Source: Syuzo Tsushima
Located in northern Tohoku Region, Akita is known for its beautiful mountains, hot springs, samurai villages and the sea. The city is best known for facilitating the Kanto Matsuri festival, an expansive celebration held at the beginning of August in which revelers adjust long bamboo shafts with many paper lights appended to the end. Among Akita’s principle attractions are its magnificent beauty of mountains and the ocean, hot springs and samurai village of Kakunodate. Akita celebrates numerous conventional celebrations and extraordinary events consistently. During summers, you can appreciate the brilliant perspective of tremendous segments of mists over the Japan Sea. In harvest time, Mt. Taihei turns into a lovely rainbow of hues. And after that, in winter, everything is covered with immaculate white snow. Other than such magnificent nature, there are numerous different things to explore. Below are some best things to do in Akita.
1. Akita Museum of Art
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
The Akita Museum of Art is an art museum in Akita City which was built by the famous architect named Ando Tadao. The historical center displays a vast gathering of arts by Fujita Tsuguharu, otherwise called Leonard Foujita, who is ostensibly country’s most acclaimed painter. Apart from Foujita’s works of art, the historical center shows different pieces from the gatherings of Hirano Masakichi. The temporary collection of the museums showcases the works by a neighborhood resident and different ventures exhibited on the gallery’s ground floor.
Information
- Name: Akita Museum of Art
- Address: 3-7 Senshumeitokumachi, Akita, Akita Prefecture 010-0875, Japan
- Timings: 10:00 to 18:00
- Entry Fees: 310 yen
2. Akita Omoriyama Zoo
Source: over hilowsee
With incredible walking grounds and an enormous slide, Omoriyama Zoo is a standout amongst the most famous attractions in the Akita region. It resembles like you’re strolling in a recreation center nearby the exquisite flamingos and superb giraffes standing tall among the set of all animals. Besides, creatures in the zoo themselves are from all around the world, from South America to Asia. Yo can also find a slide at the highest point of the tower to guarantee an invigorating ride down and it additionally spares you the exertion of strolling the distance down.
Information
- Name: Akita Omoriyama Zoo
- Address: Japan, 〒010-1654 Akita Prefecture, Akita, Hamada,
- Timings: 9AM–4:30PM
- Access: 30 minutes from JR Akita Station
3. Dakigaeri Gorge
Source: Ryuetsu Kato
The Dakigaeri Gorge is known for its unblemished blue mountain stream. The water in the gorges seems stunning , it’s the shade of cobalt and is just breathtaking. Dakigaeri canyon is located at the center point of the Tamagawa River, which is a tributary to the bigger Omono River. The crevasse keeps running for approximately 10km altogether and is a famous destination for individuals around the country for watching beautiful tree leaves amid the fall. This water from the river is fed to the rice fields in the valley beneath and is the reason that Akita rice is popular for its taste all through Japan.
Information
- Name: Dakigaeri Gorge
- Address: Semboku, Akita Prefecture, Akita
- Access : JR Jindai Station is the nearest station
4. Kubota Castle
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Home to the Satake clan, Kubota Castle in Akita was built in 1603 and is famous for its architecture for being principally built from extensive earthen banks. There is almost no stonework and principally just to sustain the outer wall of a castle. You can at present see a few of the yagura establishments despite the fact that no structures remain today. From the top floor of the manor, you can see the Akita downtown and central city, all the way to the ocean. This manor costs just 100 yen to enter and is only a five-minute stroll from Akita station and is a must for fanatics of samurai history.
Information
- Name: Kubota Castle
- Address: 1-39 Senshukoen, Akita 010-0876, Akita Prefecture
- Entry Fess: 100 yen
5. Cycling and Boating at Lake Tazawa
Source: Ryuetsu Kato
Lake Tazawa is the most profound lake in the country. With snow topped mountains,beautiful cherry trees, a walkway lapped by delicate waves and an enveloping lake, Lake Tazawa is an incredible spot for feeling the tranquil environment and to relax. At Lake Tazawa, tourist can enjoy their sweet memories and dreams by the lake. Goza no Ishi Shrine is located at the northern side of the lake which is a site where the local lords used to come to appreciate the water in the medieval past. Towards the eastern end of the lake, there are a couple shops, eateries, rental bikes and the boating pier. Boating facilities are available from April to early November.
