Most of us would associate the word “Akita” with the Akita Inu, but the city of Akita, Japan, is so much more than that. Located just about an hour’s flight north from Tokyo, Akita is home to the most picturesque sights, a rich history and incredibly delicious local fare. It is one of the more underrated prefectures in Japan that deserves more attention. 

Not sure where to begin? We’ve got you covered. Here is our 3D2N itinerary with 12 things you must do, see and eat in Akita, Japan. 

#1 AKITA CASTLE RUINS HISTORICAL PARK

The Akita Castle Ruins Historical Park is home to the ruins of the Akita Castle, which is what’s left of the Nara period fortified settlement in Akita. Here, visitors will get to view various restored parts of the Akita Castle such as the Tsuiji fence, the east gate of the Akita Castle, and even ancient flushing toilets. 

Aside from visiting the Akita Castle Ruins Historical Museum, visitors can also enjoy a VR experience of the ruins of the buildings in the Unoki area of the park through their mobile phones.

Akita Castle Ruins Historical Park 
5 Terauchiohata, Akita,
011-0939, Japan

#2 DINE AT AKITA KIRITANPOYA

When in Akita, you must try the Kiritanpo Nabe which is one of Akita’s signature dishes. With its roots dating back to the Edo Period, the Kiritanpo Nabe comprises roasted mashed rice wrapped around a stick of Akita cedar which is cooked in a pot of vegetables, mushrooms, and chicken.

Akita Kiranpoya is a humble restaurant in Akita which serves an excellent rendition of the Kiritanpo Nabe. It also serves other Akita dishes like the Hinai Chicken, Inaniwa udon noodles and more.

Akita Kiritanpoya (Omachi Branch)
4-Chome-2-20 Omachi,
Akita 010-0921, Japan

#3 NAGAHAMA COFFEE

Just a few strides away from the Metropolitan Akita, Nagahama Coffee is a quaint cafe where you can pick up delicious breakfast sets between 8 to 10.30am in the morning. Our favourite breakfast set that we ordered twice in a row was the American Breakfast B Set (710 yen). It comes with a salad, an incredible toasted honey croissant, and a choice of beverage.

Nagahama Coffee
4-2 Senshukubotamachi,
Akita 010-0874, Japan

#4 FUNOSHI-NO-TAKI FALLS

Just about 40 minutes by car away from Akita’s city, the Funoshi-no-taki Falls is definitely one of Akita’s best waterfalls. There is a lookout point just below the slope beside the waterfall, which will give you an excellent viewing point of the beautiful scenery. But for those planning to visit during winter, do take care to rent a suitable car for driving as the snowfall and roads leading to the waterfall are rather challenging to navigate.

Funoshi-no-taki Falls
Ushiromata Kawabeiwami,
Akita 019-2741, Japan

#5 LAKE TAZAWA

Situated just south of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park, Lake Tazawa is a beautiful lake in Akita. This lake is the deepest lake in Japan, and is considered one of the most 100 scenic spots in Japan. You can either view the lake from the lakeside or take in the wonders of this lake on a sightseeing boat, paddle boat or canoe (of course, when the weather permits).

Lake Tazawa is also home to the Statue of Tatsuko, which pays homage to the legend of Tatsuko, a woman who wished for eternal beauty but turned into a dragon and threw herself into the lake.

Lake Tazawa 
Tazawakokata, Semboku
Akita 014-1203, Japan

#6 KANSAGU (UKIKI SHRINE)

After viewing the Statue of Tatsuko, take a short stroll to Kansagu (or also known as the Ukiki Shrine) which is a small Shinto shrine overlooking the Lake Tazawa. It is said that the Ukiki Shrine was founded to worship a floating log of a large tree that washed up on the stores of Lake Tazawa.

Kansagu (Ukiki Shrine)
Katajiri Nishikicho Saimyoji,
Semboku, Akita 014-0511, Japan

#7 ORAE RESTAURANT AND BREWERY

After taking in the sights at the Lake Tazawa, you can take a slow drive down to the Orae Restaurant and Brewery for a quick bite. As the restaurant is located on the shore of Lake Tazawa, you can continue to appreciate Lake Tazawa’s beauty whilst enjoying a cold pint of craft beer (prices start at about 640 yen for a 330ml glass and 2,900 yen for a 1.8 litre pitcher). And if you’re a k-drama fan, a scene of Lee Byung Hun and Kim Tae Hee enjoying local craft beer was also filmed at this restaurant!

