Which Akita sights should you choose?
In Akita city, walk through Senshu Park's castle site and enjoy port views at Selion. Kakunodate has samurai houses, gardens, and craft exhibits. To visit the Tatsuko statue, plan trains to and from Tazawako Station together with the lake-loop bus's return service.
Admission, hours, and directions
Senshu Park
千秋公園
Follow the castle-site moat and park paths at Senshu Park. Start with a walk on your arrival day in Akita. The flat moat-side area and uphill park have different walking conditions.
- AdmissionDistinguish a park walk from paid indoor visits. The city ordinance lists Kubota Castle's Osumiyagura admission at ¥150 for general admission, with high school students and younger free. Before planning an interior visit, check its operating season and whether it opens on your date.
- HoursThe city lists the park grounds as open all day. Paid indoor facilities have separate operating seasons and daily schedules. Walk in the park during daylight.
- Getting thereFrom Akita Station, Pocket Park is about five minutes on foot and the Ninomaru site about 15 minutes. Walking time varies by destination within the same park.
SELION
セリオン
Selion's free fifth-floor observation room overlooks Akita Port, the sea, and the city. If you want to see the sunset, check the weather and return bus first.
- AdmissionThe fifth-floor observation room is free. Meals, shopping, transportation, and other facilities cost extra.
- HoursThe fifth-floor observation room opens 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Shops, restaurants, and the indoor garden have separate hours.
- Getting thereAt stop 4 in Akita Station's west-side bus terminal, board the Selion route and get off at Selion. The bus takes about 25 minutes and costs ¥550 one way for an adult; walking to the entrance and waiting take extra time. Enter the observation tower through the Port Tower's front entrance. Rista and Plaza are different buildings. An alternative is to walk about two kilometers (1.2 miles), or 25 minutes, from JR Tsuchizaki Station; JR fares are separate.
Observation room informationFacility directionsOperator's Selion route timetableStop-by-stop fare and timetable searchTourism federation's Selion building and entrance guide
Kakunodate Historical Village, Aoyagi House
角館歴史村 青柳家
Aoyagi's garden and sword and weapon exhibits add an indoor visit to your walk through the samurai-house streets. Individual adult admission is ¥500. Guided tours of the normally closed main house and paid activities have separate conditions from regular viewing.
- AdmissionIndividual admission is ¥500 for adults, ¥300 for junior high and high school students, and ¥200 for elementary school students.
- HoursAoyagi opens April–November, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The tourism association and city hall list it as open year-round. December–March closing times differ: 4:30 p.m. from the association and 4:00 p.m. from city hall. For a winter visit, ask Aoyagi about that day's closing time before planning your visit.
- Getting thereThe tourism association lists about 15 minutes on foot from Kakunodate Station, while city hall lists about 20. Since the estimates differ, check your walking route and allow extra time. Follow the samurai-house street signs from the station to 角館町表町下丁3.
Tourism association facility guideCity hall
Kawarada Residence
河原田家
Explore Kawarada's house and garden. Pair it with Aoyagi to compare the layouts of two different houses.
- AdmissionIndividual admission is ¥500 for visitors of high school age and older, or ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students.
- HoursThe residence opens April–November, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last reception at 4:30 p.m. In December–March, it opens 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with last reception at 4:00 p.m. It closes December 28–January 4.
- Getting thereThe residence at 角館町東勝楽丁9 is about a 15-minute walk from Kakunodate Station. If continuing from Aoyagi, check the route and walking time between the two houses separately.
City hallOfficial Kawarada information
Ishiguro Family Residence
石黒家
The last day of regular public visits to Ishiguro is November 30, 2026. Regular viewing stops December 1, and a reopening date has not been confirmed in the official information.
- AdmissionIndividual admission is ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for children. Ask the facility about the age range for child admission and discount conditions.
- HoursBefore the viewing suspension, the listed April–November hours are 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Ask about any changes on your date. November 30, 2026 is the last regular viewing day; regular visits stop December 1. The official information does not confirm a reopening date.
- Getting thereThe address is 角館町表町下丁1 in the samurai-house streets. The tourism association lists about a 25-minute walk from Kakunodate Station. For a walk from your hotel, check the route from your booked address separately.
Tourism association's Ishiguro House admission, hours, and directionsTourism association notice dated October 6, 2026Owner and operator information
The Statue of Tatsuko
田沢湖 / たつこ像
The Tatsuko statue is on Lake Tazawa's Katajiri side. See the lake and statue area, then reboard the same loop bus. This is a different stop from the east-side lakeshore where the sightseeing boats depart.
- Transportation costUgo Kotsu's adult fare is ¥710 from Tazawako Station to Katajiri, or ¥1,160 for the lake loop. JR trains, sightseeing boats, and meals are separate. The loop itinerary returns on the same bus after walking stops; check ticket conditions and additional fares if you switch to another bus.
- Bus services and walking stopsSome Lake Tazawa loop services stop for 20 minutes at Katajiri and 10 minutes at Gozanoishi Shrine. Reboard the same bus afterward to return to Tazawako Station. Some early-morning and evening services have no walking stops; some do not run on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, or designated holiday periods. Check both walking-stop and suspension markings in your date's operator timetable.
- Getting thereBoard the Lake Tazawa loop bus in front of Tazawako Station and get off during the Katajiri (潟尻) walking stop to see the statue. The official facility guide lists about 30 minutes on the bus and a one-minute walk from the stop. The east-side lakeshore boat pier is at a different stop.
- Walking areaVisit the statue area during a daytime walking stop on the lake-loop bus. Sightseeing boats, restaurants, parking, and night visits are excluded. Follow local instructions for snow, road, and path restrictions.
Fare tableOperator's lake-loop timetableOfficial directions to the Tatsuko statue
Kakunodate Kabazaiku Densyokan
角館樺細工伝承館
Explore craft exhibits at Kabazaiku Densyokan; on demonstration days, you can also watch an artisan's work up close. Individual adult admission is ¥500. Check whether a demonstration is running on your date if you want to see one.
- AdmissionIndividual admission is ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students. Children under six enter free.
- HoursThe museum opens April–November, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. In December–March, it opens 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with last admission at 4:00 p.m. It closes December 28–January 4.
- Getting thereThe museum at 角館町表町下丁10番地1 is about a 15-minute walk from JR Kakunodate Station. Calculate the walk from your hotel separately.
Semboku city's craft museum admission, hours, and walking directions
Frequently asked questions
How long can I visit the Ishiguro Samurai House?
The tourism association lists November 30, 2026 as the last day of regular public visits. Regular viewing stops December 1; a reopening date has not been confirmed.
How much does the Selion observation room cost?
The fifth-floor observation room is free and is listed as open 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Meals, shopping, transportation, and other facilities cost extra.
Sources and check dates
- Akita city park guide ·
- Paid-facility ordinance ·
- Observation room information ·
- Facility directions ·
- Operator's Selion route timetable ·
- Stop-by-stop fare and timetable search ·
- Tourism association facility guide ·
- City hall ·
- Tourism association notice dated October 6, 2026 ·
- Owner and operator information ·
- Official directions to the Tatsuko statue ·
- Fare table ·
- Operator's lake-loop timetable ·
- Official Kawarada information ·
- Semboku city's craft museum admission, hours, and walking directions ·
- Tourism association's Ishiguro House admission, hours, and directions ·
- Tourism federation's Selion building and entrance guide ·