Cherry Blossoms and Akita Famous Spots Route (4D3N)

・The time required is an estimate
・After entering the mapcode, please be sure to confirm the destination before departure

Michi-no-Eki Akita Port Port Tower Selion  is well-known not only in Akita prefecture but also in Tohoku. From the observatory 100 meters above sea level, which you can climb for free, you can enjoy a panoramic view from the sea of Japan to the mountains of the Oga Peninsula including Mt. Kanpu and the city of Akita. The product center on the first floor offers a variety of souvenirs such as Akita’s famous kiritanpo and Inaniwa udon noodles, as well as Japanese Sake from various breweries. In addition, there is a farmer’s restaurant that serves seasonal vegetables, a café with a 94-meter high view, the famous Akita Babahera ice cream, and the popular udon vending machine.

See the information

Oga Tourist Information Center is marked by Namahage, a visiting god that appears at traditional events in Akita. Located at the entrance of the Oga Peninsula, the two 15m giant “Namahage” towering along the national highway are impressive and  a popular photo spot. In addition to face-to-face service tourist guidance, pamphlets collecting tourism information of the Oga Peninsula area are also provided. You can shop for souvenirs and enjoy coffee and light meals while looking out at Mt. Kanpu at the neighboring coffee shop.

See the information

The top of Mt. Kanpu is covered with grass and has an unobstructed view of the city. The rotating observatory, which makes a full rotation in about 13 minutes, is a popular spot, where you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Ogata Village, Mt. Chokai, and Cape Nyudo. In addition, there is a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal while looking at the superb view, and an exhibition reference room that introduces the history of the Oga Peninsula.  Mt. Kanpu, which is entirely covered with grass, is also known as a mecca for paragliding. There is also a menu that you can easily enjoy, such as a two-seater sightseeing flight with an instructor (20 to 30 minutes) (reservation required, from April to November). It takes about 5 minutes to walk to the observatory.

See the information

Michi-no-Eki Oga “OGARE” has a wide variety of crafts and groceries unique to Oga, such as fresh fishes brought directly by local fishermen and seasonal vegetables harvested in the morning. The facility, which opened in 2019, is also a place of relaxation for locals as well as tourists. A processing room is set up in the fisheries corner, and pretreatment is available upon request (charged). You can also play with Akita dogs, a typical Japanese dog native to Akita. In addition, there are plenty of activities based in Ogare. You can experience the nature of Oga in a healthy way by renting road or electric-assisted bicycles. Cruise ships are also operated depending on the season.

See the information

Unosaki Beach is selected as one of the 100 best beaches in Japan.  On a calm day, the water surface of the 1.5km coastal line reflects like a mirror, making it a famous spot with breathtaking scenery. It is also called the Uyuni Lake of Akita for its beauty. At low tide, the seabed is exposed and you can walk about 200m out to the sea. When the tide is low, the appearance of the spherical rock Azukiiwa (azuki red bean-shaped rock) is a mysterious sight. Its adorable shape also earned itself the name Oboko-iwa, which means “small child” in the Akita dialect.

The parking lot for Godzilla Rock is by the rocky area after going down the slope from the road.

When approaching your destination please be aware of the surroundings while driving.

The silhouette of the strangely shaped rocks formed by volcanic eruptions about 30 million years ago resembles Godzilla, the monster from the popular movie, hence the name. At sunset, the backlit rock and the orange-tinted clouds make it seem like Godzilla breathing fire, making it a famous spot for photos. The best time to visit is around April and October. It will look like the sun going into the mouth of the Godzilla rock, breathing fire at the Sea of Japan. It takes 3 minutes to walk from the parking lot at Shiosezaki (come down from the open space at the left).

