The sakura or cherry blossom festival celebrates the arrival of spring and the cherry blossoms in the Samurai town of Kakunodate. Along the riverbank there is an avenue of over 150 cherry trees, marking the boundary between the austere grays of the s..
Kakunodate (角館) is a former castle town and samurai stronghold in today's Akita Prefecture. While Kakunodate Castle no longer remains, the town is famous for its samurai tradition and its hundreds of weeping cherry trees (shidarezakura). Apart from the loss of its castle, Kakunodate remains rema..
The Oga peninsular lies on the western coast of Akita prefecture, along the Sea of Japan. Whilst primarily known for the local Namahage legend—a traditional custom every winter—the region is blessed with nature and a long coastline. Namahage is the name given to the demonlike 'ogres&..
Akita City is famous for being home to the Kanto Matsuri, one of the three big summer festivals in Tohoku. Beautiful lanterns symbolising rice is carried along the streets and the raw tribal music feels the air. Being by the sea it enjoys great seafood in every season and it is also famous for &ldq..
Sato Yosuke is a chain of udon restaurants that originated in Akita, featuring a type of udon called inaniwa. The noodles are made on location at the main restaurant in Masuda district of Yokote. They have 6 other locations in Akita and two in Tokyo,..
One of Akita Prefecture’s local foods is Yakisoba. Just imagine fried thick, square chopped wheat noodles with cabbage and ground pork, garnished with pickled vegetables in soy sauce and topped with a half-fried egg. Mouth watering! If you&rsqu..
Orae is the place to go out for dinner at the resort town of Shirahama Beach at Tazawako Lake. Actually, it is the only place to go, as the other restaurants open for dinner are associated with their ryokan, hotel or hostel, and so only serve their i..
Metropolitan Akita is a three star hotel that towers over Akita Station, making it a recognisable landmark for those arriving in Akita. Famous for its natural beauty, regional food and traditional festivals, visits to Akita won't disappoint and t..
The Folkloro Hotel in Kakunodate has a perfect location, just a few steps from Kakunodate train station. You would never guess that this small hotel is owned by Japan Railways (JR). Its cozy atmosphere is more of a local hotel and it has everything y..
Tucked away between Akita Station and the Citizens Market, the Richmond Hotel is ideally placed if you are on the trail for some fine local handicrafts. Nearby there is a knife shop with hundreds of artisan blades with no a tourist in sight. After th..
Akita prefecture is located in Northwest Tohoku, stretching along the coast facing the Sea of Japan. The name may sound familiar to dog lovers, but Akita has much more going for it besides its association with the famous dog breed. Beneath the surfac..
The Namahage Ride in Oga, Akita is really an event like no other. Participants come in from all over the country in order to cycle 100 kilometers around the Oga Peninsula, taking in the beautiful sights, sounds, and flavors of Akita Prefecture on th..
Despite my low tolerance for cold conditions, I learned to appreciate the winter season during my first trip in Akita in February. I joined a tour package that allowed me to learn circus-like balancing tricks at the Kanto Festival, savor the famous I..
