Related articles

Tokyo Gourmet Tour【せんりみち公式】Tokyo Gourmet Tour: Seeking the best dining experience in Tokyo

As the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan continues to increase year by year, there is a growing demand to step outside of standard tourist destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka and experience the true essence of Japan. Amid this trend, Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region is quietly gaining attention. Akita is a place where ancient traditions, rich nature, and unique Japanese culture live on, yet it remains a "hidden gem" not well known among foreigners. This article will guide foreign travelers through Akita Prefecture. It is packed with useful information for foreigners planning a trip to Akita, as well as for those living in Japan who are guiding foreign guests around.

What is Akita Prefecture like? What is its appeal to foreigners?

Akita Prefecture is located in the northwest of Honshu, on the Sea of Japan coast, and is an area blessed with vast natural beauty and where traditional culture remains strong to this day. The prefecture's population is declining and aging faster than the national average, but this is precisely what creates opportunities for inbound tourism. With a relaxed atmosphere free from crowds, Akita is a place where foreign tourists can experience the "original Japanese landscape."

Surprisingly convenient in terms of access

There are direct flights from Narita and Haneda to Akita Airport, and there is also a Shinkansen route that takes about three and a half hours from Tokyo. Foreign tourists rarely find it inconvenient to access, and even those who are not good at Japanese can travel relatively easily. One of the attractions is that you can use the Japan Rail Pass operated by JR East.

Akita's climate and seasonal scenery

Akita has a wide variety of seasonal expressions, with cherry blossoms in spring, lush green mountains in summer, golden rice ears in autumn, and exquisite snow scenery in winter. It is especially popular among foreign tourists who come to see the snowy winter scenery. For Westerners, who live in many dry regions, Akita's wet snow and fantastic winter scenery seem to be very impressive.

Recommended sightseeing spots in Akita Prefecture for foreign visitors

Akita is dotted with many tourist spots that we wholeheartedly recommend to foreign tourists. Here we will introduce some famous spots that are particularly worth visiting and are said to leave a lasting impression on foreigners.

Kakunodate: A townscape of samurai residences known as the Kyoto of Japan

Kakunodate is known as "Little Kyoto of the Michinoku region," and has beautifully preserved samurai residences dating back to the Edo period. The contrast between the weeping cherry blossoms, black walls, and stone-paved alleys is particularly stunning during the spring cherry blossom season. A uniquely Japanese landscape unfolds before your eyes. English-speaking guides are also available, making the area highly rated by history-loving tourists visiting Japan.

Lake Tazawa: A beautiful lake with mysterious depths

Lake Tazawa, Japan's deepest lake (423 meters), is known as the "Blue Jewel of Akita" due to its mysterious cobalt blue color. Dotted around the lake are campgrounds and hot springs, making it the perfect tourist destination for nature lovers. Rental boats and kayaking experiences are also available, with English menus available.

Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Museum (Neburi Nagashi Hall)

At this museum in Akita City, you can experience the Akita Kanto Festival, held every August, all year round. This is a traditional art form in which large lanterns are attached to the end of poles and manipulated while balancing them. There are plenty of English explanations and videos available in the actual exhibits and experience corner, and many foreign visitors are deeply moved by this cultural experience.

Shirakami-Sanchi: A primeval beech forest registered as a World Heritage Site

The Shirakami-Sanchi Mountains, located on the border with Aomori Prefecture, is registered as a World Heritage Site and has many hiking and trekking courses. Guided tours are available in English, and the area is also attracting attention as an ecotourism destination. You can also observe unique plants and animals endemic to Japan.

Akita Festivals and Seasonal Events: Japanese Traditions Fascinating to Foreigners

Akita holds many festivals throughout the year. Among them, we will introduce some that have a strong visual impact and are popular on social media among foreign tourists.

Akita Kanto Festival

This festival, held every August, features nearly 200 giant lantern poles lining up against the night sky, creating a fantastical sight. Its grandeur and power are more rewarding to experience in person than to see in photos or videos. Tours that allow you to watch the amazing performances up close from the audience seats are popular.

