SPRING TOUR
Escape to another era as you stroll beneath the elegant weeping cherry blossoms in their Edo Period surroundings.
Also, in Kakunodate's Hinokinai River, there is a row of cherry blossom trees of Yoshino cherry tree, and you can enjoy a different atmosphere from the samurai residence.
Unshouji Temple is in Oga peninsula.When the hydrangeas are in full bloom, the entire temple grounds are dyed blue. You can see the ocean through the hydrangeas. The ocean provids a beautiful background.
The cherry tree is about 400 year-old and brought by the wife of Satake Yoshiaki, who was the load of Kakunodate. She came from Kyoto, and she loved the culture of Kyoto. That is the reason that Kakunodate is called "little Kyoto" Also,the weeping cherry tree become the symbol of this area.
Senshu Park is the contains ruins of Kubota Castle, built by the first lord of the Akita domain. You can stroll around and enjoy the seasonal scenery of cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn leaves in the fall. Real Akita dogs are on display.
Every year, it is spectacular from late April to mid-May. The cherry blossoms and rape blossoms bloom along an approximately 11-kilometer stretch, creating a spectacular view that reminds us of the arrival of spring. Visitors can take a ride on a mini locomotive and enjoy the famous flower fields that spread all over the area during the peak season.
This road stretches from the Sea of Japan coast to the fifth station of Mt. Chokai, and offers excellent views of natural coutryside from May to June, alpine plants from mid-July to early August, and autumn leaves in October. Not accessible in winter, and when the road opens in May, both sides of the road look like a corridor of snow.
A park at the foot of Mt. Chokai. The plateau is ranked second in Japan for "A plateau with a beautiful view of the stars." This is because this plateau offers the clear night stars and sky.
There is also a Jersey cow farm where you can buy dairy products and join activity workshops of making ice cream and butter.
SUMMER TOUR
Feel the summer night breeze. The temperature in the morning and evening is comfortable here in Akita. In July and August, summer festivals are held in various places. The Kanto Festival in Akita City is one of the three major festivals in Tohoku. The scenery of the lanterns that imitate rice ears swaying in the summer night sky is a masterpiece.
The emerald green surface of the water combines with the surrounding wildness to give it a unique mysterious. You can enjoy this beautiful scenery while leisurely paddling a canoe. Why not stay in a tent while floating on the lake? You can also enjoy camping in a tent floating on the lake. Lake Tazawa is about 420 meter deep, and which is the deepest lake in Japan.
The Omagari Fireworks Festival is one of the three major fireworks festivals in Japan, and top fireworks designers selected from all over Japan compete with each other to become the best in Japan. Nearly one million people visit the fireworks every year. It is held on the forth Saturday of August, and takes place
The Omagari Fireworks Festival is one of the three major fireworks festivals in Japan, and top fireworks designers selected from all over Japan compete with each other to become the best in Japan. Nearly one million people visit the fireworks every year. It is held on the forth Saturday of August, and takes place
This is a traditional event that has been passed down from generation to generation, and designated by the national government as an important intangible folk cultural property. The mysterious harmony between the lively music movement of the dancers creates wonderful spectacle. This festival is held from August16 to 18.
After June, Iwagaki oysters gather in the cool coastal water around Mt.Chokai. Also, jynsai is good. It grows in naturally swamps or ponds and the young shoots of water plants actually picked. They are covered with a jelly-like mucous, and can be boiled in a pot or eaten raw with vinegar or soy sauce.
Mototaki is the best scenic spot where moss and subterranean water are beautifully harmonized. It only takes about 10 minutes on foot along the well-developed walking course. Another nice waterfall is Nasonoshiratki, which is 26 meters high and 11 meters wide, and has been designated as a national scenic beauty because of its abundant water volume and the surrounding environment. You can go to the waterfall basin and feel the power and coolness of the waterfall.