Information
- Name: Lake Tazawa
- Address: Tazawakokata, Semboku 014-1203, Akita Prefecture
- Boating: April to early November
- Boat Fees: 1200 yen for 40 Minutes
6. Visit Samurai Village at Kakunodate
Source: Kimon Berlin
Kakunodate is a small quaint town which is a famous samurai region in Akita. Kakunodate is about ten minutes stroll from the station and simple to discover with the maps gave at the station. There are numerous houses you can enter, however, to see the best ones you will need to pay a little extra charge. There is a superb old-world atmosphere to this little town. It feels just as you have gone back in time. While there are a number of temples, different shops, eateries, individuals come to Kakunodate explore the famous samurai castles and manors. There are about 7 manors in the town which have their own feel and history.
Information
- Name:Samurai Village Kakunodate
- Address: Kakunodatemachi Higashikatsurakucho, Semboku 014-0325, Akita Prefecture
- Access: 43 Mintues From Akita
7. Senshu Park
Source: Yasuhiro_S
Senshu Park is a delightful spot to go out for a stroll, particularly amid the spring season when the cherry blooms are sprouting. The recreation center features a duplicate model of Akita Castle, which was built in 733 AD. You have to pay small admission fees if you want to explore the small museum located on the lower floors of the manor, and the upper floor gives an all-encompassing perspective of the city. Famous for its perspectives of cherry bloom and beautiful azaleas, a group of 800 cherry trees is an astounding sight in spring when they all achieve are in full bloom.
Information
- Name: Senshu Park
- Address: Senshukoen, Akita 010-0876, Akita Prefecture
- Timings: 09:00 – 16:30
- Fees: 100 yen
- Closed: December – March
- Access : About 5 minutes on foot from Akita Station
8. Kanto Festival
Source: yisris
From every third to sixth August, Kanto Festival is held in Akita which is quite famous festivals which showcase more than 200 entertainers who balance a 12m long Kanto on their lower backs and brows. The Kanto posts come in various sizes with the biggest measuring about 12 meters, weighing 50 kilograms and appended with about 46 paper lights, lit by genuine candles. Tourist can also try to balance the Kanto. The major attraction of the festival is the Night Parades which is held daily during the night along Chuo Dori road. The occasion keeps going around for an hour and a half, and toward the end of every night, there is a 15-minute session amid which the group of onlookers is welcome to converse with the entertainers, take photos and attempt their hand at lifting up a Kanto.
Information
- Name: Kanto Festival
- Timings: August 3-6: 19:25 to 21:00
- Fees: Free and For Reserved Seats 2100-2600 yen
9. Eat Kiritanpo
Source: pelican
The cuisines of Japan is famous throughout the world and a trip without tasting such relishing cuisine incomplete. The most famous cuisine of Akita is Kiritanpo. Kiritanpo is basically a tube-like structure made up from rice, conformed to an expendable chopstick. It is regularly cooked, now and then in the wake of being covered in miso glue. It is additionally eaten in kiritanpo nabe, which is a stew made up of kiritanpo,fish, chicken, and vegetables, mostly eaten amid the winter.
10. Shopping in Akita
Source: ivanwalsh
Shopping is one of the musts do a thing you are on holidays. The main shopping areas in Akita are the zones around Akita Station and along Nakakoji and Hirokoji avenues. The Topico store located at the Akita Station is a decent place for neighborhood keepsakes just like the Akita Prefectural Goods Plaza located in the basement of Atorion Building. Akita is popular for its karaoke-yaki ceramics. Tourists can also go to Aeon Mall which also a good place for shopping.
Akita is home to numerous hot springs, quite those encompassing Lake Tazawa. Kakunodate town in Akita has a historically significant area of wooden samurai houses, some of which are exhibition halls.
Have a good trip and travel!
