[Akita Travel Guide] Experience Deep-Rooted Traditional Culture and Customs

The Towada-Hachimantai area lies in the northeastern tip of Akita, bordering Iwate and Aomori.
At Towada-Hachimantai National Park, where mountains and valleys create dramatic scenery, you can fully enjoy magnificent natural beauty throughout the year.
One particularly notable time is the snowmelt season from winter to spring.
At Kagami-numa Pond in the park, you can see a rare sight called the “Dragon Eye,” in which snow covering the pond and melting snow water create a mystical surface that looks like a dragon’s eye.
Another feature of this area is its many hot spring towns with natural hot springs, including Hachimantai Onsenkyo and Yuze Onsenkyo.
There are also scattered spots where you can enjoy the atmosphere of old Japan, such as the Kosaka Mine Office, which preserves the legacy of a once-thriving mining town, and Korakukan, a 19th-century playhouse.

The Odate-Ani-Moriyoshi area lies in north-central Akita Prefecture.
Mt. Moriyoshi, home to a wide variety of alpine plants, offers beautiful scenery in every season, including colorful autumn leaves.
Known as one of Japan’s 100 famous flower mountains, Mt. Moriyoshi is also where you can see giant snow monsters in winter.
In Odate City, known as the hometown of Hachiko, the faithful dog made famous in film, dog lovers from both inside and outside the prefecture gather at Akita Inu no Sato, where you can see exhibits about Akita dogs and buy related goods.
This area is also packed with diverse attractions, including traditional events featuring the world’s largest taiko drum, the Tsuzureko Odaiko, and the Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway, a local train line that offers rich natural scenery from the window.

The Shirakami-Noshiro-Oga area faces the Sea of Japan at the northwestern tip of Akita Prefecture and includes the Oga Peninsula.
The Shirakami Mountains on the Aomori border are registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.
At the foothills of the Shirakami Mountains, in Fujisato Town on the Akita side, the Shirakami Sanchi World Heritage Conservation Center Fujisatokan lets you fully experience the mystery of Shirakami Sanchi.
This area is also famous as the region where Akita’s representative strange festival, Namahage, has been passed down.
There is a Namahage Museum with exhibits about Namahage, so you can learn about it even when it is not festival season.
Other popular spots include the beautiful sandy beach Kamayahama and Unshoji Temple, famous for its hydrangeas.
This is an area where you can experience the mystery and power of nature along with traditional culture.

South of the Shirakami-Noshiro-Oga area, the west-central part of Akita Prefecture including Akita City is the prefecture’s most urban area.
Akita City combines convenience, with Akita Station served by the Shinkansen and Akita Airport as its air gateway, with the beauty of scenery typical of a castle town.
The Akita Kanto Festival, one of the three major festivals of Tohoku and also an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, is also held here.
There are many sightseeing spots you can explore using only public transportation, including Senshu Park, built on castle ruins, as well as Akita Civic Market and the Gojome Morning Market.
That makes this area especially suitable for travelers who may find it difficult to use a rental car.

The Yurihonjo-Chokai area lies in the southwestern tip of Akita Prefecture, bordering Yamagata Prefecture.
Yurihonjo City, the largest city in Akita Prefecture by area, stretches from the coast of the Sea of Japan to the mountains, letting you enjoy seafood and mountain produce at the same time.
Sake made using pure underground water flowing from Mt. Chokai is also famous here, and there are many breweries.
Roadside stations dot the national highway along the Sea of Japan, selling seafood caught nearby, wild mountain vegetables gathered in the hills, and fresh local produce.
Another charm of this area is that, in addition to spectacular scenery created by mountains and sea, you can also enjoy both marine and mountain activities.

The Omagari-Kakunodate-Tazawako area lies inland in central Akita Prefecture.
There are many scenic spots here, including Kakunodate, known as the “Little Kyoto of Michinoku” for its beautiful historic samurai residences and cherry tree-lined streets, and Lake Tazawa, with its mystical lapis-blue surface.
In Omagari, part of Daisen City, the National Fireworks Competition is held every year on the last Saturday of August, drawing many visitors from Japan and abroad.
Try watching the fireworks one after another from the riverbank.
This is also an area with many hidden hot springs, including Nyuto Onsenkyo, where you can enjoy an atmosphere that feels like stepping back in time to an old Japanese hot spring retreat.