Food-wise, you can expect to be treated to a wide spread of German, Italian and Japanese yoshoku cuisine. However, since you’re in Akita, seize the opportunity to enjoy some of Akita’s local fare. We particularly enjoyed the Inaniwa Udon (1,320 yen) which was served with the Junsai, a traditional water vegetable, and the Beer Curry Pizza (1,350 yen) which features a curry pizza sauce infused with the restaurant’s craft beer and dough fermented in Shirajinbo.

Orae Restaurant and Brewery
Haruyama-37-5, Tazawako Tazawa,
Semboku, Akita 014-1204, Japan
Tel: +81 817-58-0608

#8 KAKUNODATE 

If you’re keen on Japanese history, a visit to Kakunodate is essential. Often called Tohoku’s “Little Kyoto”, this small town is filled with well-preserved samurai residences where 80 samurai families once lived in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Kakunodate is also famous for their weeping cherry blossoms that line the streets of this quaint town. Should this prompt you to plan a trip to Akita during the spring, do be warned that this is one of Japan’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spots so you can expect the town to be quite crowded. 

Kakunodate
45 Shimoshin-machi, Kakunodate-machi,
Semboku City, Akita 014-0315, Japan

#9 AOYAGI SAMURAI MANOR MUSEUM

The Aoyagi Samurai Manor Museum is a must-visit when in Kakunodate. Here, visitors will have the chance to learn about the different items the Aoyagi family used between the 17th to 20th century, and will also get to see the Main House, which was home to the descendants of the Aoyagi family until sometime in 1985.

Apart from the Main House, visitors can look forward to visiting the Kaitaishinsho Gallery, the Akita Folk Museum and the Bakumatsu Photo Gallery. Visitors can also try their hand at holding a samurai sword, lifting the Kago (a carriage used during the Edo period) and wearing the Samurai helmet.

Do note that you will be required to pay for tickets to enter the museum. Tickets for an adult will set you back 500 yen, for a student, 300 yen, and for children between the ages of 6 to 11 years, 200 yen. Entrance is free for children under the age of 5.

Aoyagi Samurai Manor Museum
3 Kakunodatemachi Omotemachishimocho,
Semobku, Akita 014-0331, Japan

#10 EAT AKITA’S HINAI JIDORI 

For those unfamiliar with the term, Jidori refers to chickens whose parents or one parent are native to Japan, and are raised according to a prescribed method (cage free or free range). Akita’s Hinai Jidori is one of Japan’s major “jidori” and what’s special about the meat is it’s savory and rich flavour. As for the eggs produced from the Hinai Jidori? They are incredibly tasty and way superior in flavour compared to the eggs back home.

If you’re staying in Akita City and are not sure where to enjoy the Hinai Jidori, you can drop by the Akita Hinai-Jidori Restaurant at the Akita Station for some fried chicken, or an Oyakodon.

Akita Hina-jidori Restaurant 
7 Chome-1-2, Nakadori,
Akita 010-0001, Japan

#11 SHOPPING AT THE AKITA STATION BUILDING “TOPICO”

What’s a trip to Japan without shopping for some Japanese souvenirs and snacks? One of the best places to get your shopping done in Akita is the Akita Station Building “Topico”. There is a farmer’s market on the first floor and confections, souvenirs, and other ready-made foods available for purchase on the 2nd floor.

Akita Station Building “Topico” 
7 Chome-1-2 Nakadori,
Akita 010-0001, Japan

#12 KUBOTA CASTLE

Just a five minute walk from the Akita station, the Kubota Castle is a Japanese castle that was home to the Satake clan (rulers of the northern Dewa Province) during the Edo period. However, a fire destroyed most of the Kubota Castle in 1880 and this led to reconstruction efforts for one corner of the castle in 1989.

Aside from viewing the Kubota Castle, other sights that you may pass by (and wish to visit) along your way up to the castle include the Satake Historical Material Museum, the Iyataka Shrine, and the Kurosawa House.

Kubota Castle
1-39 Senshu Park,
Akita City, Japan

Every Spring, the world flocks to Japan for hanami (the act of cherry blossoms appreciation). The city will be coloured pink; cherry and plum blossom trees line the streets and the entire city is magically transformed into a flower paradise.