Autumn Tour
Satisfy you with the harvest of autumn and autumn leaves. The golden ears of rice can be seen in rice fields all over the prefecture. You can enjoy newly harvested rice and other ingredients. There are many spots that are famous for their autumn leaves.
In order to let people enjoy the autumn leaves, Kakunodate Bukeyashiki-dori is lit up.
Huge old trees along the street change their colors from yellow leaves to red leaves at this time
The lit up trees at night offer a spectacle view that is totally different from the daytime. Please enjoy the beauty of Kakunodate at night when nature is in harmony!
By planting rice plants of different colors, local farmers create giant pictures in their rice paddies, which can be seen from the Akita Nairiku Railway. These pictures feature popular characters, such as Kitty-chan, Akita dog, or Namahage.
The Honjyo daimyo procession festival is held together with the Hachiman Shrine Festival in September. There is a wide variety of processions around the town, such as a child in a daimyo carriage, the shrine maidens, the floats of each neighborhood children pulling them, and the dragon dancers.
New rice is harvested in the fall. Sakihokore is a new brand of rice produced in Akita.
Akita Komachi, which is the previous bland. It is known for stickiness even when cold, but it is said that the new rice bland Sakihokore has a taste and consistency that surpasses Akita Komachi. Please try them.
Masuda flourished as a merchant town in the Edo Period and has many historical buildings. In particular, there are Kura, or warehouses which stored all kinds of luxurious furnishings. From the Meiji period to the early Showa period, Masuda merchants built storehouses one after another as a sign of their success. To protect their household goods from snow, they built warehouses inside their houses.
In autumn, there is a day when you can visit the warehouses for free.
Every year, one month from late October to early November, the forest has spectacular hues red or orange, which create colored beautiful contrast with the cobalt blue mountain stream. This will overcome your daily fatigue. The best part of the gorge is the Kaikonotaki(This means looking back at the waterfall). It means that the waterfall is so beautiful that it makes you want to look back again and again even as you walk away.
There are many spots to take a walk in the gorge. You can enjoy 40 minutes trail with this spectacular view of this area.
Winter Tour
Relax in the open-air bath with a view of the snow! Akita is one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan. There are many ski resorts scattered throughout the prefecture where you can enjoy winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. Snow festivals are also held in many places.
No license or qualification is required.
Even if an elementary school student or older and can operate the brake and gas pedal, they can ride a snowmobile by themselves. This is a spot where you can casually enjoy winter leisure activities such as "walking" skiing while admiring the scenery.
Lake Tazawa is one of Japan's leading snow resorts. The view of the lake, the deepest in Japan, from the vast slopes is overwhelming, also newly built restaurant offers special rice dishes that are newly added to the menu every year.
Nyuto Onsen, Shin-Tamagawa Onsen, and Mizusawa Onsen are located near Lake Tazawa, which are perfect for warming up after a cold winter in the mountains.
frost-covered trees Moriyoshi, one of Japan's three major frost-covered trees viewing spots. It can be seen from the gondola, and also it takes about five minutes to walk from the top of the gondola station to view frost-covered trees. Snowshoes and hammocks can be rented for free near the gondola summit station.
The sacred fire is used to ward off bad luck in the rice fields and pray for good health and family safety. The people in charge tie ropes about one meter long to a bale of charcoal, and swing them around their bodies sending sparks in the night sky. It's a fantastic festival with fire rings dancing in the snow.
This event is held from February 11th to 15th to pray for a good harvest, exorcise demons, and determine the which good fortune of the year. It is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
To participate in this event, you need a helmet, heavy gloves, warm clothes, and a lot of heavy equipment.
There are many foreigners at the Rokugo bamboo beating.
Akita's pristine nature has produced some of the good water in Japan.
Thanks to this, the rice and crops are delicious.
Nourishing foods can be obtained from the sea and mountains throughout the four seasons.
Kiritanpo hot pot dish and Hinai Jidori chicken and balls of rice is must-try dishes in Akita.