Things to Do in Akita
Hand-picked sights and experiences across Akita.
When to catch the colours in Akita?
Average red maple, golden ginkgo and cherry blossom dates for Akita, from the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normals — the fortnight to aim for, not a promise for any particular year.
- Red maples
- Leaves turnNov 12
- Peak viewingNov 12 – Nov 26
- Golden ginkgo
- Leaves turnNov 5
- Peak viewingNov 5 – Nov 19
- Cherry blossom
- First flowersApr 17
- Full bloomApr 22
Where to look next?
The prefectures we've mapped so far, nearest to Akita first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kakunodate's samurai district with its weeping cherries, the deep indigo of Lake Tazawa, Nyūtō Onsen's rustic milky-white baths, and the Namahage folk demons of the Oga peninsula. It's Tohoku at its most atmospheric.
A cluster of centuries-old hot-spring inns in beech forest above Lake Tazawa — Tsurunoyu's milky outdoor bath is one of Japan's most photographed. Book a night if you can; the baths after the day-trippers leave are the point.
Late April–early May for Kakunodate's weeping cherries, summer for the Kanto pole festival in Akita city, and midwinter for snow-buried onsen bathing at its most dramatic. Deep winter travel needs schedule margin, though.