Akita 4-Day Itinerary: Samurai Streets, Milky Hot Springs, and Godzilla Rocks

What Sort of Place Is Akita, Japan?

Akita Prefecture is located in the northern part of the Tohoku region, approximately 450 kilometers north of Tokyo. Facing the Sea of Japan, Akita’s geographical position is roughly equivalent to cities like New York, Madrid, and Beijing. It has a small population of just over 900,000 with the lowest density in Japan after Hokkaido.

While the capital of Akita City offers plenty of urban attractions, Akita Prefecture’s main charm lies in its magnificent mountains, rivers, seas, and rural landscapes. It bristles with time-honored culture, like the electrifying Namahage Festival, and it boasts a wealth of local dishes made from its abundance of fresh seasonal produce.

How to Get to Akita From Tokyo

The Akita Shinkansen bullet train is the most convenient way to travel between Akita and Tokyo. It runs directly to Akita Station from Tokyo Station in approximately 3 hours and 37 minutes at the quickest. Before reaching Akita Station, the bullet train passes through Tazawako Station, Kakunodate Station, and Omagari Station, covering several key sightseeing destinations across Akita Prefecture.

Akita Station and many other local stations are also covered under the JR East Tohoku Area Pass, which grants unlimited travel on JR bullet trains, JR local trains, and more around Akita and neighboring regions like Yamagata and Aomori for five consecutive days.

All of the destinations in this Akita itinerary are accessible via public transportation. However, services in Akita can be limited, so we recommend renting a car if possible. We will provide information on both driving and public transportation routes, but you may need to adjust your Akita itinerary based on the actual train and bus schedules when visiting. In addition, Akita experiences heavy snowfall in winter, so make sure your car is equipped with winter tires and keep an eye on the forecast.

Day 1: Start Your Akita Trip at Kakunodate

This Akita itinerary kicks off in Kakunodate, where you’ll find the Kakunodate Samurai Residences and a bunch of hiking courses. You can reach Kakunodate by taking the Akita Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to JR Kakunodate Station (approx. 3 hours).

Kakunodate Samurai Residences

Access: Approx. 20-minute walk or 5-minute drive from JR Kakunodate Station.

Kakunodate was founded as a castle town by the Ashina clan in 1620. It flourished over the Edo Period (1603-1868), and its rich traditional culture and architecture earned it the nickname “The Little Kyoto of Michinoku” (Michinoku was the ancient name of the Tohoku region). Numerous samurai residences were built in a compact area of about 2 kilometers, many of which remain in remarkable condition. Today, most of these samurai residences can be found along Bukeyashiki-dori Street, which is a designated Preservation District for Groups of Historical Buildings.

A number of the Kakunodate Samurai Residences, such as the Aoyagi House and Ishiguro House, allow visitors to enter and explore the grounds and rooms, granting raw insight into the lifestyle of a samurai family. You can blend into this old world atmosphere by renting a kimono from nearby shops, or by taking a rickshaw departing from the Kakunodate Kabazaiku Denshokan, a museum that showcases the region’s traditional cherry bark woodwork.

Kakunodate is also famous for its weeping cherry blossoms. During the cherry blossom season from late April to early May, the pink petals contrast wonderfully with the black walls of the samurai residences. There are around 400 weeping cherry blossoms in Kakunodate, of which 162 are designated Natural Monuments.

Lunch: Sakura no Sato

Access: Approx. 5-minute walk or 1-minute drive from the Aoyagi Samurai House.

Located on Bukeyashiki-dori Street, Sakura no Sato is a restaurant that specializes in local Akita delicacies like Inaniwa udon noodles and Hinai chicken, while also selling traditional Kakunodate crafts like cherry bark woodwork.

Inaniwa udon is considered one of Japan’s best udon noodle varieties. It originated in its namesake Inaniwa area, where local wheat flour was used to make dry noodles, and it has a history of about 350 years.

These days, Inaniwa udon noodles continue to be cooked throughout Akita, involving painstaking processes like hand-kneading and adjusting the water and salt content to the temperature and humidity of the day. The noodles are also left to mature for 3-4 days, yielding a chewy yet slippery texture that can be eaten both hot and cold.

Sakura no Sato’s Inaniwa udon uses noodles personally selected by the owner from a local manufacturer, made with 100% Japanese wheat and salt.

Ando Jyozo Honten

Access: Approx. 10-minute walk or 3-minute drive from Sakura no Sato.

Established in 1853, Ando Jyozo has been producing top-quality miso, soy sauce, pickles, and more for over 170 years. Its striking red brick storehouse makes for excellent photos, and visitors can freely enter to sample and shop.

Ando Jyozo's products are characterized by additive-free and natural brewing techniques. Each process is managed by experienced brewers without the use of machinery, making it popular with those seeking unadulterated Japanese flavors. A pack of miso or a bottle of soy sauce makes for a long-lasting souvenir to enjoy back home!

