Four nights in Akita: add the port or take your time in Kakunodate?
For port views too, stay two nights in Akita and visit the park and Selion on separate days before moving to Kakunodate. The four-night Kakunodate itinerary puts samurai houses, craft exhibitions and the lake on different days. Neither itinerary travels far for sightseeing on the final day; the Kakunodate stay ends without an additional visit.
Choose a 5 days / 4 nights itinerary
Four nights: port and lake on separate days
For port views, samurai houses and lake scenery, stay two nights in Akita followed by two in Kakunodate. Visit the park and Selion on separate days before changing hotels, so that you do not need to connect straight to a long-distance train after returning from the port.
Four nights: port and lake on separate days →5 days / 4 nightsFour nights: houses, crafts and lake from Kakunodate
Stay four nights in Kakunodate and visit the two houses, craft museum and lake on separate days. Unlike the three-night route with crafts on departure day, this itinerary has no new sightseeing on the last day.
Four nights: houses, crafts and lake from Kakunodate →Four nights: port and lake on separate days
For port views, samurai houses and lake scenery, stay two nights in Akita followed by two in Kakunodate. Visit the park and Selion on separate days before changing hotels, so that you do not need to connect straight to a long-distance train after returning from the port.
Day 1: Senshu Park
Spend two nights in Akita and two in Kakunodate. Begin with a park walk on arrival day, keeping the port and lake on separate days.
- 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: Selion observation deck
Visit Selion while staying at the same Akita accommodation. Return to the city for dinner and rest without an immediate connection to a long-distance train.
- Akita Station West Exit, stand 4 → Selion bus stop
Board a Selion-bound bus at stand 4 of Akita Station’s West Exit bus terminal and get off at Selion. The adult fare is ¥550 one way. Choose your return bus to Akita Station before deciding how long to stay at the port.
- Arrive at Selion → Observation deck and time for lunch
Enter the front of the port tower and enjoy the port and sea from the free fifth-floor observation deck. It opens 09:00–21:00. For lunch at the port, check the restaurant’s hours and allow enough time before your return bus.
Observation deck hoursTourism federation: Selion buildings and entrances
- Selion → Akita Station and accommodation
Take a bus from the Selion stop to Akita Station’s West Exit. Have dinner near the station and rest at the same accommodation. With another night in Akita, you do not need to connect immediately to a train for another city.
Choose your return bus first. If there is no time to eat at the port, have lunch back at Akita Station.
Day 3: travel to Kakunodate and visit Aoyagi
After your stay in Akita, move to Kakunodate and visit Aoyagi. Leave Kawarada for the final day.
- 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 4: Lake Tazawa loop
Visit Lake Tazawa today. Choose a loop bus with sightseeing stops together with your return train to Kakunodate. 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 5: 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: Akita Station West Exit–Selion bus at ¥550 each way, or ¥1,100 return; individual admission to Aoyagi and Kawarada at ¥500 each; and one Lake Tazawa loop bus journey from Tazawako Station at ¥1,160. Selion’s fifth-floor observation deck is free. At the lake, 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, four 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. The JR fare for the alternative walk from Tsuchizaki Station is also excluded.
For one adult. Read the included items alongside the additional costs.
Tourist association facility informationOfficial Kawarada informationFare tableOperator’s loop timetableFares and times by bus stopFacility directionsObservation deck hours
Four nights: houses, crafts and lake from Kakunodate
Stay four nights in Kakunodate and visit the two houses, craft museum and lake on separate days. Unlike the three-night route with crafts on departure day, this itinerary has no new sightseeing on the last day.
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: craft museum
After the houses, spend a day exploring local craft and culture exhibitions at the craft museum. Demonstrations depend on the day’s programme, so plan around the exhibitions.
- 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 to your accommodation near the station.
Check whether a demonstration is running that day if you want to see one. The museum closes from 28 December to 4 January.
Day 4: Lake Tazawa loop
On your fourth day in Kakunodate, visit Lake Tazawa and reboard the same loop bus after its sightseeing stops. Spend the final night in Kakunodate too. 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 5: departure from Kakunodate Station
Leave Kakunodate without adding a new attraction on the final day. Have breakfast, check out and go to your booked train.
- Kakunodate Station → Board your booked departure
Use the official JR timetable to choose a train that stops at Kakunodate and check your destination and reserved seat. Go to the platform for your booked train. Onward connections to the airport or Akita Station are separate. No new paid attraction is planned on departure day.
Check your booked train’s departure time and reserved seat. For an airport connection, arrange onward transport separately too.
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, four 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 separately.
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
Can I get off to walk at Lake Tazawa and take the next bus for the ¥1,160 loop fare?
The ¥1,160 loop fare covers returning to the station on the same bus after its sightseeing stops. Do not assume it lets you get off wherever you wish and continue on the next bus for the same fare. For a longer stay, check the next service’s fare and your return train separately.
Fare tableOperator’s loop timetableUgo Kotsu carriage conditions, Articles 16 and 21
Can I use the JR EAST PASS when changing hotels from Akita to Kakunodate?
Yes, the Akita Shinkansen section from Akita to Kakunodate is covered. Reserve a train that stops at Kakunodate and check that your actual transfer day is within the pass’s validity. Accommodation and the Selion and lake buses are extra. Ordinary tickets are also available without a pass; compare all your other JR journeys before choosing.
Official JR pass informationJR EAST PASS passport requirements, conditions and seat reservations
Sources and verification dates
- Akita City park information ·
- Observation deck hours ·
- Facility directions ·
- Operator’s Selion timetable ·
- Fares and times by bus stop ·
- 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 ·
- Tourism federation: Selion buildings and entrances ·
- Ugo Kotsu carriage conditions, Articles 16 and 21 ·