See the information

With the green earth, blue sea and sky, it is one of the most representative picturesque place in Oga. At the northern-most cape of the Oga Peninsula, you can have a dynamic view of the Sea of Japan. With a limpid sky, it is also a highly recommended spot to enjoy the sunset and starry nights. The black-and-white striped lighthouse has been selected as one of the 50 best lighthouses of Japan and can be climbed. From the tower, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Cape Nyudo, the surrounding rocky shore, and Mizushima Island offshore as well as learning about the history of the building at its resource room.

See the information

This is a hot spring resort town where you can enjoy Oga’s specialties, such as Taiko drumming show by the traditional performing arts “Namahage” and “Ishiyaki ryori,” a cuisine cooked on a hot stone. There are seven different inns in a row, each with its own feature. The hot spring water is salty, similar to seawater, and is well-known as the “hot spring for beautiful skin”. There are also cherry blossoms around the entrance of the inn and the open-air baths, which bloom around the end of April, and if you are lucky, you can take a bath while watching the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

See the information

・The time required is an estimate
・After entering the mapcode, please be sure to confirm the destination before departure

Oga’s folk event “Namahage” is registered as one of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages. It is believed that Namahage are messengers of the Gods, who will annually visit house by house to admonish wrongdoing, ward off bad luck, and bring good fortune and good harvest. The masks of the Namahage varies from region to region, and at the Namahage Museum you can see over 150 types of them. The Namahage Museum is also a hub for information on Namahage, including commemorative photos with Namahage, demonstrations of hand-carving by Namahage mask carvers, and sales of Namahage goods.

See the information

Among the various types of Namahages, the Namahage from Shinzan has inherited the old tradition and customs. The Namahage Museum here holds seminar lessons to send out the long and distinguished customs of the Namahage of the area. The Namahage events are carried out at a building built as a typical house in Oga, where you can try out the real Namahage experience. There are also exhibits of the customs, farming tools, and more, involving the Namahage, to feel the life in Oga during the olden days.

See the information

A famous flower viewing spot with around 3,700 cherry blossom trees planted over a distance of about 11 km and rape flowers planted on the ground. When the cherry blossoms and rape flowers are all in full bloom, they form a straight road and create a beautiful view with their yellow and pink color contrast. The best time to visit is from late April to early May, and it will be crowded with people for many annual events will be held too. In autumn,  you can also enjoy rows of gingko and poplar trees while taking a walk.

See the information

This Akita Expressway interchange located halfway between the central part of Gojome and the central part of Hachirogata. It is the recommended route to take from the Namahage Museum to the Kimimachizaka Prefectural Nature Park via the Rape Flower Road.

There is a story about a Japanese emperor who received a letter from the empress on his way on an official pilgrimage and gave this place the name “Kimimachizaka”, due to  the beauty and the emotions of the scenery. From that romantic episode, the park has become a sanctuary for lovers. From Koibumi Post – letters stamped with a heart shape when you post a letter, to Koibumi Shrine which is famous for matchmaking luck, the spot is popular among couples. In addition, in terms of feng shui, a part of the park is said to be a type of powerspot called “Ryuketsu-kakkyoku”. In spring, cherry blossoms and azaleas bloom, and the sight of 1,500 cherry blossom trees that look like they are snuggling up the perpendicular cliff is breathtaking. There is an uphill walk going up from the parking lot.

See the information

A facility where you can meet Akita dogs, the breed that is also chosen as Japan’s natural treasure. Although they have been an indispensable hunting dog in the Akita region since ancient times, due to its adorable appearance, Akitas have been gaining popularity all over the world. Lately, one of them was even given to the Russian skater Alina Zagitova. In the facility, besides learning about the roots and features of Akitas through its exhibition, photography sessions with Akitas are also available. From April to November rental bicycles are also available for 300 yen for half a day or 500 yen for a full day (4hrs and above). 

