Farmer’s markets can be found everywhere in the world, with some of them being the size of a football stadium. The ones that you have been to may have a range of fresh products, but probably none of them offers cultural activities like Yōkina Kasan no Mise (陽気な母さんの店) in Ōdate city (大館市)!
Fun Activities at Yōkina Kasan no Mise Farmer’s Market Read More »
The trains of the Akita Nariku Line (秋田内陸線) run in the Akita Prefecture countryside. The one-carriage train decorated with cute Akita pictures melts the passenger’s heart, and the scenery from the train’s window will fill the whole carriage with clicking cameras!
The Stunning Spots along the Akita Nairiku Train Line Read More »
Situated in northeastern Japan, the famous Mt. Zao (蔵王山) in Yamagata Prefecture (山形県) and Mt. Hakkoda (八甲田) in Aomori Prefecture (青森県) are well known for the “Snow Monsters” that take shape over trees and branches. However, one of the drawbacks of being so well known is its tendency to be crowded…
Mt. Moriyoshi – The Stunning Scenery and the Snow Monsters Read More »
When the Japanese talk about the samurai house in Akita Prefecture, they will never fail to mention the Aoyagi Samurai House (角館歴史村・青柳家). The spacious estate of a size of almost 10,000 square meters features a Main Housean Armory, a Gallery, a Folk Museum, a Samurai Tool Museum, an Antique Tea Room, and shops and restaurants/cafes.
Aoyagi Samurai House: Kakunodate’s Must-Go Samurai Residence Read More »
There are plenty of “joyful trains” in Japan but have you ever boarded one with live performances? Resort Shirakami (リゾートしらかみ) is the only joyful train in Japan with live performances, including shamisen (Japanese guitar), puppet plays, and Japanese folk tales told in the Tsugaru dialect (津軽弁)!
The Ultimate Guide to the Joyful Train – Resort Shirakami Read More »
Kakunodate, or Kakunodatemachi (角館町), is a town in Akita Prefecture that is known as “Michinoku no ko Kyoto (みちのくの小京都)”, or “Northeastern’s Little Kyoto”. The town used to be the home of the samurai stationed at Kakunodate Castle back in the Edo period (1603 – 1868). Even now, traces of the presence of the samurai remain
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While Kakunodate isn’t the most well-known cherry blossom destination in the Tōhoku Region, it is highly recommended. In addition to the cherry blossom in the town center, the cherry trees also lined the Kinokinai River (桧木内川) for two kilometers! Moreover, the cherry trees’ foliage also paints the town in vivid color when the temperature starts
The Cherry Blossom and Fall Foliage Spots in Kakunodate Read More »
When people visit Semboku City in Akita Prefecture for leisure, their preferred natural destinations will most likely either be Nyūtō Onsen (乳頭温泉郷), Lake Tazawa (田沢湖), or Tamagawa Onsen (玉川温泉). While those spots are definitely worthwhile places to visit, we would recommend that you also drop by the Dakigaeri Valley (抱返り渓谷) close to Kakunodate (角館) as
Dakigaeri Valley And Its Mystical Turquoise Mountain Stream Read More »
Lake Tazawa (田沢湖) in Semboku City in Akita Prefecture, with a depth of 422.4 meters, is the deepest lake in Japan. The 6 kilometers wide caldera lake was formed due to a volcanic eruption. Because of its depth, the lake can absorb a lot of heat in summer that even in the snowy winter, its
Lake Tazawa – An Unfrozen Beautiful Azure Lake Read More »
For those who likes herbs, stop by Tazawako Herb Garden Heart Herb (田沢湖ハーブガーデン ハートハーブ) when you visit Lake Tazawa. The garden that is around a 10-minute walk from Tazawako Resthouse is filled with about 250 different types of plants, including herbs inclusive! Not only can you adore and smell the flowers and herbs in the
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