39.6° N
Akita, Japan
A castle town in inland Akita, laid out in 1620 with a samurai quarter, Uchimachi, and a merchant quarter, Tomachi. Cherry-bark kabazaiku craft, a miso and soy sauce brewer, Shiraiwa-yaki pottery, then chestnut sweets, pudding and coffee: Rin's picks.
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Where Rin would go
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Made in Kakunodate
Kabazaiku is a designated traditional craft made from the bark of wild mountain cherry. The bark is stripped in August and September and dried for about two years. Tea caddies are the typical piece, and they gain a shine as hands touch them. The craft in Kakunodate has about 240 years of history.
Tomachi
A kabazaiku house in Shimoshinmachi, founded in 1851. Its main shop is a renovated storehouse from the end of the Edo period, selling tea caddies and tea ware made of wild cherry bark. Open 10:00–17:00, closed on Wednesdays.
RinA tea caddy gains a shine as it is used. Hold one first.
Uchimachi
A hall for kabazaiku near the samurai houses, where craftsmen demonstrate the work. The demonstration runs daily from April to November, 9:30–16:00, with a break from 12:00 to 13:00.
RinTo see the demonstration, avoid 12 to 1.
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Made in Kakunodate
In Shimoshinmachi, in the merchant quarter, Ando Jozo has brewed since 1853. It makes additive-free, naturally fermented miso, soy sauce and pickles, and opens the brick storehouse parlor of its main shop, built in the middle of the Meiji era, to visitors.
Tomachi
The main shop of a miso and soy sauce brewer in Shimoshinmachi, founded in 1853 and brewing without additives, naturally fermented. Its brick storehouse parlor from the middle of the Meiji era, a designated local cultural property, is free to see, and miso, soy sauce and pickles are set out to taste. Open 8:30–17:00.
RinThe parlor is free. Taste first, then buy.
Shiraiwa
The only kiln that carries on Shiraiwa-yaki, a ware handed down since the Edo period. A small kiln of three family members, it glazes with the ash of Akitakomachi rice husks for a blue namako glaze. Its gallery Hakkeiso is open 11:00–16:00, closed on Wednesdays (and some other days), and reservations come first.
RinReserve for the gallery first. For the day before or the same day, call.
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Tomachi
A Mont Blanc specialist in Shimoshinmachi, making baked Mont Blanc, Mont Blanc pudding and soft serve from local Saimyoji chestnuts. The shop is a koji storehouse over 120 years old, taken over from a soy sauce and miso brewer. Open 10:00–17:00, closed only at the New Year.
RinThe Saimyoji chestnuts are harvested from October. Go in chestnut season.
Tomachi
A pudding specialist in Yokomachi, making its smooth pudding by hand in a workshop at the back, with Madagascar vanilla beans and domestic eggs and milk. A pumpkin pudding comes out in autumn. Open 10:00–17:00, closed only at the New Year.
RinThe pumpkin pudding is autumn only. Holds can be asked for by phone.
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Tamachi
The dining room of the Ryotei Inaho. No reservation is needed and the menu is à la carte. It serves a set of Okaribayaki, a local dish handed down in the Satake Kita family as an outing meal, and Inaniwa udon. Closed on Thursdays; extra days off are posted on social media.
RinOkaribayaki is eaten with sansho miso. Have it with rice.
Uchimachi
A restaurant in an old house on the samurai street, known for Hinai-jidori oyakodon and Inaniwa udon. Open 10:00–15:30, with meals from 11:00 (last order 15:00). Days off vary and are posted in its news.
RinThe oyakodon uses three eggs. Go hungry.
Tomachi
A kissaten on the first floor of the Shinmachi Building in Kamishinmachi. It brews house-roasted coffee by flannel drip and serves Napolitan with 2.2 mm extra-thick noodles. The open days are posted on its site each month.
RinCheck the open days on the site first.
By area
Rin is a fictional traveller. Every place here was checked by the editors to exist and be open (checked 2026-11-11). Please confirm hours on the official site before you go. Paid listings are always marked.
To see — art and sights (landmarks)
Sights · Uchimachi
Kakunodate Samurai Houses Street
The Uchimachi quarter where samurai lived, in the castle town laid out by Ashina Yoshikatsu in 1620. The area of the street lined with samurai houses among tall trees became a national preservation district for groups of traditional buildings in 1976.
Each house opens on its own dates and days off. The city's guide lists Iwahashi house until 30 November and the former Matsumoto house until 10 November.
Sights · Hinokinai River
Hinokinai River Bank Cherry Trees
About 1,950 metres of Somei-yoshino cherry trees, 409 of them, line the left bank of the Hinokinai river. They were planted in 1934 and the bank is a national place of scenic beauty.
Art · Uchimachi
Kakunodate Hirafuku Memorial Art Museum
A city museum showing the work of the Nihonga painter Hirafuku Suian, born in Kakunodate, and of his son Hirafuku Hyakusui.
Closed on Mondays. Open 9:00–17:00 from April to November, last entry 30 minutes before closing. The Hirafuku Suian and Hyakusui exhibition runs from 1 October to 15 November.
Art · Tamachi
Shinchosha Memorial Literature Museum
A literature museum opened in 2000 in honour of Sato Giryo, the founder of the publisher Shinchosha, who came from Kakunodate. It follows the history of Shinchosha and of modern Japanese literature.
Closed on Mondays. Open 9:00–17:00 from April to November, last entry 30 minutes before closing. The exhibition on the making and culture of the Kakunodate samurai houses runs from 10 October to 17 January 2027.
These are landmarks, not Rin's picks. Each was checked to be open on its official site (checked 2026-11-11). Please confirm hours before you go.