Akita

Welcome to Akita! This northern prefecture is best known for its rustic hot springs resort, a fascinating former castle town, astounding mountain ranges, as well as vibrant festivals. Akita is the sixth-largest prefecture in Japan, and roughly 70% of the prefecture land is occupied by forests. Like much of the Tohoku Region, Akita’s economy is dominated by traditional industries such as agriculture, fishing, and forestry. Akita has also been the center of rice farming and sake breweries. It is well known for having the highest consumption of sake in Japan. Additionally, the prefecture’s “namahage” tradition is especially famous across Japan, in which people dressed as demons roam the neighborhoods on New Year’s Eve to ward off evil spirits. Other than that, this prefecture is famous for Akita breed of dog and the beautiful local women who are called Akita bijin.

Destinations

When in Akita, do not miss the beautiful autumn leaves of Mt Hachimantai, Goshogake Onsen’s outdoor hot springs, and the unforgettable winter festival–Kamakura Snow Festival.

Group Meals

We arrange a wide array of meal choices for you, from Japanese traditional set meals, all you can eat, to local and seasonal specialties. Join us in exploring the taste of Japan!

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Local Specialty

Different regions have their own traditional recipes and agricultural farming system. Many of the regional dishes can only be tasted in the original area they came from.

Kiritanpo

Mashed cooked rice rolled around a wooden stick and grilled. Kiritanpo is also eaten with miso or stewed with chicken and vegetables as a nabemono (hotpot). The best season of Kiritanpo is from October to February when the first rice of the year is in the market. It is a perfect winter dish to warm you up.

Inaniwa Udon

Said to be one of the three most famous types of udon in Japan (the other two being sanuki udon and kishimen), inaniwa udon has a history of more than 300 years. At the time it was considered a luxury meal, and was even gifted to the shogun. Inaniwa-udon noodles are light, smooth, and like silk on the tongue.

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Experience

Whether this is your first time visiting, or returning, make sure to participate in these unique activities, that cannot be done elsewhere!

Onsen (Hot Springs)

The hot spring culture has been with the Japanese for a long time. Hundreds of years ago, people used them to heal wounds and injuries. Now it is treated as a therapeutic practice that helps restore both mind and body. In Akita, the most famous onsen is Nyuto Onsen. As none of the ryokans are related, each ryokan uses different water, many of which are slightly acidic and milky in color

Sake Brewery Tour

As a top rice-producing region, it is no surprise Akita becomes a center of sake brewery. Sake brewed in Akita, in particular, is smooth and has a pleasant taste. The “cold brewing” technique is a result of the cold weather and heavy snowfall in Akita. It produces a taste and aroma unique to the snowy region.

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