Which Akita attractions should you choose?
Akita city offers castle-site walks in Senshu Park and harbour views at Selion. Kakunodate has samurai houses, gardens and craft exhibitions. For the Tatsuko Statue, choose trains to/from Tazawako Station together with the lake circuit bus’s return.
Attraction fees, hours and access
Senshu Park
千秋公園
Walk around Senshu Park’s moat and castle-site paths on your Akita arrival day. The flat moat area and hilltop park have different walking conditions.
- AdmissionDistinguish a park walk from paid indoor visits. The city ordinance lists Kubota Castle Osumiyagura admission at JPY 150 for adults, free for high-school age and younger. To visit inside, first check the operating season and whether it opens on your date.
- HoursThe city lists the park as open all day. Check paid indoor facilities’ operating seasons and opening on the day separately. Plan park walks in daylight.
- Getting thereAbout five minutes’ walk from Akita Station to the pocket park, or 15 to Ninomaru. Walking time differs by destination within the same park.
Akita Port Selion
SELIONセリオン
Selion’s free fifth-floor observation deck offers views over Akita harbour, the sea and city. For sunset, check weather and the return bus first.
- AdmissionThe fifth-floor observation deck is free. Meals, shops, transport and other facilities cost extra.
- HoursThe fifth-floor deck opens from 09:00 to 21:00. Shops, restaurants and the indoor garden have separate hours.
- Getting thereTake the Selion line from Akita Station west-side terminal stop 4 to Selion. The ride takes about 25 minutes and costs JPY 550 one way for adults; allow extra time to walk to the entrance and wait for the bus. Enter the observation tower through Port Tower’s front entrance. Rista and Plaza are separate buildings. Alternatively, walk about 2km from JR Tsuchizaki Station, taking around 25 minutes; JR fares cost extra.
Observation deck operationFacility directionsOperator: Selion line timetableStop-specific fare and timetable searchTourism federation: Selion buildings and entrances
Kakunodate Aoyagi Samurai Manor
Kakunodate Historical Village, Aoyagi House角館歴史村 青柳家
Explore Aoyagi’s garden and exhibitions of swords and weapons while walking through the samurai district. Individual adult admission costs JPY 500. Guided tours of the normally closed main house and paid experiences are separate from ordinary admission; check their conditions.
- AdmissionIndividual admission costs JPY 500 for adults, JPY 300 for junior high and high school pupils and JPY 200 for primary school pupils.
- HoursAoyagi opens from 09:00 to 17:00 in April–November. The tourism association and city hall list year-round opening, but their December–March closing times differ: 16:30 from the association and 16:00 from city hall. For a winter visit, confirm that day’s closing directly with Aoyagi before choosing your visit time.
- Getting thereThe tourism association gives about 15 minutes’ walk from Kakunodate Station; city hall gives about 20. As estimates differ, recheck the actual route. Follow samurai-district signs from the station to 角館町表町下丁3.
Tourism association: facility guidanceCity hall
Kawarada Samurai House
Kawarada Residence河原田家
Explore Kawarada’s house and garden. Visiting Aoyagi too lets you compare the layouts of different houses.
- AdmissionIndividual admission costs JPY 500 for visitors of high school age and above, and JPY 300 for primary and junior high school pupils.
- HoursKawarada opens from 09:00 to 17:00 in April–November, with last admission at 16:30. In December–March, it opens from 09:00 to 16:30, with last admission at 16:00. It closes on 28 December–4 January.
- Getting thereKawarada is at 角館町東勝楽丁9, about 15 minutes’ walk from Kakunodate Station. If continuing from Aoyagi, check the route and walking time between the houses separately.
City hallOfficial Kawarada information
Ishiguro Samurai House
Ishiguro Family Residence石黒家
Ishiguro’s last ordinary visiting day is 30 November 2026. Ordinary visits stop from 1 December; official guidance has not confirmed a reopening date.
