Three nights in Akita: change hotels or keep one base?
For a city walk too, stay one night in Akita, then move to Kakunodate for a day each at the houses and lake. For one base, stay three nights in Kakunodate and divide visits to the houses, lake and craft exhibitions. If the craft museum falls on departure day, skip it when your train leaves too early.
Choose a 4 days / 3 nights itinerary
Three nights: a day each for the city, houses and lake
For a castle park walk, samurai houses and lake scenery, stay one night in Akita followed by two in Kakunodate. Visit the houses and Lake Tazawa on separate days. The stated cost covers house admission and the lake bus only; JR travel between the cities and to and from the lake costs extra.
Three nights: a day each for the city, houses and lake →4 days / 3 nightsThree nights: stay in Kakunodate for houses, lake and crafts
Stay three nights in Kakunodate to see the houses, lake and craft exhibitions without changing hotels. Visit the craft museum on the last day before returning to the station. If you leave in the morning, skip that visit and go directly from your accommodation to the station.
Three nights: stay in Kakunodate for houses, lake and crafts →Three nights: a day each for the city, houses and lake
For a castle park walk, samurai houses and lake scenery, stay one night in Akita followed by two in Kakunodate. Visit the houses and Lake Tazawa on separate days. The stated cost covers house admission and the lake bus only; JR travel between the cities and to and from the lake costs extra.
Day 1: Senshu Park
Spend one night in Akita before moving to Kakunodate. Walk through Senshu Park on arrival day and have dinner somewhere convenient for returning to your Akita accommodation.
- Akita Station and accommodation → Walk to Senshu Park
Walk from Akita Station towards Senshu Park. Allow about five minutes to Pocket Park or 15 minutes to the Ninomaru site, then decide whether to stay by the moat or continue uphill.
- Senshu Park → Moat and Ninomaru walk
Walk beside the moat in the afternoon and visit the Ninomaru site if the slopes suit you. The interior of Osumi Yagura needs a separate opening check and is excluded from the basic cost. Afterwards, return towards the station for dinner and rest at your booked accommodation.
If you arrive late, take a short walk beside the moat before dinner.
Day 2: travel to Kakunodate and visit Aoyagi
Move from Akita to Kakunodate today to visit Aoyagi and the samurai district.
- Akita Station → Board a Morioka-bound Akita Shinkansen
Take a Morioka-bound Akita Shinkansen from Akita Station to Kakunodate, reserving a train that stops there. The section is covered by the JR EAST PASS, and ordinary tickets are also available. Check that the journey falls within the pass’s consecutive validity period. Budget separately for the lake bus, Selion bus and accommodation.
Official JR timetableOfficial JR pass informationJR EAST PASS passport requirements, conditions and seat reservations
- Your train at Kakunodate Station → Get off and leave the ticket gates
Get off at Kakunodate Station and go through the ticket gates.
- Outside Kakunodate Station’s ticket gates → Aoyagi Samurai House entrance
Walk from Kakunodate Station towards the samurai district and find Aoyagi’s sign and entrance at 角館町表町下丁3. Use the official walking route to plan your path. Station walking estimates differ: about 15 minutes from the tourist association and 20 minutes from the city. Finding your way, breaks and sightseeing take additional time.
Official walking routeTourist association facility informationCity information
- Aoyagi Samurai House entrance → House exhibitions and collections
Explore Aoyagi’s exhibitions and garden, allowing about 90 minutes. It closes at 17:00 from April to November, with potentially shorter winter hours. Leave Kawarada for the final day.
- After visiting Aoyagi → Samurai district walk and meal
After leaving the house, walk through the samurai district, take a break and have a meal at a place that is open. Meals are separate from house admission.
- After your walk and meal → Go to your chosen accommodation in Kakunodate
Return to your Kakunodate accommodation after the walk and meal. If you want to stay close to the station for tomorrow, compare Hotel B4T beside it.
You change hotels today. If you reach Kakunodate late, shorten the house visit and give priority to check-in and dinner.
Day 3: Lake Tazawa loop
Take a bus around Lake Tazawa, with short walks at the Statue of Tatsuko and Gozanoishi Shrine. Reboard the same bus after the stops, return to the station and travel back to your Kakunodate accommodation. Large suitcases cannot go on the lake bus; leave them at the accommodation you are returning to that night.
- Kakunodate Station → Tazawako Station and bus stop outside
Take a Morioka-bound Akita Shinkansen from Kakunodate to Tazawako. Outside the station, change to a Lake Tazawa loop bus with sightseeing stops. Choose your outward and return trains around the bus’s arrival back at the station.
- Lakeside sightseeing stops → Reboard the same bus
At Katajiri, see the Statue of Tatsuko and the lake; at the Gozanoishi Shrine stop, visit the shrine. The stops last 20 and 10 minutes respectively. Include the walk to each place and back within that time, then reboard the same loop bus.
