Tohoku · Day Tour
A samurai street that was never redeveloped, and the deepest lake in Japan.
From
¥30,000 per person
approx. US$190
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmation
A private Akita tour with a local guide. Kakunodate's samurai district, Lake Tazawa and the red torii of Gozanoishi Shrine, and the castle ruins at Senshu Park in the city. Akita is one of the least visited prefectures in Japan, which is most of its appeal.
A planned castle town from 1620, divided into a samurai quarter and a merchant quarter, with the samurai street still lined by the dark wooden gates and walls of the original residences. Several houses are open and still owned by the families who built them. Weeping cherry trees were brought from Kyoto and planted along the street, which is why the town is called the Little Kyoto of the north.
Over four hundred metres deep, which makes it the deepest lake in Japan and means it never freezes. The water is an intense blue in the middle of the day. Gozanoishi Shrine stands on the shore with its torii at the waterline, and a gilded statue on the northern bank marks a local legend about a woman who became the lake's dragon.
Kubota Castle is a ruin, but Senshu Park preserves its earthworks, moats and a reconstructed turret in the middle of Akita city. It is where the town gathers for cherry blossom and for festivals, and it is a short walk from the station.
The winters are heavy and the culture reflects it — kiritanpo, mashed rice toasted on cedar skewers and dropped into a chicken hotpot; sake, since the rice and water are both good; and the Akita dog, which comes from here. Your guide will explain the folklore, which in this prefecture is unusually alive.
Meet your guide at the Akita Port cruise terminal.
The Kubota Castle ruins in the city.
The samurai street and its houses.
The deepest lake in Japan.
The red torii at the water's edge.
Akita Port cruise terminal, Tsuchizakiminatonishi, Akita. Your guide will contact you on WhatsApp beforehand to agree the plan.
The price covers your private English-speaking guide. Entry fees, transportation and meals are paid as you go, and by convention you also cover your guide's. Bring cash.
Yes. They are near each other and around an hour from the city, so both fit comfortably with a vehicle.
Yes. It starts at the port and is timed around your ship.
The Namahage folklore belongs to the Oga peninsula, which is a separate direction from the city. There is a museum with demonstrations year-round. Ask when you book.
Early August, when performers balance long poles hung with lanterns. The city fills, so book well ahead.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Bookings are confirmed instantly.
Tohoku · Day Tour
5 hours · From ¥30,000
Tohoku · Day Tour
6 hours · From ¥30,000