- AdmissionIndividual admission is JPY 500 for adults and JPY 300 for children. Ask the facility about the child-rate age range and discount conditions.
- Opening hoursBefore the suspension, listed April–November hours are 09:00–17:00. Check changes on the day with the facility. The last ordinary visiting day is 30 November 2026; ordinary visits stop from 1 December. Official guidance has not confirmed a reopening date.
- Getting thereThe address is 角館町表町下丁1 in the samurai district. The tourism association gives about 25 minutes’ walk from Kakunodate Station. For a hotel start, check walking time from your booked address separately.
Tourism association: Ishiguro fees, hours and accessTourism association: 6 October 2026 noticeOwner/operator guidance
Lake Tazawa Tatsuko Statue
The Statue of Tatsuko田沢湖 / たつこ像
The Tatsuko Statue stands on Lake Tazawa’s Katajiri side. Explore the statue and lake views, then reboard the same circuit bus. This is a different stop from the east-side lakeshore with the cruise pier.
- Transport costsUgo Kotsu adult fares are JPY 710 from Tazawako Station to Katajiri and JPY 1,160 for the lake circuit. JR, cruises and meals are extra. The circuit assumes returning on the same bus after its walking stops. For a different bus, check ticket conditions and additional fares separately.
- Buses and walking stopsSome Lake Tazawa circuit services stop for walks of 20 minutes at Katajiri and ten minutes at Gozanoishi Shrine. Reboard the same bus afterwards to return to Tazawako Station. Some early-morning/evening services have no walking stops; some do not run on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays or designated holiday periods. Check both walking stops and non-operating markings in your date’s timetable.
- Getting thereBoard a Lake Tazawa circuit bus in front of Tazawako Station and alight during the Katajiri (潟尻) walking stop to see the Tatsuko Statue. Official facility guidance gives about 30 minutes aboard and one minute walking from the stop. The eastern lakeshore cruise pier is at a different stop.
- Scope of the walkSee the statue during the lake circuit bus’s daytime walking stop. Cruises, restaurants, parking and night visits are excluded. Follow local guidance for snow, road and path restrictions.
Fare tableOperator: circuit-bus timetableOfficial Tatsuko Statue access
Kakunodate Kabazaiku Denshokan
Kakunodate Kabazaiku Densyokan角館樺細工伝承館
Explore craft exhibitions at Kabazaiku Denshokan and, on demonstration days, watch an artisan’s work up close. Individual adult admission is JPY 500. If hoping to see a demonstration, check whether one is running on your visit date first.
- AdmissionIndividual admission costs JPY 500 for adults and JPY 300 for primary and junior high school pupils. Children under six enter free.
- HoursThe museum opens from 09:00 to 17:00 in April–November, with last entry at 16:30. In December–March, it opens from 09:00 to 16:30, with last entry at 16:00. It closes on 28 December–4 January.
- Getting thereThe museum is at 角館町表町下丁10番地1, about 15 minutes’ walk from JR Kakunodate Station. Allow separate walking time from your hotel.
Frequently asked questions
Until when can I visit Ishiguro Samurai House?
The tourism association lists 30 November 2026 as the last ordinary visiting day. Ordinary visits stop from 1 December; a reopening date has not been confirmed.
How much is Selion observation deck admission?
The fifth-floor deck 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 guidance ·
- Paid-facility ordinance ·
- Observation deck operation ·
- Facility directions ·
- Operator: Selion line timetable ·
- Stop-specific fare and timetable search ·
- Tourism association: facility guidance ·
- City hall ·
- Tourism association: 6 October 2026 notice ·
- Owner/operator guidance ·
- Official Tatsuko Statue access ·
- Fare table ·
- Operator: circuit-bus timetable ·
- Official Kawarada information ·
- Semboku city: craft museum fees, hours and walking access ·
- Tourism association: Ishiguro fees, hours and access ·
- Tourism federation: Selion buildings and entrances ·