Things to do in Akita: Festivals, Food, and Famous Spots

 

Have you heard of Akita Prefecture?

Located in the north-eastern Tohoku region of Japan, it is the 6th largest prefecture in Japan. Akita Prefecture is located in the region marked as ‘5’ in the image below. It is surrounded by four prefectures: Aomori Prefecture – ‘2’; Iwate Prefecture – ‘3’; Miyagi Prefecture – ‘4’; and Yamagata Prefecture – ‘6’.

 

Akita Prefecture is famous for several things. First, you probably have heard of Hachiko, the dog who has a statue erected in its memory outside Shibuya station. Did you know that Hachiko is actually a Japanese Akita dog, a local dog breed indigenous to Akita Prefecture (as seen in the photo above)?

Second, Akita was historically known for its beautiful women, too. They are called 秋田美人・akita bijin, which literally translates as ‘beautiful women of Akita.’

Third, as a major rice-producing region in Japan, it is famous for its delicious variety of rice called akita komachi (あきたこまち) and sakihokore (サキホコレ), which is a new rice variety that only went on sale in 2021. Also, it is famous for its many sake breweries too.

In this article, we will introduce three famous festivals to see in Akita, three famous local food to try in Akita, and three famous spots to visit in Akita.

Let’s take a deep dive into Akita!

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

1. Famous Festivals
   • 1.1 Kanto Festival「竿燈祭り・kanto matsuri」
   • 1.2 Omagari Fireworks「大曲の花火・omagari no hanabi」
   • 1.3 Kakunodate Fire and Snow Festival「角館火振りかまくら・kakunodate hiburi kamakura」
2. Famous Local Food
3. • 2.1 Inaniwa Udon「稲庭うどん・inaniwa udon」
   • 2.2 Yokote Yakisoba「横手やきそば・yokote yakisoba」
   • 2.3 Junsai (Water Shield)「じゅんさい・junsai」

    

4. Famous Spots
5. • 3.1 Kakunodate Samurai Residences「角館武家屋敷・kakunodate bukeyashiki」
   • 3.2 Kawabata Street「川反・kawabata」
   • 3.3 Akita Castle Ruins 「秋田城跡・akita joseki」
6. Conclusion

Famous Festivals

Akita Prefecture is a region that especially loves its festivals. There are local festivals for every season of the year. We will introduce you to three famous Akita festivals.

1.1 Kanto Festival「竿燈祭り・kanto matsuri」

 

 

Massive bamboo poles weighing up to 110 pounds (50 kg) and extending nearly 40 feet (12m) into the sky with giant lanterns attached to them. Imagine hundreds of men taking turns to balance more than 250 of these bamboo poles on the palm of their hands, lower back, shoulder, or forehead on the streets of Akita City. Sounds like quite the spectacle, doesn’t it?

Well, it doesn’t end there! An energetic beat, produced by taiko drums and Japanese flutes played by women, accompanies this performance. To further enliven the festival atmosphere, onlookers encourage these men and women by shouting ‘dokkoisho, dokkoisho.’

The Kanto Festival is known as one of the three great summer festivals of Japan’s Tohoku region (alongside the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and Sendai Takabata Matsuri). This festival was first held about 270 years ago to pray for abundant harvests. This tradition has continued up to this day.

A Japanese festival is incomplete without food and drinks. At the Kanto Festival, expect to see over 100 stalls selling a range of food and drinks! We hope you’ll enjoy this magnificent spectacle that can only be found in Akita Prefecture.

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1.2 Omagari Fireworks「大曲の花火・omagari no hanabi」

 

 

What’s a Japanese summer without fireworks? Fireworks are an integral part of how Japanese people enjoy the hot, balmy summer. The Omagari Fireworks is a fireworks extravaganza like no other.

It is widely considered one of the top three fireworks festivals in Japan for a few reasons.

The Omagari Fireworks is not just simply a festival. It also doubles as an all-Japan fireworks contest called zenkoku hanabi kyogi taikai (全国花火競技大会). Top pyrotechnicians from all over Japan gather to compete for prizes awarded by the Japanese Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry. With all the top pyrotechnicians vying for the prize, you’ll be, without a doubt, treated to the fireworks show of your life here..

Almost 700,000 spectators gather from all over Japan to catch this show of fire and lights. If you plan to attend the festival, book your travel tickets and accommodation early!

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1.3 Kakunodate Fire and Snow Festival「角館火振りかまくら・kakunodate hiburi kamakura」

 

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The Kanto Festival and Omagari Fireworks are both summer festivals. As a way to wrap up this section on famous festivals in Akita Prefecture, we will introduce a winter festival to you.

Imagine spinning circles of light produced by fire on a frigid, pitch-dark winter night – this is the Kakunodate Fire and Snow Festival. Held towards the end of the harsh Akita winter, the local people of Kakunodate (a small city in Akita Prefecture) light up a ball made of rice straw attached to a rope and start swinging it around themselves.

The roots of this festival lie in the idea of ‘purification.’ It is said that this ritual was originally performed to ward off evil spirits from the region so that no disaster or illness will befall the local community.

If you’re a adventurous and bold, you’d be delighted to know that visitors (both Japanese and foreigners) are often encouraged to participate in the festival. You will get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to swing a fireball around! There are safety measures in place – you have to don a fireproof jacket before you begin swinging the fireball. So, don’t worry; you’ll be safe!

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Famous Local Food

Akita is host to a range of local specialities. We will highlight 3 out of the many unique food that Akita has to offer!