Operator’s loop timetableOfficial Statue of Tatsuko access informationOfficial city access information
- Tazawako Station → Return to Kakunodate Station and accommodation
Back at Tazawako Station, take an Akita-bound Shinkansen to Kakunodate. The operator warns that not every loop bus connects with the Shinkansen, so reserve a train with enough time after the bus arrives. Have lunch after returning to the station, rather than during the short sightseeing stops. Rest at your accommodation and have dinner; hot springs and a sightseeing cruise are not added to this day.
Official JR timetableOperator’s loop timetableService status
If you let the bus leave and stay longer, recheck the next service’s fare and your return train.
Day 4: Kawarada and departure from Kakunodate Station
Visit Kawarada on the final morning, then leave Kakunodate. A morning departure leaves little room for sightseeing, so rearrange earlier visits if necessary.
- Your booked accommodation in Kakunodate → Kawarada Samurai House entrance
Walk from your accommodation’s booked address to Kawarada at 角館町東勝楽丁9. The city’s 15-minute walking estimate starts at Kakunodate Station, not your hotel.
- Kawarada → Visit the house and garden
Kawarada opens 09:00–17:00 from April to November, with last admission at 16:30 and individual adult admission of ¥500. Allow about an hour for the house and garden in the morning. It closes from 28 December to 4 January; check that it is open on your date first.
- Kakunodate Station → Your booked departure
After your visit, walk to Kakunodate Station. Use your travel date’s JR timetable to choose a train that stops at your destination and reserve a seat. Check onward connections to Akita Station or the airport separately.
Check Kawarada’s year-end and New Year closure dates, and leave time to walk back to the station after visiting.
Included: For one adult: individual admission to Aoyagi and Kawarada at ¥500 each, plus one Lake Tazawa loop bus journey from Tazawako Station at ¥1,160. Return on the same bus after its sightseeing stops.
Additional costs: JR travel from Akita to Kakunodate and return between Kakunodate and Tazawako, transport before and after the itinerary, three nights’ accommodation, meals, luggage storage, sightseeing cruises and additional facilities are excluded. If you stay longer beside the lake and take a later bus, check ticket conditions and any extra fare separately.
For one adult. Read the included items alongside the additional costs.
Tourist association facility informationOfficial Kawarada informationFare tableOperator’s loop timetable
Three nights: stay in Kakunodate for houses, lake and crafts
Stay three nights in Kakunodate to see the houses, lake and craft exhibitions without changing hotels. Visit the craft museum on the last day before returning to the station. If you leave in the morning, skip that visit and go directly from your accommodation to the station.
Day 1: Aoyagi Samurai House
On the first day, explore Aoyagi’s garden and sword and weapon displays. Choose an arrival with enough time for an afternoon visit. Train fares vary by travel date and booking product.
- Kakunodate Station → Aoyagi Samurai House entrance
Walk to Aoyagi at 角館町表町下丁3. The tourist association lists about 15 minutes from the station and the city about 20 minutes. Check your walking route and allow extra time.
- Aoyagi Samurai House → Visit and return to your hotel
Visit Aoyagi after an afternoon arrival only if you can finish before closing. April–November hours are 09:00–17:00, with individual adult admission of ¥500. Afterwards, return towards the station and check in at the time stated in your accommodation booking. If you arrive late, leave the house visit until tomorrow.
Tourist association facility informationCurrent facility information
If you arrive late, shorten the visit or move it to tomorrow. Winter closing times may be earlier; check the facility’s information.
Day 2: Kawarada Samurai House
See Kawarada’s house and garden, then have a meal and take a break in town. If you missed Aoyagi yesterday, check whether both visits can fit within the houses’ opening hours.
- Accommodation beside Kakunodate Station → Walk to Kawarada
Walk from your booked accommodation’s address to Kawarada at 角館町東勝楽丁9 in the samurai district. The city’s 15-minute walk is from the station and should not be used as the walking time from your hotel.
- Kawarada Samurai House → Visit and return to the same accommodation
Kawarada opens 09:00–17:00 from April to November, with last admission at 16:30 and individual adult admission of ¥500. Visit the house and garden in the morning, have lunch and return to the same accommodation. It closes from 28 December to 4 January. If you missed Aoyagi yesterday, visit it in the afternoon. Admission to each house once totals ¥1,000.
Official Kawarada informationTourist association facility information
Kawarada’s last admission is 16:30 from April to November. Check winter hours and year-end and New Year closures too.
Day 3: Lake Tazawa loop
Visit Lake Tazawa during your stay in Kakunodate. On a public holiday, do not choose a weekday-only service. Large suitcases cannot go on the lake bus; leave them at the accommodation you are returning to that night.
