[1 Night, 2 Days in Akita] A Photogenic Journey Through Spectacular Scenery and Traditional Culture

The first stop is Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Center and Former Kaneko Family Residence, located Approx. a 15-minute walk from JR Akita Station.

The Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Center was opened to preserve and pass down Akita’s folk events and traditional performing arts, including the Akita Kanto Festival, one of the three major festivals of Tohoku and a signature summer tradition in Akita. An actual kanto pole is also on display, and its powerful presence is truly impressive.
You will also visit the adjacent Former Kaneko Family Residence. This was once the combined shop and home of a wealthy merchant, and the interior is open for viewing. It still retains many of the characteristics of a late Edo-period townhouse, and highlights include a storehouse built at the end of the Edo period.

Approx. a 5-minute walk from Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Center and Former Kaneko Family Residence, the next stop is the Akita City Red Brick Local Museum, housed in the former head office of Akita Bank completed in 1912.

The banking hall, which forms the center of the interior with its stunning open atrium space, was once used for customer service during its days as a bank. The photogenic space feels like stepping onto the set of an old movie. In addition to seeing what it looked like in its banking days, you can also enjoy Akita-related special exhibitions in the newer wing.

Once you start feeling hungry, it’s time for the lunch you’ve been waiting for! Head to Akita Public Market, located Approx. a 15-minute walk from the Akita City Red Brick Local Museum. This food spot gathers fresh ingredients from across Akita and includes shops used even by professional chefs.

Inside the market, you’ll find restaurants serving conveyor-belt sushi, ramen, and more, so there are plenty of lunch options. This time, try nokkedon, a custom seafood rice bowl made by buying rice and then choosing seafood from the fresh fish shops inside the market.

After enjoying Akita’s seasonal delicacies, walk Approx. 10 minutes back to Akita Station.
Pick up a rental car at a shop near the station and start your drive to the Oga Peninsula!

On the way to the Oga Peninsula, stop at Roadside Station Akita Port Port Tower Selion, the symbolic tower of Akita Port.

This fully glass-covered tower stands 143 meters tall and is perfect for a break during your drive. On the first floor, you’ll find the Selion Garden local products shop, and at 96 meters above ground is the Selion Cafe observation café. From the free observation deck at 100 meters above ground, you can enjoy sweeping views of the Oga Peninsula, where you’re headed next, as well as the Sea of Japan and Akita City. The scenery is breathtaking!

After leaving Roadside Station Akita Port Port Tower Selion, head to the Oga Peninsula, a nature-rich peninsula in northwestern Akita Prefecture. It is a scenic peninsula known for the Oga no Namahage ritual, which is also registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Oga Peninsula is surrounded by the sea on three sides and is also known for its continuous scenic beauty from mountains to sea. With not only beautiful landscapes but also many sightseeing spots, this trip includes an overnight stay in Oga Onsenkyo so you can enjoy a relaxed drive around the Oga Peninsula.

After driving for Approx. 40 minutes from Roadside Station Akita Port Port Tower Selion, you’ll arrive at Unosaki Coast, a spectacular scenic spot in the southern part of the Oga Peninsula!

This Approx. 1.5-kilometer coastline has become well known for its beautiful scenery and is even praised as “Akita’s Uyuni Salt Flats.” You can enjoy stunning views of the blue sky and sunset reflected on the shallow water surface. At low tide, you can even walk up to Approx. 200 meters offshore, so if the timing is right, it’s well worth taking a stroll.

After taking in the spectacular scenery, it’s time to head to tonight’s accommodation. Make your way to Oga Onsenkyo, Approx. a 30-minute drive away.

Located on the northern side of the Oga Peninsula, Oga Onsenkyo is a hot spring area known for its waters that are said to beautify the skin. Relax in the hot springs at your inn and soothe the fatigue of your trip. Also, at Oga Onsen Koryukan Gofu, a facility within the hot spring area, you can watch the popular Namahage Taiko performance, which combines Namahage and Japanese taiko drumming. Be sure to check it out.

The first stop on Day 2 is Unshoji Temple, a Soto Zen temple located Approx. a 10-minute drive from your accommodation.

This historic temple is said to have been founded in 1624, and in recent years it has become well known as a hydrangea spot. After 15 years of work, more than 2,000 hydrangea bushes now color the temple grounds, creating a truly breathtaking sight. The season usually runs from early June to mid-July, when you can enjoy beautiful views of the area covered in blue blooms. Planning your trip for this time of year is highly recommended!

Approx. a 7-minute drive from Unshoji Temple, the next stop is Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum and Namahage Museum. Here, you can experience the Namahage ritual, which is also registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage!

At Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum, you can witness the full flow of the Namahage ritual performed on New Year’s Eve right before your eyes. After the experience, head next door to the Namahage Museum to see displays of masks and costumes from different parts of the Oga Peninsula. It’s a great way to deepen your understanding of Namahage.

By now it’s about lunchtime. Drive Approx. 14 minutes to a restaurant at Nyudosaki, the scenic northwestern tip of the Oga Peninsula!

Nyudosaki Namahage Goten (New Hatakane) is a striking restaurant with a bright-red exterior designed like a Namahage face. Known as the birthplace of kaisendon, it’s the perfect place to try a seafood rice bowl piled high with fresh seafood caught in Oga. There are many variations, including the signature Beyond Time and Space Kaisendon, so choosing just one won’t be easy!
After your meal, you can also browse for souvenirs at the gift corner on the first floor.

After filling up on kaisendon, take a post-lunch walk around Nyudosaki.

Nyudosaki is a scenic spot where gentle grassy fields lead to 30-meter-high cliffs and magnificent views of the Sea of Japan. The symbolic Nyudosaki Lighthouse, known for its black-and-white striped pattern, is one of the few lighthouses in Japan that you can climb. The panoramic view of the Oga Peninsula and the Sea of Japan from this Approx. 28-meter-high lighthouse is truly unforgettable!

After leaving the spectacular scenery of Nyudosaki behind, drive Approx. 30 minutes to the final stop of this trip, Kanpuzan Revolving Observatory.

Located at the summit of Mt. Kanpuzan, which rises 355 meters at the base of the Oga Peninsula, Kanpuzan Revolving Observatory has a circular rotating observation deck on the fourth floor that completes one full rotation in Approx. 13 minutes! You can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view with nothing blocking the scenery. There is also a restaurant, souvenir shop, and observation halls on other floors, so be sure to stop by those as well.