RegionOutline guide

Akita (prefecture)

Prefecture of Japan

Photo: 掬茶, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Akita Prefecture (秋田県 Akita-ken) is in the northeastern Tohoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu.

Getting there and around

Getting there

By train
The Akita Shinkansen provides hourly service from Tokyo station to Akita station. Trains are all-reserved and are known as Komachi (こまち) trains.
By bus

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Akita Airport

Akita · Regional · AXT

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Cities

Akita

the prefectural capital

Daisen

known for hosting the National Fireworks Competition every August

Nikaho

coastal town at the foothills of Mt. Chokai

Noshiro

Noshiro (能代市; Noshiro-shi) is a city in northwest Akita prefecture.

Odate

hometown of Hachiko

Oga

the western peninsula, famous for namahage

Semboku

city with hot springs, Lake Tazawa and historical town remains Kakunodate

Nyuto Onsen

one of Japan's popular hot springs resorts

Show all 14

Yokote

famous for its winter kamakura events, yakisoba and manga museum

Yurihonjo

home of Mt. Chokai

Yuzawa

Yuzawa (湯沢市; yuzawa-shi) is a city at the southeastern corner of Akita Prefecture, along the border with Yamagata and Miyagi. It is southeast of Yurihonjo and south of Yokote.

Daisen

known for the awe-inspiring National Fireworks Competition

Misato

a town near Yokote famous for Takeuchi Festival

Ugo

located in south-central Akita

Read before you go to Akita (prefecture)

Articles and travel topics about Akita (prefecture) and Japan.

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandOn the rugged Sea of Japan coast of northern Tohoku, cold and snowy in winter and far from major cities, Akita is likely the least visited of all Tohoku prefectures.

Get inAkita prefecture is served by Akita Airport (AXT), near Akita city with flights to major Japanese cities and a solitary flight to Taipei, and Ōdate-Noshiro Airport (ONJ) between Odate and Noshiro, with flights to…

TalkFew people speak English in Akita. If you don't speak Japanese well, factor this into consideration when planning.

EatAkita's weather and clean water are said to be ideal for growing rice, and the local akitakomachi variety, named after legendary local beauty Ono no Komachi, is prized throughout the country.

DrinkGood sake needs good rice and good water, and with plenty of both, it's no surprise that Akita also has Japan's highest sake consumption per capita.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Akita (prefecture)" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Akita Prefecture", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: 掬茶, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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