Namahage Sedo Festival

This festival, held in February on the Oga Peninsula, is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, in which people wearing Namahage masks descend from the mountains with torches in hand. Foreign visitors have described the ritual, which is said to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune, as moving to the soul.

Akita cuisine and food experiences popular with foreigners

Food is one of the great pleasures of traveling, and Akita's local cuisine is popular with foreign tourists. Since washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine) was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Japanese food has been gaining attention around the world. Here we introduce dishes that can only be enjoyed in Akita.

Kiritanpo hotpot

Akita's specialty dish is a hot pot dish in which "kiritanpo," cooked rice wrapped around a stick and grilled, is simmered in chicken broth with green onions and burdock. Many foreign tourists visit the area with their Akita dogs, and as a result, they enjoy the unique home cooking of the region. An increasing number of restaurants offer menus in foreign languages.

The contrast between smoked daikon radish and local sake

"Iburigakko" is a smoked pickled radish, a traditional preserved food of Akita. It is particularly popular when paired with craft beer or sake, opening the door to new flavors for many foreigners. Akita's local sake in particular has won awards at international competitions, and sake brewery tours are also popular.

Ingenuity to overcome language barriers and progress in multilingual support

For foreign tourists, the language barrier can be a major hurdle when traveling. However, Akita Prefecture is gradually becoming more accommodating to inbound tourists, with multilingual information signs and English-speaking staff being installed.

Multilingual brochures at tourist hubs

Major tourist destinations such as Akita City and Kakunodate are distributing pamphlets in English, Chinese, Korean, and Thai, and are gradually putting in place a system to accommodate travelers from each cultural background.

Collaboration with translation apps

Roadside stations and tourist information centers are working to link up with translation apps that can be used on smartphones, and are introducing a service that allows users to access translation pages using QR codes. Being able to access local information directly from your smartphone is a great source of peace of mind.

A program for foreign visitors to experience Akita Prefecture

Rather than simply sightseeing, you can gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture through "experiences." Experience-based tourism content is on the rise in Akita as well.

Japanese sweets making experience

Akita offers Japanese sweets-making experiences where local confectioners teach you carefully. Explanations of ingredients are often given with an interpreter, and the experience is well-received as a lifelong memory.

Namahage encounter tour

On the Oga Peninsula, there are tours where you can take commemorative photos with Namahage and try on costumes, and the participation rate among foreigners is very high. Such unique cultural experiences are also photogenic for social media, and are becoming increasingly popular.

Recommended accommodations and how to choose them

Akita is also seeing an increase in hotels and inns that are friendly to foreign tourists. Here we summarize some points to consider when choosing a hotel, such as whether or not they have English-speaking staff, free Wi-Fi, and vegetarian-friendly menus.

Popularity of guesthouses and traditional Japanese houses

Guesthouses that offer the experience of "living like a resident" rather than just staying overnight, and accommodations converted from old houses, are popular. Many foreign visitors to Japan want to gain a deeper understanding of the Japanese lifestyle, and these facilities are ideal places to stay.

The appeal of lodgings with hot springs

Akita is home to many hidden hot springs, and the hot spring culture itself is an exotic experience for foreigners. Nyuto Onsenkyo and Oyasukyo Onsen, for example, receive high ratings on booking sites.

summary

Akita Prefecture is still considered a "hidden gem" among foreign tourists visiting Japan, but that doesn't mean it's a rare region where you can get a true feel for Japan. With its abundant nature, colorful scenery that changes with the seasons, moving traditional events, and warm-hearted people, Akita is full of charms that will move the hearts of foreigners. Considering that services aimed at foreigners will continue to improve in the future, it is immeasurable value to explore this area one step early. We hope that this article has conveyed at least one of the charms of Akita Prefecture that will make you want to introduce it to not only foreign tourists, but also people living in Japan.

Make a reservation here!