Which Akita sights would you like to see?
In Akita city, walk through Senshu Park’s castle site and enjoy Selion’s harbour views. Kakunodate has samurai homes, gardens and craft displays. For the Tatsuko statue, choose trains to and from Tazawako and the lake loop bus’s return service together.
Attraction admission, hours and directions
Senshu Park
千秋公園
Walk around the moat and along castle-site park paths in Senshu Park. Start with a walk on your Akita arrival day. The level moat-side route and hilltop park have different walking demands.
- AdmissionDistinguish park walks from paid indoor visits. The city ordinance lists Kubota Castle Osumiyagura admission as JPY 150 for adults and free for senior high-school age and younger. Check its operating season and opening on your date before planning an interior visit.
- HoursThe city lists the park as open all day. Check paid indoor facilities’ operating seasons and opening on your date separately. Visit the park in daylight.
- DirectionsWalk about five minutes from Akita Station to Pocket Park or 15 minutes to the Ninomaru site. Walking time differs by destination even within the same park.
Akita Port Selion
SELIONセリオン
Selion’s free observation deck on Level 5 offers views over Akita Port, the sea and Akita city. For sunset, check the weather and your return bus first.
- AdmissionThe observation deck on Level 5 is free. Meals, shops, transport and other facilities cost extra.
- HoursThe observation deck on Level 5 opens from 09:00 to 21:00. Shops, restaurants and the indoor garden have separate hours.
- DirectionsTake the Selion Line from stop 4 at Akita Station’s west-side bus terminal to Selion. The ride takes about 25 minutes and costs JPY 550 per adult each way; waiting and the entrance walk are extra. Enter Port Tower’s front entrance for the observation deck. Rista and Plaza are separate buildings. Alternatively, walk about 2 km in about 25 minutes from JR Tsuchizaki; JR fares are extra.
Observation-deck operationFacility directionsOperator’s Selion Line timetableStop-specific fares and timetable searchTourism federation: Selion buildings and entrances
Kakunodate Aoyagi House
Kakunodate Historical Village, Aoyagi House角館歴史村 青柳家
Add Aoyagi House’s gardens and exhibits of swords and other weapons to a samurai-district walk. Individual adult admission is JPY 500. Guided tours of the normally closed main house and paid activities are separate from ordinary visits; check their conditions.
- AdmissionIndividual admission costs JPY 500 for adults, JPY 300 for junior and senior high-school students and JPY 200 for primary students.
- HoursAoyagi House opens from 09:00 to 17:00 in April–November; the tourism association and city list daily opening. December–March closing times differ: 16:30 from the association and 16:00 from the city. For winter visits, confirm that day’s closing time with Aoyagi House before planning your visit.
- DirectionsThe tourism association lists about 15 minutes’ walk from Kakunodate Station; the city lists 20. Check your actual walking route because the estimates differ. Follow samurai-district signs from the station to 角館町表町下丁3.
Tourism association facility guideCity government
Kawarada House
Kawarada Residence河原田家
Explore Kawarada’s house and garden. Visit it alongside Aoyagi to compare the layouts of two different homes.
- AdmissionIndividual admission costs JPY 500 for adults and senior high-school students, and JPY 300 for primary and junior high-school students.
- HoursOpening hours are 09:00–17:00 in April–November, with last admission at 16:30, and 09:00–16:30 in December–March, with last admission at 16:00. The facility is closed from 28 December to 4 January.
- DirectionsWalk about 15 minutes from Kakunodate Station to Kawarada House at 角館町東勝楽丁9. If continuing from Aoyagi House, check the route and walking time between the houses separately.
City governmentOfficial Kawarada information
Ishiguro House
Ishiguro Family Residence石黒家
Ishiguro House’s last ordinary visiting day is 30 November 2026. Ordinary visits stop from 1 December; no reopening date has been confirmed in the official guidance.
- AdmissionIndividual admission costs JPY 500 for adults and JPY 300 for children. Confirm the child age range and discount conditions with the facility.