- Kakunodate Station → Tazawako Station and bus stop outside
Take a Morioka-bound Akita Shinkansen from Kakunodate to Tazawako. Outside the station, change to a Lake Tazawa loop bus with sightseeing stops. Choose your outward and return trains around the bus’s arrival back at the station.
- Lakeside sightseeing stops → Reboard the same bus
At Katajiri, see the Statue of Tatsuko and the lake; at the Gozanoishi Shrine stop, visit the shrine. The stops last 20 and 10 minutes respectively. Include the walk to each place and back within that time, then reboard the same loop bus.
Operator’s loop timetableOfficial Statue of Tatsuko access informationOfficial city access information
- Tazawako Station → Return to Kakunodate Station and accommodation
Back at Tazawako Station, take an Akita-bound Shinkansen to Kakunodate. The operator warns that not every loop bus connects with the Shinkansen, so reserve a train with enough time after the bus arrives. Have lunch after returning to the station, rather than during the short sightseeing stops. Rest at your accommodation and have dinner; hot springs and a sightseeing cruise are not added to this day.
Official JR timetableOperator’s loop timetableService status
If you let the bus leave and stay longer, recheck the next service’s fare and your return train.
Day 4: craft museum and departure from Kakunodate Station
To visit the craft museum on departure day, you need time after its 09:00 opening to see it and return to the station via your accommodation. Skip it if your departure is early.
- Around Kakunodate Station → Walk to the craft museum
Go to the Kakunodate Kabazaiku Densyokan at 角館町表町下丁10番地1. Semboku City lists a walk of about 15 minutes from JR Kakunodate Station. Explore craftwork made with wild cherry bark and displays on local culture.
Semboku City: craft museum prices, hours and walkTourist association: craft museum English name
- Craft museum → Exhibitions and return walk
April–November hours are 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30 and individual adult admission of ¥500. It closes from 28 December to 4 January. Allow about 90 minutes for the exhibitions. Check whether a demonstration is running on your date if you want to see one. Afterwards, retrace your route via your accommodation to Kakunodate Station.
- Kakunodate Station → Your booked departure
Use the official JR timetable to choose a train that stops at Kakunodate and check your destination and reserved seat. At the station, go to the platform for your booked train. Onward connections to the airport or Akita Station are separate.
Leave time to return to the station after sightseeing on departure day. Shorten or skip the visit if your departure is early.
Included: For one adult: individual admission to Aoyagi, Kawarada and the craft museum at ¥500 each, plus one Lake Tazawa loop bus journey from Tazawako Station at ¥1,160. Visit each facility once and return on the same bus after its sightseeing stops.
Additional costs: Return JR travel between Kakunodate and Tazawako, transport before and after the itinerary, three nights’ accommodation, meals, luggage storage, sightseeing cruises and additional facilities are excluded. For a longer lakeside stay and a later bus, check ticket conditions and any extra fare. If you skip the craft museum on check-out day, subtract its ¥500 admission too.
For one adult. Read the included items alongside the additional costs.
Tourist association facility informationOfficial Kawarada informationFare tableOperator’s loop timetableSemboku City: craft museum prices, hours and walk
Frequently asked questions
Does the cost change if I miss the craft museum on departure day?
The three-night Kakunodate itinerary’s ¥2,660 covers two houses at ¥500 each, the craft museum at ¥500 and the lake loop bus at ¥1,160. Skip the museum and the admission and transport subtotal becomes ¥2,160; JR travel, accommodation and meals still cost extra. For a morning departure, skip the museum and return to the station via your accommodation.
Semboku City: craft museum prices, hours and walkTourist association facility informationOfficial Kawarada informationFare table
Can I use the JR EAST PASS from Kakunodate to Lake Tazawa?
Yes, it covers the Akita Shinkansen between Kakunodate and Tazawako. Reserve return seats for your lake day and check that it falls within the pass’s consecutive validity period. Ugo Kotsu buses from the station to the lake, admission, meals and accommodation are extra. Ordinary tickets are also available. Compare costs for your other JR journeys before choosing a pass.
Official JR pass informationJR EAST PASS passport requirements, conditions and seat reservations
Sources and verification dates
- Akita City park information ·
- Tourist association facility information ·
- City information ·
- Official Statue of Tatsuko access information ·
- Fare table ·
- Current facility information ·
- Official city access information ·
- Operator’s loop timetable ·
- Service status ·
- Official JR timetable ·
- Official walking route ·
- Official Kawarada information ·
- Official JR pass information ·
- Semboku City: craft museum prices, hours and walk ·
- Tourist association: craft museum English name ·
- JR EAST PASS passport requirements, conditions and seat reservations ·
- Ugo Kotsu carriage conditions, Articles 16 and 21 ·