The Yokote-Masuda area lies in the southern inland region.
Because it is inland, it is a heavy snowfall area, and Yokote City is home to the Little New Year event called Yokote Kamakura, which has continued for Approx. 450 years.
A kamakura is a small dome-like hut made of snow.
Inside, a water deity is enshrined, and guests are welcomed with sweet amazake and rice cakes, making it a unique custom of snowy regions.
The area is also known for its clear water and rice production, so it has many sake breweries.
The Masuda district of Yokote City preserves traditional streetscapes and is known for its “uchigura,” storehouses with lavish interior design.
It is an area that attracts many people who love retro atmospheres.

The Yuzawa-Kurikoma area lies at the southern end of the inland region, bordering Yamagata, Iwate, and Miyagi.
Yuzawa City has many spots where you can feel the power of hot springs and the earth itself, including Oyasukyo Gorge and Kawarage Jigoku.
Another charm of the area is that it still preserves many food traditions and traditional industries carefully nurtured in this mountainous heavy-snow region, such as Inaniwa udon and Kawatsura lacquerware.
There are also many impressive traditional festivals, including the Nishimonai Bon Odori in Ugo Town, counted among Japan’s three major Bon dances.
The sight of dancers wearing distinctive costumes passed down over many years and performing by torchlight is alluring and dreamlike.
Along with places like Higashinaruse Village, where Japan’s original rural scenery remains, this is an area where you can experience the culture and industries passed down in Japan’s mountain villages.

On the first day, you will explore the Omagari-Kakunodate-Tazawako area.
This area is rich in sightseeing spots, so you can enjoy many different experiences, including charming Japanese-style streets, a mystical lake, and hot spring touring.
There are especially many places where you can feel Japanese history and tradition, making it a great place for experiences unique to Japan.

On the second day, you will explore the Yokote-Masuda area in southern inland Akita Prefecture.
You can enjoy Akita from more angles by trying noodle dishes unique to the region, visiting a museum specializing in original manga artwork, and having fun at a theme park packed with Akita culture.

When it comes to Akita cuisine, kiritanpo nabe is the classic representative dish.
This hot pot dish is made by mashing cooked non-glutinous rice, wrapping it around sticks and grilling it to make kiritanpo, then simmering it together with meat and vegetables.
It is generally made with broth from Hinai jidori, a specialty of Akita Prefecture, though the seasoning varies slightly depending on the region and shop.
When putting kiritanpo into the hot pot, it is removed from the stick and cut into pieces.
Soaked with broth and full of flavor, kiritanpo has a simple texture and is a soul food of Akita loved by everyone from children to the elderly.

Local udon can be found throughout Japan, but Akita Prefecture’s local udon is Inaniwa udon.
Made using a hand-stretching method, these flat, thin noodles are known for their firm texture and smooth, easy slurp.
Its production method and place of origin are strictly limited, and anything made outside those standards cannot be called Inaniwa udon.
The broth and toppings vary by shop, but the noodles’ smooth feel on the tongue and slippery texture are always the same.
If you travel to Akita, be sure to try authentic Inaniwa udon.

Yokote yakisoba, the local specialty of Yokote City, won first place at the B-1 Grand Prix, a competition that decides the top everyday comfort food from around Japan.
It is seasoned with a relatively sweet Worcestershire-style sauce made with broth, and includes ingredients such as cabbage, ground pork, and sometimes offal depending on the shop.
Some shops also add their own original sauce.
Its biggest feature is the sunny-side-up fried egg placed on top.
Another distinctive feature is that it is served with fukujinzuke pickles.
Breaking the yolk and mixing it with the sauce creates a mellow gradation of flavor.
It is also distinctive for using boiled straight noodles rather than steamed curly noodles.