2.1 Inaniwa Udon「稲庭うどん・inaniwa udon」

 

 

You probably have heard of Japanese udon noodles, right? Do you know there are different varieties of udon noodles in different regions of Japan? Akita Prefecture has its own special type of udon: Inaniwa udon.

It is said that the origin of the name inaniwa comes from the fact that the person who invented the noodles, Sato Yosuke, lived in Inaniwa-cho (稲庭町) – an area in Yuzawa City in Akita Prefecture.

During the Edo period, Inaniwa udon was a highly prized food product. It was only served to people in positions of power, such as feudal lords in Akita Prefecture. In the following Meiji period, the noodles gained widespread fame because it was presented to the Japanese imperial family. It also won many accolades during that period.

Inaniwa udon is considered to be smoother and chewier than normal udon noodles. And, unlike normal udon, it is still made by artisans in small batches up to this day.

If you’re interested in enjoying traditional Japanese food made the same way it was hundreds of years ago and learning the process behind it too, make sure to head down to the Sato Yosuke Flagship Store (佐藤養助商店・sato yosuke shoten) in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture. You will be able to take part in a factory tour to see how artisans make inaniwa udon. You would also be able to enjoy the noodles at their in-house restaurant. If you’re interested in souvenirs, there is also a souvenir shop where they sell a range of locally-produced handmade crafts.

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2.2 Yokote Yakisoba「横手やきそば・yokote yakisoba」

 

 

Yakisoba’s literal translation is ‘fried noodles’ in English. Even if you haven’t had it yet, you’ve probably heard of it! Akita Prefecture has its own version of yakisoba called yokote yakisoba.

Yokote yakisoba is eponymously named after the city it was created in, Yokote City of Akita Prefecture. The ingredients and preparation that go into Yokote yakisoba also differ slightly from usual yakisoba. Fuller noodles are used. Cabbage and mixed pork are also added. In terms of seasoning, a relatively sweeter sauce is used when cooking the noodles. It’s definitely a different fare from your normal run-of-the-mill yakisoba.

If you’re keen on trying the OG Yokote yakisoba, make sure to check out ganso kamiya yakisoba ten (元祖　神谷焼きそば屋). They were the first restaurant to start selling yokote yakisoba. The OG is always the best, after all, right?

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2.3 Junsai (Water Shield)「じゅんさい・junsai」

 

 

With its gelatinous, almost slimy texture, junsai will probably be unlike any vegetable you’ve ever had before. This vegetable is produced in Mitane-cho 「三種町」of Akita Prefecture. In fact, the junsai produced in Mitane town accounts for more than 90% of all junsai eaten in Japan.

The sprout of the junsai is its only edible part. To harvest the sprout, you would have to use your hands to go through the leaves and extract the sprout gently. Junsai has a short harvest period – it can only be harvested between May and August.

If you visit Mitane town during this period, you will be able to participate in the harvest. You would board a small box-shaped wooden boat and handpick this small, gelatinous, slimy vegetable. In addition to that, you get to keep the junsai you pick as a souvenir for yourself.

If you’re ever in Japan, or Akita for that matter, keep an eye out for this unique experience.

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Famous Spots

Akita also has many famous sightseeing spots known across Japan. We will introduce 3 out of the many interesting and beautiful spots in Akita.

3.1 Kakunodate Samurai Residences「角館武家屋敷・kakunodate bukeyashiki」

 

 

If you’re interested in Japanese history and samurai, make sure to check out the Samurai Residences in Kakunodate. Lined up along a single street, these residences are ‘living’ historical relics from a different time – descendants of the samurai still live in them up to this day.

You can actually enter these residences, too. After purchasing an entrance ticket, you can tour the grounds and inspect samurai equipment as well as documentation that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Also, if you love Japanese cherry blossoms, or sakura, make sure to visit the Samurai Residences during spring. The district is filled with various sakura trees, and it makes for a wonderful photo-taking opportunity.

Below, we will list information for two of the most famous Samurai residences – the Ishiguro House and the Aoyagi House.

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3.2 Kawabata Street「川反・kawabata」

 

 

Kawabata Street is the entertainment and nightlife spot of Akita City in Akita Prefecture. With its neon-lit signs, tiny but packed izakaya bars, and a wide range of restaurants, Kawabata Street is also a throwback to a former time.

By any chance, do you remember ‘IRIS’, the hit Korean spy drama released in 2009? If you do, you would probably be surprised to know that several scenes were filmed in Kawabata Street. Scenes from the drama were also filmed across Akita Prefecture in famous spots such as Lake Tazawa (which we also recommend you check out)!

You’d definitely be in for a night of fun at Kawabata Street!

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3.3 Akita Castle Ruins 「秋田城跡・akita joseki」

 

 

Visiting the castles of Japan is definitely an essential part of any vacation in Japan! For our last recommendation, we will introduce the Akita Castle Ruins to you.

Built over 1,200 years ago during the Nara period, parts of the castle compound have been lost to time. For example, the main castle building unfortunately no longer exists. However, other parts of the castle compound have been well-preserved and restored. In fact, you will be able to see an ancient toilet with a flushing system. That is certainly a sight to behold!

In addition, you will be able to visit the Akita City Akita Castle Ruins History Museum, which is right by the castle ruins. Relics that have been excavated at the site of Akita Castle are on display there. You would be able to see samurai armor and ancient pottery, among other things.

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Conclusion

 

 

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