Kiritanpo nabeきりたんぽ鍋
Pounded rice grilled on sticks, then simmered in a chicken hotpot with burdock and local mushrooms.
Tohoku
Akita Travel Guide
Local tips, regional food and places off the tourist trail
A snowy Japan Sea prefecture known for the samurai district of Kakunodate, deep Lake Tazawa, the rustic Nyuto Onsen and the namahage demons of the Oga Peninsula.
Open Akita on the map39 places on the map · 18 local favourites
Local tips
- TipThe Akita Shinkansen stops at Kakunodate and Tazawako, so both are easy to reach from Tokyo without a car.
- Heads upAkita gets heavy Japan Sea snow; allow extra travel time and check road conditions in winter.
- DoSee the Kanto Festival in Akita city in early August, where performers balance tall poles hung with lanterns.
- TipNyuto Onsen’s old inns are small and popular, especially in snowy season, so book early.
- TipHidden gem: the Oga Peninsula, with its Namahage Museum, dramatic coastal views and quiet seaside roads.
What to eat
Inaniwa udon稲庭うどん
Thin, silky hand-stretched udon, often eaten cold with a dipping sauce.
Iburigakkoいぶりがっこ
Smoked, pickled daikon radish with a crunchy bite, great with sake or cream cheese.
Local favourites
Places mostly visited by people who live here — quieter, and often the highlight of a trip.
Hinomaru Jozo
日の丸醸造 Local FoodSake brewery in the storehouse town of Masuda, maker of Manabito, with an ornate interior 'kura' storehouse.
● Mostly localsKawatsura Lacquerware Traditional Crafts Hall
川連漆器伝統工芸館 ExperiencesShoppingCrafts centre in Yuzawa for Kawatsura lacquerware, with a shop and painting workshops.
● Mostly localsKaramatsu Shrine
唐松神社 Temples & GoshuinchoShrine in Daisen with a sunken hall reached by walking down through towering cedars; popular for prayers for safe childbirth.
● Mostly localsYasu Falls
安の滝 Nature & SceneryTwo-tier waterfall in the Ani forest reached by a forest trail, often called one of Japan's best waterfalls.
● Mostly localsKisakata Kyukukujima
象潟 九十九島 Nature & SceneryRice paddies dotted with pine-topped islets that were islands in a lagoon in Basho's day; in early summer the flooded fields reflect Mt Chokai.
● Mostly localsAkagami Shrine Goshado
赤神神社五社堂 Temples & GoshuinchoFive small shrine halls on the Oga Peninsula reached by 999 stone steps said to have been built by demons in one night.
● Mostly localsGodzilla Rock
ゴジラ岩 Nature & SceneryRock on the Oga coast shaped like Godzilla; line it up with the setting sun so it looks like it's breathing fire.
● Mostly localsAkarenga Kyodokan
赤れんが郷土館 Sights & HistoryFormer bank in red brick in central Akita, with an ornate interior and prints by local woodblock artist Katsuhira Tokushi.
● Mostly localsHachiman Akita Shrine
八幡秋田神社 Temples & GoshuinchoHilltop shrine inside Senshu Park, the old castle grounds in central Akita; a quiet stop on a walk around the moats and watchtower.
● Mostly localsFormer Kosaka Mine Office
小坂鉱山事務所 Sights & HistoryGrand Renaissance-style wooden office building from the town's copper-mine boom, with a café and period costume rental.
● Mostly localsOyu Stone Circles
大湯環状列石 Sights & HistoryMysterious Jomon-period stone circles in Kazuno, part of the Northern Jomon World Heritage sites.
● Mostly localsMichi-no-Eki Kisakata Nemu no Oka
道の駅象潟 ねむの丘 Local FoodHot SpringsRoadside station on the Sea of Japan with a local-food market, rooftop hot spring and Mt Chokai views; try raw rock oysters in summer.
● Mostly localsThe famous sights
The places most visitors come for. Worth it — just go early.
Tsurunoyu Onsen
鶴の湯温泉 Hot SpringsThe most famous inn of Nyuto Onsen, a thatched hot spring with milky-white outdoor baths deep in the forest. Day bathing available.
Lake Tazawa
Nature & SceneryLake Tazawa (Tazawako) is Japan's deepest lake, renowned for its striking cobalt-blue waters and scenic mountain surroundings in Akita Prefecture. It's a must-see…
Ishikura Mountain Nature Park
Nature & SceneryA nature park in the Shirakami area of Akita known for its stunning autumn foliage scenery. It is featured as a hidden gem for fall color viewing in the region.
Souvenirs to bring home
Iburigakko, Inaniwa udon and Kakunodate’s cherry-bark kabazaiku crafts are classic buys.
When to go
Late April to early May for Kakunodate’s weeping cherries, early August for Kanto, and winter for snowy onsen — just plan around the heavy snow.