AkitaTravel

Kakunodate's Largest Samurai Mansion with Museum Buildings Scattered Across 3,000 Tsubo

About this spot

A representative samurai mansion of Kakunodate, with an imposing medicine-doctor gate midway along the samurai mansion street. The approximately 3,000-tsubo estate is scattered with the main residence, weapons storehouse, Kaishu Kaitai (Dutch medical text) Memorial Museum, and the Haikara Hall, known for antique collections, and the entire grounds are open to the public as a "historical village." The collection spans an enormous range from weapons to household implements, and a thorough visit reveals samurai life in three dimensions. The artist Oda Naotake, who illustrated the Kaishu Kaitai and was skilled in Akita-e (Akita painting), had deep ties to the Aoyagi family, and the memorial museum allows visitors to trace his legacy—one of the major highlights. The garden is lush with seasonal plants, and you can take a break on benches while strolling at your grandparents' pace, which is a wonderful benefit.

Tips

Located right along the samurai mansion street and just a short walk from Ishiguroya. The grounds are spacious with many exhibition halls, so allow plenty of time. The area isn't one-way, so if you get tired, you can focus on just the main residence area. There's also a café space within the grounds for convenient rest.