Kakunodate Town

Flow of the course

About this spot

The center of Kakunodate, called "the Little Kyoto of Michinoku," is a nationally designated Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings. The avenue lined with black-tiled walls and samurai residences continuing from the Edo period often sees weeping cherry blossoms in full bloom in late April, creating a landscape representative of spring in Kakunodate. Samurai mansions open to the public, such as the Ishiguro and Aoyagi families, allow visitors to observe how people lived during that era, allowing both adults and children to experience the atmosphere of history firsthand. When the fireworks festival coincides with cherry blossom season, the contrast between daytime samurai mansions and nighttime fireworks enriches travel memories.

Tips

About 15-20 minutes from JR Omagari Station via Akita Shinkansen or Ou Main Line to Kakunodate Station. The samurai mansion avenue is about a 15-minute walk from Kakunodate Station. Admission fees for each mansion range from around 100-500 yen depending on the facility. Trains become congested after the fireworks festival on the day, so plan your return to Omagari with plenty of time.

Best time to visit

Takes approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. The afternoon oblique sunlight hitting the black-tiled walls creates an atmospheric ambiance.

Access & map

Akita Prefecture, Senboku City, Kakunodate Town