- Opening hoursBefore visits stop, April–November guidance lists 09:00–17:00. Confirm changes for your date with the facility. The last ordinary visiting day is 30 November 2026; ordinary visits stop from 1 December. No reopening date has been confirmed in the official guidance.
- DirectionsThe address is 角館町表町下丁1 in the samurai district. The tourism association lists about 25 minutes’ walk from Kakunodate Station. Check the walk from your accommodation’s booked address separately.
Tourism association: Ishiguro House admission, hours and accessTourism association notice dated 2026-10-06Owner/operator information
Lake Tazawa Tatsuko Statue
The Statue of Tatsuko田沢湖 / たつこ像
The Tatsuko statue is on Lake Tazawa’s Katajiri side. See the statue and lake views, then reboard the same loop bus. This is a different stop from the eastern lakeside sightseeing-cruise pier.
- Transport costsUgo Kotsu adult fares are JPY 710 from Tazawako Station to Katajiri and JPY 1,160 for the lake loop. JR, cruises and meals are extra. The loop plan returns on the same bus after sightseeing stops. To change to another bus, check ticket conditions and extra fares separately.
- Bus and sightseeing stopsSome Lake Tazawa loop services stop for 20 minutes at Katajiri and ten at Gozanoishi Shrine. Reboard the same bus after each stop to return to Tazawako Station. Some early-morning and evening services have no sightseeing breaks; others do not run on weekends, public holidays or designated holiday periods. Check both sightseeing-stop and non-operating markings in the operator’s timetable for your date.
- DirectionsTake a Lake Tazawa loop bus outside Tazawako Station and alight during the Katajiri · 潟尻 sightseeing stop for the Tatsuko statue. Official facility guidance gives about 30 minutes on the bus and a one-minute walk from the stop. The eastern lakeside cruise pier is at a different stop.
- Walking scopeUse the daytime sightseeing stop on the lake loop bus to see the statue. Cruises, restaurants, parking and night-time visits are excluded. Follow on-site guidance for snow, road or path restrictions.
Fare tableOperator’s loop-bus timetableOfficial Tatsuko statue access guide
Kakunodate Kabazaiku Denshokan
Kakunodate Kabazaiku Densyokan角館樺細工伝承館
Explore craft displays at Kabazaiku Denshokan and, on demonstration days, watch artisans at work. Individual adult admission is JPY 500. Check whether demonstrations are running on your date before planning around them.
- AdmissionIndividual admission costs JPY 500 for adults and JPY 300 for primary and junior high-school students. Children under six enter free.
- HoursOpening hours are 09:00–17:00 in April–November, with last admission at 16:30, and 09:00–16:30 in December–March, with last admission at 16:00. The facility is closed from 28 December to 4 January.
- DirectionsWalk about 15 minutes from JR Kakunodate Station to Kabazaiku Denshokan at 角館町表町下丁10番地1. Allow separately for a walk from your accommodation.
Semboku City craft museum admission, hours and walking access
Frequently asked questions
Until when can I visit Ishiguro House?
The tourism association lists 30 November 2026 as the last ordinary visiting day. Ordinary visits stop from 1 December; no subsequent reopening date has been confirmed.
What does Selion observation-deck admission cost?
The observation deck on Level 5 is free and listed as open 09:00–21:00. Meals, shops, transport and other facilities cost extra.
Sources and dates checked
- Akita City park guide ·
- Paid-facility ordinance ·
- Observation-deck operation ·
- Facility directions ·
- Operator’s Selion Line timetable ·
- Stop-specific fares and timetable search ·
- Tourism association facility guide ·
- City government ·
- Tourism association notice dated 2026-10-06 ·
- Owner/operator information ·
- Official Tatsuko statue access guide ·
- Fare table ·
- Operator’s loop-bus timetable ·
- Official Kawarada information ·
- Semboku City craft museum admission, hours and walking access ·
- Tourism association: Ishiguro House admission, hours and access ·
- Tourism federation: Selion buildings and entrances ·