Akita: Private Shore Excursion with Samurai District Visit

Kakunodate's Buke Yashiki Street is a beautiful townscape that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period. Lined with samurai residences surrounded by blackboard fences, some of which can be toured inside. Walking along the cobblestone streets, you can enjoy the quiet and dignified scenery that lets you feel the breath of history.

Kawarada House is the residence of a high-ranking samurai, which is one of the most prestigious among the Kakunodate samurai residences. It is characterized by a spacious garden and a thatched-roof gate, and its simple yet elegant appearance is attractive. Inside the house, visitors can catch a glimpse of the lifestyle of Edo period warriors, and enjoy the tools of daily life and architectural styles of the time.

Kakunodate Historical Village, Aoyanagi House is a samurai residence with a history of about 400 years, and has a main house, an armory, and six museums in its vast grounds. The house exhibits swords, armor, Akita Dutch paintings, and other valuable items, giving visitors a sense of the life of the samurai in the Edo period. In particular, the sliding door painting “Tiger” by the painter Kyusatsu Tsuji is very powerful and worth seeing. At the “Haikara-kan” on the premises, visitors can taste Nanban-cha (coffee) brewed with Shinmei-sui, and enjoy an elegant time together with history.

The Ishiguro House is the oldest samurai residence in Kakunodate, and the current main house was built in the mid-Edo period. The descendants still live in the house, and a part of it is open to the public. The simple and sturdy architectural style and valuable furnishings offer a glimpse into the lifestyle of a high-ranking samurai. One of the highlights of the house is that the entrance hall is divided for use by different statuses, giving visitors a sense of the strict discipline of the samurai society of the time.

Ando Jyozo is a long-established brewery established in 1853, and its miso and soy sauce made using traditional methods are very appealing. The aroma of soy sauce and miso made in wooden vats wafts through the air in the store, and visitors can enjoy tasting and sampling the products. The popular “nama shoyu” (soy sauce), in particular, is additive-free and unheated, so you can enjoy the original flavor of soy sauce. The atmospheric storefront and a tour of the brewery, lined with miso barrels, are also highlights of the tour, allowing visitors to get a close look at Kakunodate's food culture and craftsmanship. Inside the brick storehouse, which is the symbol of the main storehouse, there is a storehouse tatami room, which played an important role for weddings and funerals. The brick storehouse is the oldest in the Tohoku region and is registered as a tangible cultural property of the city.

Senshu Park is a historic park developed on the ruins of Kubota Castle, the residence of the Satake clan of the Kubota domain. The beautiful moat and stonewalls in the park are reminiscent of the old days. The restored Osumi Tower and front gate are located in the park, and visitors can enjoy a walk while feeling the history of the area. The seasonal scenery is also attractive, and the Japanese garden with its lush greenery and ponds is a particularly relaxing place to visit.

The Neburi Nagashi Museum(Akita city folk arts center) is a museum that introduces the traditional culture and folk arts of Akita City. Inside the museum, visitors can see up close the actual Kanto lanterns used in the Akita Kanto Festival, one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region, and there is also a corner where visitors can actually experience the festival. There are also exhibits showing traditional Akita crafts and the way people used to live in Akita, and visitors can experience Akita culture through Namahage costumes and folk tools. This is a valuable spot where visitors can feel the history and the power of the festival.