Dakigaeri Valley

Access:
・Car: Approx. 15-minute drive from Ando Jyozo Honten.
・Public transport: You can take the on-demand “Yobunoru Kakunodate” shared transport to reach the Dakigaeri Valley from central Kakunodate. Learn more from this website.

The Dakigaeri Valley is famous for its dense wilderness and emerald green river. Along with green foliage in the warmer months, it flaunts stunning autumn colors that peak between early October to early November.

The name “Dakigaeri” means “embrace and turn around,” which originates from the narrow, steep paths that once required travelers to almost touch as they passed. Nowadays, most visitors opt for the 40-minute hiking trail following the river, which showcases the best of the valley’s scenery. This includes the iconic 80-meter-long Kami-no-Iwahashi Suspension Bridge, which was built in 1926 and is the oldest suspension bridge in Akita Prefecture; and the Mikaeri-no-taki Waterfall, which drops 30 meters from the valley cliffs.

If you don’t have time for the Dakigaeri Valley, we suggest a quick 15-minute hike up Mt. Furushiro as an alternative. Mt. Furushiro is just north of the Kakunodate Samurai Residences, and its 168-meter summit offers a great view of the townscape.

Recommended Hotel in Kakunodate: Hotel Folkloro Kakunodate

Day 2: Akita's Natural Gems of Lake Tazawa and Nyuto Onsen

Day 2 of this Akita itinerary continues the first day’s theme of adventure in the deep Akita countryside. This is all topped off with a stay at one of Japan’s most beautiful and unique hot spring resorts, relieving fatigue and gearing you up for the rest of this Akita itinerary.

Lake Tazawa

Access:
・Car: Approx. 30-minute drive from Kakunodate Station.
・Public transport: Take the bullet train from Kakunodate Station bound for Tokyo Station to Tazawako Station (approx. 13 mins). Then take the Tazawako Loop Bus Line and get off at the Tazawako Kohan bus stop (approx. 15 mins).

Lake Tazawa has a circular 20-kilometer circumference and a staggering depth of 423.4 meters, making it the deepest lake in Japan. The lake's bright blue surface blends beautifully with the surrounding nature, which ranges from fresh greenery in spring and summer to vibrant autumn foliage and thick blankets of winter snow.

Visitors can drive or cycle around the lake, or circle it on the Tazawako Lake Pleasure Boat, which departs from the Tazawako Rest House at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm between late April and early November.  Rental bicycles can be picked up at Tazawako Rent-a-Bike also near the Tazawako Rest House, and it takes 2-3 hours to complete the loop.

Along the lakeside are attractions like the golden Statue of Tatsuko, the red torii gate of Gozanoishi Shrine, and the Tazawako Herb Garden. If the weather is warm, you can take a dip at the Lake Tazawa Swimming Area, which boasts white sandy beaches and shallow, clear waters.

Lunch: Tazawako Rest House 

Access:
・Car: Approx. 1-minute drive from the Lake Tazawa Swimming Area.
・Public transport: Right next to the Tazawako Kohan bus stop.

For lunch, enjoy a lakeside meal at the Tazawako Rest House, whose menu features Akita classics like Inaniwa udon and Hinai chicken. Hinai chicken is considered one of Japan's most delicious chicken breeds, coveted for its flavorful and firm meat similar to pheasant and sweet yellow fat. You can enjoy both the meat and eggs of Hinai chicken by ordering the “oyakodon” chicken and egg rice bowl.

Nyuto Onsen

Access:
・Car: Approx. 25-minute drive from Tazawako Rest House.
・Public transport: From the Tazawako Kohan bus stop, take the Ugo Kotsu Bus bound for Nyuto Onsen and get off at the Tsurunoyu Onsen Iriguchi bus stop (approx 50 mins), or whichever bus stop is closest to your chosen hot spring or hotel.

The seven hot springs scattered at the foot of Mt. Nyuto are collectively called Nyuto Onsen. Each has its own hot spring source with unique minerals and textures, alongside attached hotels to accommodate guests for the night.

Established in the 1600s, Tsurunoyu Onsen is the oldest hot spring resort in Nyuto Onsen. It is famous for its non-transparent milky white waters, and it once served as the therapeutic bath of the Akita clan lord. The thatched-roof Honjin building where the lord's guards stayed still stands on the grounds today. There is also the separate Yama no Yado inn built in the traditional “magariya” curved style using local timber, proudly harking back to Nyuto Onsen's prestigious history.

Along with the baths, overnights guests at Tsurunoyu Onsen will be treated to exquisite meals of local ingredients, including “sansai” (mountain vegetables), “yamanoimo” (Japanese mountain yam), and “iwana” (char/trout) cooked on a traditional “irori” sunken fireplace.

Those who want to experience as many of the hot springs at Nyuto Onsen as possible, we recommend one of the special passes, which you can read about here.

Recommended Hotel in Nyuto Onsen: Kyukamura Nyuto-Onsenkyo