OVERVIEW

Walk through the castle city of Kakunodate and browse residences that wealthy samurai families once owned. About 80 families lived in the samurai district in the 17th and 18th centuries and several of their homes are still largely intact. The descendants of the Ishiguro family continue to reside in their family house so only part of it is open. Still, it is impressive architecturally and for its furnishings, which include a collection of samurai armor. The larger Aoyagi house next door contains a complex of buildings with displays that explain samurai traditions, lifestyles and why Kakunodate rose to prominence as samurai city. A leisurely walk down the district’s wide, tree-lined streets will bring you to the Kakunodate Cherry Bark Craft Center. The artisans there craft items such as jewelry boxes and furniture using the highly durable bark from cherry trees, which have the ability to regenerate their bark so no harm is done.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the well-preserved samurai district in the 17th-century castle town Kakunodate.
• Visit two samurai residences, one still occupied by the samurai’s descendants.
• See original artifacts that shed light on the traditions and lifestyles of the samurai.
• Browse a craft center with pieces made with cherry bark, a skill that samurai developed.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See some of the most revealing landmarks in Akita and come away with an understanding of this namesake capital of the Akita prefecture. Being so far north, Akita is often associated with snow and Akita dogs, a muscular, double-coated breed that originated in the surrounding mountains. But there is much more to this refined city as you will discover at Senshu Park, a beautifully landscaped greenspace with Kubota Castle at its heart. Although much of the 17th-century castle is in ruins, what remains provides an enlightening look into the past. The Akarenga Red Brick Folk Museum is intriguing for its Baroque and Renaissance architecture as well as its exhibits, which include pieces from an Akita-born wood block printer and an acclaimed local metalwork artist. Browsing a popular market will give you a feel for daily life in Akita and the local cuisine as many of the favored ingredients will be displayed.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk among the remains of Kubota Castle, around which the city of Akita developed.
• Browse a folk art museum with impressive works from mostly local artists.
• Experience daily life in a bustling market full of locally sourced ingredients.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Delve into the culture of the Oga Peninsula by watching a highly unusual folkloric performance and then enjoy a 360° view of the gorgeous peninsula from atop a revolving observatory. At the Namahage Museum, you will see a rare collection of demonic masks and straw capes worn during an annual New Year’s ritual that dates to ancient times. During the ritual, young men dressed as ogre deities in frightening-looking costumes burst into random houses and berate children for being lazy or ill-mannered. To enhance your understanding of this odd tradition – which ironically is meant to chase away evil spirits – you will watch a rousing Namahage performance at the adjoining folkloric museum. It will give you plenty to reflect upon as you take in the panoramic views from the observatory on volcanically formed Mount Kanpuzan. As the observatory revolves, you will see the Sea of Japan, Mount Chokai and Japan’s sole remaining virgin beech forest.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse museum exhibits related to a Namahage ritual unique to the Oga Peninsula.
• Watch a performance of demonic-looking Namahage actors at a folkloric museum.
• Behold the peninsula’s ever-changing landscape from a revolving observatory.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Get a glimpse into Akita’s intriguing history by meandering through the ruins of a 17th-century castle and by browsing a folk art museum. Constructed in 1604 as home to the powerful Satake clan, Kubota Castle protected the surrounding area for centuries, which encouraged the city of Kubota – now known as Akita – to develop around it. The castle eventually suffered a series of devastating fires and years of neglect before being partially reconstructed in the late 1980s. Even though only the watchtower, main gate and moat remain, Kubota Castle stands as a reminder of how Akita came to be. The Akita City Folk Art Center reveals a different aspect of the city’s past, mostly centered around the annual Kanto Festival. During this celebration, participants parade through the streets while hoisting towering bamboo poles decorated with dozens of lanterns. You will see some of the lanterns used in past festivals and an affluent merchant’s house from the Edo Period.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk among the remains of Kubota Castle, around which the city of Akita developed.
• Browse a folk art center that showcases lanterns and displays from the Kanto Festival.
• See a restored merchant’s home that lends great insight into local life in the Edo Period.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise across smooth-as-glass Lake Tazawa and admire the majestic mountains that surround this perfectly circular body of water. This part of the Akita prefecture is largely undeveloped even though Lake Tazawa is a major draw for nature lovers. It is the deepest lake in Japan and especially beautiful with the mountains reflected in its typically sapphire-blue waters. If the light changes even slightly during your cruise, the color of the water will change accordingly. The views, however, will remain breathtaking in every direction. Along the shore, you many see a golden statue of Tatsuko, a mythological woman that prayed for eternal youth but was turned into a dragon doomed to eternally prowl the depths of Lake Tazawa. The Shinto shrine Goza-no-ishi – which is dedicated to the guardian dragon – stands nearby. It is named for the large flat rock where Akita lord Satake Yoshitaka rested in the mid-1600s to admire the lake’s beauty.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise circular Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan.
• Notice how the lake’s color changes as the sunlight and depth of the water changes.
• Hear about the legend of Lake Tazawa and the dragon that guards it.
• Dine on traditional Japanese dishes at a restaurant overlooking the lake.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.