See the information

This hot spring resort has a history of 800 years and has been designated as a recreational area for people since ancient times. The hot spring flows out naturally along the Oyu River, and is known for its high efficacy and abundance of hot water. There are many lodgings where you can enjoy the hot spring with cherry blossoms in spring, autumn foliage in fall, and snowy scenery in winter, and it is also a tourist spot close to the Oyu Stone Circle Site and Lake Towada. The sophisticated architecture of Michi-no-Eki  Oyu offers a meat café serving branded beef “Kazuno Beef” as well as footbaths.

・The time required is an estimate
・After entering the mapcode, please be sure to confirm the destination before departure

Hachimantai Aspite Line is a drive way connecting Akita’s Kazuno and Iwate’s Hachimantai. The road is characterized by the amazing view of the four seasons as you drive, especially in spring when plowed snow is piled up to 7 meters high to create a “snow corridor”. The 27km snow corridor is the longest in Japan. You can see Hachimantai in fresh green in the summer and in autumn with the changing colors of the leaves, making this a course to enjoy as many times as you like. On the top of Hachimantai there is a resthouse where light meals and souvenirs are available. 

There are 7 inns located at the foot of the Mt. Nyuto, each one with its own hot spring sources with specialties. The characteristics of the spring waters are also diverse, with more than 10 types of hot spring sources, it is also a famous spot for hardcore hot spring fans. It is also a place where people have been visiting to for therapeutic effects since the olden days, as the remnants of the inn from that era still linger, in the sea of trees in the deep forest. Yumeguricho, a pass which includes access to all seven establishments (Tsurunoyu, Taenoyu, Ganiba  Onsen, Ogama Onsen, Magoroku Onsen, Kuroyu Onsen, Kyukamura) is also available.

See the information

The almost circular, Persian blue lake is the deepest in Japan, with a depth of 423.4m. It is so clear that you can even see fishes swimming in it, and is one of the 100 landscapes of Japan.There is a famous legend that Tatsuko, who drank water from a spring in a deep forest to attain eternal youth and beauty, unfortunately ended up transforming into a dragon and hid herself in Lake Tazawa.  Her statue stands beside the lake, located just near the matchmaking spot Ukigi Shrine Also, if you go north along Lake Tazawa, you will find Gozanoishi Shrine, which is said to have the blessings of beauty.Besides that, there are many other tourist spots in the area, such as the Tazawako Kunimasu Miraikan, Omoide no Katabunko, Tazawako Rest House and Lake Tazawa Sightseeing Boat.

See the information

Kakunodate is called the “Little Kyoto of Tohoku” for its town view of the Samurai residences. It is also known as one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Tohoku, such as the weeping cherry trees at the historical Bukeyashiki Street, the 2km long cherry blossom tunnel at Hinokinai River Bank, and many more, which create a beautiful sight during spring. In spring, the cherry blossoms are lit up at night so you can enjoy the difference between the atmosphere between day and night. Do enjoy the cherry blossoms while tasting the local traditional sweets and desserts.

See the information

・The time required is an estimate
・After entering the mapcode, please be sure to confirm the destination before departure

The structures and characteristics of the Samurai residences that are built 400 years ago are retained and have a historical feel. You can visit many of these houses, and till this day some of them are still being used as residences. They make an amazing sight, especially during spring time when about 400 weeping cherry trees are in bloom. Kimono rental shops and rickshaw services are also available, so you can experience how it felt as a person of the time. Besides that, there are other interesting spots such as Kinoshitaya Yoshinari, where you can taste local Sake, the retro-looking Hirafuku Memorial Museum of Art, and the cherry blossom trees along the Hinokinai River.

See the information

This is Akita’s terminal station, where the Akita Shinkansen arrives and departs, as well as the local lines Ou Line, Uetsu Line, and Oga Line. Local meals and souvenirs are available at the station building ALS & Topico, a convenient place to gather information about Akita and for travelers as well as locals to rest. A five-minute walk takes you to Senshu Park, where you can see about 700 cherry trees. The park is lit up at night during the cherry blossom season, so you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at night too.