9 Best Things To Do In Akita, Japan

1. Explore the deepest lake in Japan

When you’re in Akita, make sure to explore Japan’s deepest lake, Tazawa Lake. Apart from the amazing depth of 423 meters (1388 feet), this crater lake is also surrounded by lush greenery. The scenic Tazawa Lake changes colour from jade green to indigo blue as the seasons go by. The most popular spot here is the famous golden statue of Tatsuko. Legend has it that a lady named Tatsuko wanted eternal beauty. Instead, she was cursed, and she transformed into a dragon. Locals believe that she serves as the guardian of the lake. A visit to Tazawa Lake any season is definitely worthy of your time.

Lake Tazawa

Address: Semboku, Akita Prefecture

Website: Lake Tazawa

2. Try the local speciality of Akita

Visiting Akita is not quite complete without trying kiritanpo. This traditional rice dish made by grilling up cooked and mashed rice skewers over charcoal. The rice sticks can be eaten together with miso as a snack or used to make kiritanpo nabe, a local hotpot dish. Kiritanpo is definitely a dish that fills you up and warms you up during winter.

3. Enjoy the magnificent scenery around Mount Hachimantai

Hachimantai is a flat-topped mountain located in Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Enjoy the magnificent blooming flower fields, marshland scenery, volcanic lakes, and ponds while trekking up this natural wonder. You can see blooming marsh plants such as hinazakura primrose and cottongrass as you walk around Hachimantai Pond, which is the largest crater pond in this mountain, formed from volcanic steam explosions. At its summit, which is 1,613 meters (5,292 feet) tall, you can catch a wonderful view of Mount Iwate and Mount Chokai.

Mount Hachimantai

Address: Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture

4. Explore one of the best 100 mountains in Japan

Dubbed as Dewa Fujisan (the Mount Fuji of Dewa), Mount Chokai is one of the top 100 landscapes in Japan in terms of popularity. Mount Chokai stands at 2,236 meters (7,336 meters), making it the tallest mountain in Yamagata prefecture. You can see a field of alpine plants blooming from April to August here. Trek up to the seventh station of the mountain, and you will find the beautiful Chokai lake. Of course, when you’re here, don’t miss seeing the spectacular reflection of Mount Chokai against the Sea of Japan in the early hours of the morning.

Mount Chokai

Address: Yuza-machi, Ami-gun, Yamagata Prefecture

Website: Mount Chokai

5. Visit the beautiful Senshu Park

A park of mixed history and beauty, Senshu Park was built on the ruins of Kubota Castle, which served as the home of the Satake clan during the Edo period. Walk around and see the wooden gate, old guard post, and reconstructed tower while your here. Also, make sure to visit the Satake Historical Museum to learn about the place’s historic past. The beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, azalea flowers in summer, scarlet leaves in autumn, and pristine snow in winter all make the park picturesque, no matter what time of year it is. Many tourists flock here mostly during spring as it’s one of the best parks around where you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing. A pathway of cherry trees and ponds filled with floating pink petals attract thousands of visitors every spring.

Akita Senshu Park

Address: Akita, Akita Prefecture

Website: Akita Senshu Park

6. Panoramic view from Selion Tower

Selion Tower, a landmark of Akita Port, is a 143-meter (469-foot) tower covered in 6,272 pieces of tempered glass. You can catch a panoramic view of the city and surrounding mountains, the Oga Peninsula and Sea of Japan and Mount Chokai for free in this building’s observation deck, which is 100 meters (328 feet) above the ground. Of course, don’t forget to look out for the beautiful illuminations in the evening, if time permits.

Akita Port Selion Tower

Address: Akita, Akita Prefecture

Website: Akita Port Selion Tower

7. Visit the unique Akita Museum of Art

Designed by famous architect Tadao Ando, Akita Museum of Art has a unique structure, a freestanding spiral stairway, and a triangular skylight at the museum entrance hall. The building also has a lookout point to Senshu Park on the second level. The museum showcases a collection of art pieces of renowned artist Tsuguharu Foujita as well as works of other local artists. If you’re visiting, look out for Tsuguharu Foujita’s famous 20-meter (66-foot) mural, Annual Events in Akita, which depicts life in Akita throughout the four seasons.

Akita Museum of Art

Address: Akita, Akita Prefecture

Website: Akita Museum of Art

8. Hit the slopes of Taiheizan Ski Resort

Visit one of the easiest accessible resorts from Akita, Taiheizan Ski Resort. It’s an all-around resort that offers different courses that are suitable for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers. There is also a snow park “Waku Waku Land”, for children to play with snow safely. You can also catch the night view of Akita city from the night ski slope on a clear night.

Taiheizan Ski Resort

Address: Akita City, Akita Prefecture

Website: Taiheizan Ski Resort

9. Visit a library that does not sleep

A library which opens all day, all year long, the famous Nakajima Library has a close resemblance of the Roman Colosseum, with a semi-circular umbrella-shaped roof. The roof of the building is crafted from high-quality cedar trees. You can see special work areas created behind bookshelves to help students to ward off distractions while they study. Additionally, the chairs are made to different heights, differentiated by colours, to suit the needs of comfort during long hours of reading. This library also has a wide collection of books, magazines, newspapers, and audiovisual materials. Around 60% of the books here are written in foreign languages, so international visitors don’t have to worry about finding something to read.

Nakajima Library

Address: Akita, Akita Prefecture

Website: Nakajima Library

10. Enjoy the sweetest festival at Odate

Visit Odate for the Candy Festival (Amekko Ichi), an event held annually on the second weekend of February at Omachi Hachiko Street. The street is packed with stalls selling local and traditional candies and other delicious traditional food. The trees on the street are beautifully decorated with bright pink candies. According to tradition, if you consume sweets at the time of the festival, you don’t have to worry about being sick for the rest of the year. Events and performances such as the lollipop exhibit, traditional Shirahige Okami procession and Akita dog parade are also held to celebrate this festival.

Odate Candy Festival

Address: Odate, Akita Prefecture

Website: Odate Candy Festival

A different face of Japan?

Akita is a city with a completely different kind of charm! Visit Akita for a change from the hustle and bustle of the metropolises. It offers a true cornucopia of natural beauty and rich history, allowing one to experience rustic life as never before.