Akita and Aomori Prefecture 1 night 2 day sample itinerary
First day
- <For trips to Kakunodate, click here> Tomachi Historical Museum
- Nishinomiyake House, Kakunodate, Akita
- Kakunodate Samurai Residences Street (Nationally Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings)
- Kakunodate Historical Village Aoyagi House
- <For travel to Ani, click here> Utto Onsen Matagi no Yu
Second day
10:20 A scenic spot on the Akita Inland Line: Running through the air!? Omata River Bridge
The Akita Nairiku Line (nicknamed the Nairiku Line) is a 94.2km long local line that runs north to south through the mountainous region of Akita. As it runs north to south through the mountainous region of Akita, it is perhaps only natural that it is called a local railway with spectacular views. Of the many spectacular spots on the Nairiku Line, the most famous is the Omata River Bridge. The Omata River Bridge is a bridge located between Okashinai Station and Kayakusa Station, and trains pass slowly over the bridge, which is suspended about 25m above the river. It is as if the train is moving through the air. Experience it for yourself aboard the Nairiku Line. (Travel time: about 10 minutes)
A scenic spot on the Akita Inland Line: Omata River Bridge | ||
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address | : | Near Junisawa, Kayakusa, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture |
access | : | 15 minutes walk from Kayakusa Station on the Akita Inland Line 10 minutes by car from Aniai Station on the Akita Inland Line For further details, please contact Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway Headquarters (0186-82-3231). |
Approximately 30 minutes by car
11:00 Restaurant Koguma-tei (inside Akita Inland Line Aniai Station building)
When you arrive at Aniai Station, a delicious smell hits you from nowhere. Koguma-tei Restaurant, located inside the Aniai Station building, is loved by locals and has delighted the palates of many railway fans and tourists from Japan and abroad. The recommended dish is horse meat stew, a Western-style arrangement of Aniai's specialty horse meat. The rich stew and the slow-cooked tender horse meat are a perfect match. In addition, Nairiku Line tourist attendants are selling souvenirs inside the station. Try the best-selling "Butter Mochi" or "Hideyoshi (One-Cup Sake)" in the Nairiku Line's original packaging to accompany your trip.
After lunch, we finally depart for Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. (Approximately 60 minutes)
Restaurant Koguma-tei | ||
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address | : | Inside the Aniai Station building, Ani Ginzan Shimoshinmachi, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture |
Tel | : | 0186-82-3666 |
business hours | : | 11:00~15:00 |
holiday | : | Please check the Akita Nairiku Line website |
Fee | : | Horse meat stew with golden rice 1,000 yen etc. |
access | : | 0 minutes walk from Aniai Station on the Akita Inland Line (inside the station building) |
Other Remarks | : | Aniai Station is scheduled to reopen on April 1st |
Approximately 120 minutes by car
14:45 <Click here for Hirosaki travel>
Tsugaru Domain Neputa Village
Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, is famous for the Hirosaki Neputa Festival, which attracts over 1.6 million tourists from all over Japan. In addition to the Hirosaki Neputa exhibition corner and the Tsugaru folk crafts production demonstration corner, there are also plenty of experience corners such as the Goldfish Neputa painting experience (1,150 yen per person) and the Tsugaru kite painting experience (1,000 yen per person). Why not take this opportunity to try painting for yourself? There is also a souvenir corner selling apples directly from Hirosaki City, which is number one in apple production in the country, as well as sweets and processed products, so please feel free to use it to purchase souvenirs. (Approximately 90 minutes required)
Tsugaru Domain Neputa Village | ||
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address | : | 61 Kikkocho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture |
Tel | : | 0172-39-1511 |
business hours | : | 9:00~17:00 |
holiday | : | Open daily |
Fee | : | Adults 550 yen, Junior and senior high school students 350 yen, Elementary school students 200 yen, Infants (3 years and older) 100 yen |
access | : | 15 minutes by 100 yen bus "Tamenobugo" from bus stop number 4 in front of Hirosaki Station (get off at Neputa Mura-mae) |
Approximately 5 minutes walk
16:20 Hirosaki Park
In the spring, Hirosaki Park hosts the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, renowned as the best in Japan, attracting over 2 million tourists during the period. Hirosaki Castle, built in 1611 (Keicho 16), is the city's landmark. Remains such as the turrets and castle gates remain exactly as they were when the castle was built, and it is said to be rare nationwide for a castle of this scale to be opened as a park while still retaining its historic site. You can also see Mt. Iwaki from the main citadel. Once you've worked up an appetite after a pleasant stroll through the park, head out for the long-awaited Hirosaki dinner. (Approximately 30 minutes required)
Hirosaki Park | ||
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address | : | 1 Shimoshiroganecho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture |
business hours | : | Free tour |
Fee | : | free *Some areas require a fee. [Hirosaki Castle Honmaru and the North Bailey] Individual: Adults 310 yen, Children 100 yen [Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden] Individual: Adults 310 yen, Children 100 yen For further details, please check the Hirosaki Park website or contact the Hirosaki City Hall Park and Green Space Division (0172-33-8739). |
access | : | 15 minutes by 100 yen Dotemachi circular bus from JR Hirosaki Station (1 minute walk from City Hall) |
Approximately 10 minutes by car
17:00 Tsugaru Shamisen Live Aiya
When most people hear "Tsugaru region," they probably think of "Tsugaru shamisen." At this restaurant, you can enjoy delicious food and drinks while listening to live Tsugaru shamisen music. The owner is an accomplished musician who was crowned the A-class champion at the National Tsugaru Shamisen Championships, and he delights customers with his dynamic performances. For meals, we recommend the "Jongara Set," which allows you to taste the specialties of the Tsugaru region all at once. The live performance usually starts at 7 p.m., but if you make a reservation in advance, they will perform at a time that suits you.
Be careful not to get so engrossed in the Tsugaru shamisen performance that you miss the shuttle bus to Aomori Airport. (The journey takes about 90 minutes.)
Tsugaru Shamisen Live Aiya | ||
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address | : | 2-7-3 Tomita, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture |
Tel | : | 0172-32-1529 |
business hours | : | 17:00~23:00 |
holiday | : | Irregular holidays |
Fee | : | Jongara Set (5 dishes + 2 drinks) 3,240 yen etc. |
access | : | 15 minutes walk from JR Hirosaki Station |
Other Remarks | : | Private rooms available All-you-can-drink menu available |
Stopover spots
Ando Brewery Main Store
Address: 27 Shimoshinmachi, Kakunodate-cho, Senboku-shi, Akita Prefecture
Tel: 0187-53-2008
Business hours: 8:30-18:00 (until 17:00 from December to March)
Holidays: Open everyday
Price: Shirodashi 1,296 yen, Kankoji 756 yen, etc.
Access: 12 minutes walk from JR Kakunodate Station
Other/Notes: Parking available
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.