hot spring resorts in Akita Prefecture, including Nyuto Onsenkyo, Tamagawa Onsen, Steamanoyu Onsen, Gojokake Onsen, Mizusawa Onsen, Oga Onsenkyo, Akinomiya Onsenkyo, Minamitamagawa Onsen, and Sugawa Onsen, that there are abundant hot spring resorts where you can relax. Akita’s famous and hidden hot springs are located in national parks with inconvenient access, so it may take some time to reach them, but there are many open-air baths with spectacular views where you can enjoy the dynamic and spectacular scenery of nature.
Akita Inu Hall
Located in Odate City, the birthplace of the Akita Inu, a national natural treasure, this is the only natural history museum of a single breed of dog in Japan. The museum preserves and exhibits Akita Inu’s dog registry, ecology, breeding films, biographies, and other materials, and from late April to mid-November, visitors can see a real Akita Inu in its kennel. In front of the museum, there is a bronze statue of Hachiko, the loyal dog Hachiko, facing the direction of his birthplace, Ohkouchi, Odate City.
Birchwork production
Kabazaiku is a craft made from the bark of the mountain cherry tree. Kaba-zaiku is widely used as a traditional craft in both name and reality, with its deep and austere colors created by a unique technique that brings out the unique luster of the yamazakura bark. Typical products include tea utensils such as tea caddies and tea chests, letter boxes, chadansu, brooches, and tie pins.
Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [AKITA FUN] (Japanese only)
Seasonal Recommendations
Akita Prefecture offers beautiful scenery and events in each of the four seasons.
Spring
Akita Prefecture is home to a variety of cherry blossom viewing spots, but the Samurai Residence Street in Kakunodate, Senboku City, is nationally known for its cherry blossoms. The weeping cherry trees blooming along the street, which still retains the appearance of an Edo period townscape, are beautiful and evoke a sense of emotion. The Hinokinai River in Kakunodate is also lined with someiyoshino cherry trees, which offer a different atmosphere from that of the samurai residences.
Summer
The Omagari Fireworks Festival in August is famous throughout Japan, and a powerful fireworks show can be enjoyed by the lake. Akita City’s Akita Kanto Festival features a parade of lanterns more than 10 meters high on poles.
Autumn
In autumn, golden rice fields can be seen all over the prefecture. Not only rice, but also fruits such as apples, grapes, and pears are ready for harvest, and fall is a season full of delicious foods. Although we are gradually heading into the colder season, the weather is pleasant and a variety of events are held throughout the prefecture. There are many places famous for their autumn foliage, and in the early areas, the leaves gradually begin to change color from late September. Autumn leaf viewing in Akita is especially recommended.
Winter
Winter in Akita Prefecture means snow. Akita is a heavy snowfall area with a relatively large amount of snowfall in Japan. There are ski resorts scattered throughout the prefecture where visitors can enjoy powder snow for winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. In February, snow festivals are held throughout the prefecture as a New Year’s event. A wide variety of winter festivals can be seen in Yokote City, which is located in the heavy snowfall area in the southern part of the prefecture, “Yokote’s Kamakura”, “Inukkkamatsuri” in Yuzawa City, “Amekkoichi” in Odate City, “Namahage Shibatou Festival” in Oga City, and so on.
Local Culture
It is believed that people have lived in Akita Prefecture since the Paleolithic Age, more than 20,000 years ago. The northern part of the Tohoku region was once ruled by a people known as the Emishi, who established a unique culture.
folklore demons of the Oga Peninsula (villagers dress up as namahage on New Year’s Eve and frighten children)
Namahage” is a traditional deity of the Oga Peninsula. The traditional event of going into people’s homes with an ogre’s mask, a minnow, and a knife to ask, “Are there any crying children? The traditional event is designated as a national intangible folk cultural asset. The word “Nami-hagi” is believed to have its origin in the legend of the Han Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty who came to Oga and drove away demons.
Akita Ondo (name of a kabuki play)
This is a folk song of Akita Prefecture performed with hand dance to the cheerful music of shamisen, drums, and flutes. The lyrics, which include local specialties and social satire, are sung with a light rhythm.
Wooden bending box
These containers are made of Akita cedar, which is designated as a traditional handicraft by the Japanese government, and are mainly produced in Odate City. The most beautiful quarter-sawn part of Akita cedar is peeled thin, dipped in boiling water, and then molded, all by hand by craftsmen.
Matagi
The culture of matagi, who hunt bears, antelopes, and other beasts, is said to have originated in Akita Prefecture during the Heian Period. Today, there are no people who make a living as matagi, but the art of hunting has been passed down through the generations and various events are held.
Transportation
If you are traveling to Akita Prefecture from Tokyo, flying is recommended. If you are traveling to Akita Prefecture from Tokyo, flying is recommended.
Airplane
Akita Airport is a domestic terminal only and can be accessed from Haneda Airport, Itami Airport, New Chitose Airport, and Central Japan International Airport. It takes about 40 minutes from Akita Airport to downtown Akita by limousine bus or cab.
Shinkansen
It takes about 3 hours and 50 minutes from Tokyo to Akita by Shinkansen bullet train. The area around Akita Station is very prosperous, and you can go sightseeing right after getting off the station.
Express Bus
It can also be accessed by highway bus from Tokyo. It takes about 8 hours and 30 minutes one way, so it is recommended for those who want to go inexpensively.
Lastly
Getting around Akita Prefecture, which is dotted with attractive sightseeing spots, is convenient by renting a car or driving your own car. Akita Prefecture offers idyllic Japanese scenery, hot springs, and delicious local cuisine.
Why not take a trip to Akita Prefecture, one of the best places to visit in Japan?