Tokyo, in particular, plays host to a big crowd of visitors from all over the world who bask in the beauty of the blooms. It is a phenomenal experience, and it is a sheer sight to behold. One cannot simply rely on pictures to see the beauty; being in Japan for hanami is essential to take in all the beauty and to witness the splendour of Spring.

There are many spots in Tokyo for hanami, and as much as there will be crowds, it will be worth your while. So if you’re heading to Tokyo this Spring, here are some popular spots where cherry blossom trees can be found in abundance.

SHINJUKU GYOEN NATIONAL GARDEN

This is undisputedly the most popular cherry blossom destination in Tokyo where cherry blossom trees can be seen at every corner. There is an entrance fee but it will be well worth the money spent.

Within Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, there are different types of sakura trees, and in Spring, the whole park is livened up with pinks of different hues. It is also a common spot for picnics and photoshoots.

YOYOGI PARK

Just farther up from Meiji-jingu is Yoyogi Park, another crowded cherry blossom spot during Spring because the locals love having picnics under the sakura trees. Expect over 600 sakura trees that boast mainly pale pink blooms. Food stands are also available within the park so you don’t have to bring your own.

Photo Credit: Tokyo in Pics

AOYAMA CEMETERY

Do not be spooked; this cemetery is actually a calm sanctuary and during Spring, it actually gets pretty crowded so you’d never be alone. There are hundreds of cherry blossom trees lining the straight road that cuts through the cemetery.

It is, after all, a graveyard so be mindful of your activity and noise level here. The locals usually keep their hanami activities quiet so as to respect the dead.

UENO PARK

Ueno Park is a family-friendly park in Tokyo that has more than just sakura. There is a whole row of street stalls where you can get a variety of Japanese snacks such as crab sticks, grilled octopus, takoyaki etc.

At the end of the park is a small pond where you can rent boats in the shape of swans. You’d see families peddling the boats and the kids really do love the sight of “swans” in the ponds against the hundreds of sakura trees!

CHIDORIGA-FUCHI

This is our favourite spot for hanami in Tokyo. Chidoriga-fuchi used to be pretty under the radar, but in recent years, it has gained popularity mainly from its boat rental. You might have seen pictures of people on the iconic blue boat, riding through the river that’s densely lined with sakura trees on both ends. It is a magnificent sight and we always return to this spot when we find ourselves in Tokyo for Spring. Be prepared to wait in line for hours for the boat, though.

Hanami doesn’t stop there. Take a stroll in the park where you find even more sakura trees, many of which are weeping kind where the cherry blossoms hang really low, making it the perfect backdrop for your selfies. But please do not pluck the flowers!

Photo Credit: Toshiro Gamo

KOISHIKAWA KORAKUEN

Koishikawa Korakuen is one of Japan’s most popular traditional Japanese landscape garden. It was built in the early Edo period (1600-1867). Koishikawa is the district in which the garden is located in, and the garden was named ‘Korakuen’ after a poem encouraging a ruler to enjoy pleasure only after achieving happiness for his people.

The garden features several early blooming weeping cherry trees around the garden’s entrance gate, most prominently a weeping cherry blossom tree that blooms a few days earlier than all the other trees.

Photo Credit: Ambassadors Japan

ASAKUSA

Asakusa is another extremely popular spot in Tokyo for hanami. The landmark Senso-ji has sakura trees lining the front of its Hozomon Gate at Nakamise Street. It is not uncommon to see locals strolling the streets of Asakusa in their kimonos. If you’d love to don one, there are several rental shops in the vicinity too.

With Tokyo Sky Tree just behind Asakusa, you can also get photos of cherry blossoms “draping” the famous Tokyo tower.

Photo Credit: Good Luck Trip Japan

SUMIDA PARK

Farther up from Asakusa is Sumida Park, a common spot for hanami for visitors to Asakusa. Sumida Park stretches for a few hundred meters along both sides of Sumida River and hanami can also be enjoyed from boats that cruise the river.

Food stands are also available within Sumida Park.

MEGURO PARK

This is another perennial favourite of ours. Meguro River is exceptionally stunning both in the day and at night, with more than 800 trees lining the canal that stretches a few hundred meters. The trees will all light up when night falls.

There isn’t a designated spot for hanami but there are many “intervals” along the canal where you can stop for photos.

Photo Credit: JW Web Magazine

ASUKAYAMA PARK

This hilltop public park is one of Tokyo’s oldest hanami spots. It is extremely popular among locals and today, several hundred trees dot the park, hence creating many picnic spots.

The trees here also light up in the evening.