Ohayo everyone!! You know Japan is one of the most popular places for traveling. If you are the master of traveling around Japan, you must have visited Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, and Hokkaido. Should we know a deeper and more relaxing place? How about Akita? Today, I’ll tell you about Akita prefecture.
Where is Akita?
It is in the North Eastern area of Japan, facing the Sea of Japan coast and one of the most rural places in Japan. It takes about an hour by airplane from Haneda Airport to Akita Airport, about 4 hours by shinkansen from Tokyo station to Akita station. You might feel it is too far from international airports you can easily transfer using airplanes.
Akita is a snowy place and many events are held in winter such as the Kamakura(snow hut) festival and the Inukko(Dogs) festival, and people can enjoy winter sports. If you like snow, you can enjoy the events and landscapes in Akita. There is lots of nature and hot-springs. It would absolutely heal you.
On the other hand, it is not as hot in summer as Tokyo and Osaka because the humidity is less than the southern places in summer (I think it’s too hot and humid to walk around in summer in Tokyo…). Night is especially more comfortable. When I was a child, the window was open during night and I almost caught a cold…Like this, the temperature between day and night is large, so we can enjoy time without air-conditioners and this climate is perfect to produce rice.
In particular, Akita-Komachi is one of the most popular kinds of rice in Japan (I had never eaten the other rice but Akita-Komachi till I left Akita. ) and the new kind produced called Sakihokore(サキホコレ). It brought about many Sake brands such as Aramasa(新政) and Yuki-no-Bousha(雪の茅舎). I recently read the news that Japanese Sake is gradually becoming more popular around the world. If you are interested in sake, don’t miss it!!
Why do I recommend Akita to the masters of traveling Japan?
I think it will be a good adventure and healing for tourists. Honestly, there are few signs and guidance for foreigners who cannot read Japanese, so tourists need to search on Google or ask for people if you are lost. Actually there is a university where the students come from many countries, Akita International University, the main language is english in all classes. But we rarely see them and can’t get their help in town because they are in the dormitory of the college! So, you can try to enjoy the language barrier!
It seems to be difficult to travel but people in Akita are so kind even if we can’t communicate in your language. One day when I got to the bus and stood by the seat of an elderly woman, she asked me to put my baggage on her seat because it was crowded. I felt so heartwarmed and glad for her kindness. I’ve never experienced something like this in urban cities. I hope you can feel the kindness of people who live in Akita during your stay.
