Half-day private tour: Kakunodate & Lake Tazawa & Gozanoishi Shrine & Kubota Castle
Last updated: September 13, 2026
A private half-day through Akita's finest: the samurai lanes of Kakunodate, the "Little Kyoto of Tohoku," and Lake Tazawa — Japan's deepest lake. Your own local guide leads the way from the Port of Akita, past the vermilion torii of Gozanoishi Shrine standing at the lake's edge, to the moats and ruins of Kubota Castle in Senshu Park, threading in the folklore, traditional crafts and famed hospitality this region keeps to itself. It is Tohoku well off the beaten path — deeply rewarding country that most itineraries never reach, at a pace you set yourself.
Itinerary
Departure
- Start point: Port of Akita
- Stop at: Kakunodate Samurai Residence Street
- Stop at: Lake Tazawa
- Stop at: Gozanoishi Shrine
- Stop at: Senshu Park
- Stop at: Kubota Castle Ruins
- End point: Port of Akita
Frequently Asked Questions
A castle town laid out in 1620 whose samurai quarter survives almost intact — dark wooden mansions behind fences of weeping cherry, several of them open to wander. The atmosphere earned it the name "Little Kyoto of Tohoku," and in late April its cherry tunnel is among the north's great blossom sights.
At 423 meters it is the deepest lake in Japan — deep enough that it never freezes, holding a sapphire-blue color year round. Legend says the maiden Tatsuko became its guardian dragon, and the vermilion torii of Gozanoishi Shrine rising at the water's edge is the lake's defining picture.
The seat of the Satake clan, unusual among Japanese castles for having been built with earthworks and moats rather than stone walls or a keep. Its grounds are now Senshu Park in central Akita, with a reconstructed turret and gate among the greenery.
It runs privately — your own guide and vehicle, with the pace and emphasis adjusted to you. The Port of Akita pickup and return makes it especially suited to cruise passengers on a day in port, comfortably covering the region's highlights within a half day.