Akita, Japan

Akita is the capital city of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan. Akita is the largest city in the prefecture, and as such is the hub for transportation, sports, and shopping. It is a bustling port and industrial city with a few tourist attractions.

Rice farming and sake breweries are quite famous in Akita and form an important part of its culture. The Akita breed of dogs carries the name of the prefecture and is quite popular. Tourism is developing here, thanks to some interesting festivals that take place in this region.

Things to See & Do

* Senshū Park
* Akarenga-kan Museum
* Senshū Museum of Art
* Aeon Mall
* Sake breweries

General information

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Yen (JPY)
Language – Japanese
Population – 325, 905 approx
Land Area – 905.67 km2
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT plus hours nine hours
International Country Telephone Code – 81

Port Location – The port at Akita is located on the northwestern shores of the sea of Japan in Honsu, Japan’s main and largest island.

Travel Links – Akita has an airport, with domestic flights coming in from such places as Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Sapporo. Buses connect the airport with Akita Station.

The Akita Shinkansen provides hourly service from Tokyo station to Akita station. These trains, called the Komachi trains, have only reserved seating. The Komachi stops at Ueno, Omiya, Sendai, Morioka before slowing down to travel to Shizukuishi, Tazawako, Kakunodate, Omagari, and finally Akita over conventional rail lines.

Shin Nihonkai Ferry (SNF) has ferries going north and south. Two ferries go to Hokkaido, one to Otaru, and the other to Tomakomai. Both of those towns are relatively close to Sapporo. To the south the ferries go to Niigata, and also to Tsuruga and Maizuru (which are roughly near Kyoto).