Akita prefecture is located in Tohoku region. Akita is the land of Akita dog. If you have ever watched the movie "Hachi: A Dogs Tale" or visited Hachiko statue at Shibuya Station, that dog is Akita. Therefore, Akita dog is one of attractions in Akita prefecture.
Where is Akita?
Akita is next to Morioka (Iwate) and Aomori. It takes about 3 hours and 50 minutes from Tokyo to Akita by Shinkansen or 100 minutes from Morioka Station.
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| Akita Map: Akita Prefecture Official Homepage |
Akita is one of destination of tourists in Autumn seeing foliage. I visited Akita other season. The popular sightseeing spot in Akita are Kakunodate (Samurai District) near Kakunodate Station, Akita Dog Station (near Akita Station), near Odate Station. I took the day trip from Morioka Station to Akita Station and skip Odate and Kakunodate. I thought that Kakunodate would be silent if not in autumn and Odate took too much for transportation even it looked interesting.
I took Komachi Shinkansen from Morioka Station to Akita Station where is the terminal station. Before one station arriving Akita Station, Shinkansen made a brief stop, then it ran backward. It's weird.
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| Komachi Shinkansen |
Finally, arrived Akita Station. It was lively station but not crowd. Big Akita statues are in front of entrance / exit gate of train station. Don't forget to take some photo. There are some restaurants and cafe near the train station.
After got off Akita Station, you can turn left or turn right. Both side also leads to attractions. If you are looking for the department stores, please turn right. I walked as loop so I walked to the right side and came back on the left side.
Before sightseeing, I asked for English map from tourist center on Akita Station (near Akita Statue). I downloaded map and saved on mobile but printed map was more convenient. Outside Akita station, the city was quiet. Although it was Akita city but I did not see any Akita dog.
Akita City Map
The map shows the trip route; A B C and D. You can follow the direction as on map.
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| Akita Sightseeing Map: Akita City Sightseeing |
You can walk or take downtown loop bus (100 yen per ride). One loop takes 20 minutes and has more than 10 bus stops. You can check the detail on the above map on the right corner.
Topico Department Store is connected to Akita Station. There are only 3 floors;
Floor Guide & Opening Hours:
1st floor has cafe, bakery shop, few restaurants (7:00 - 22:00).
2nd floor, the shops sell souvenirs, dessert, confectionery (8:00 - 20:00).
3rd floor; restaurants (8:00 - 22:00)
Not far from Topico department store, it was Seibu department store. The first floor the shops sell cosmetic and other floors are about fashion products.
Opening Hours: 09:30-19:00 (restaurants on basement floor: 11:00-21:00)
Floor Guide
B1F: Food, cosmetic, interior goods, specialty stores.
1F: Woman miscellaneous goods (accessories/cosmetics/handbag), ladies' wear, shoes/bag repair.
2F: Woman Clothing, Specialty Store
3F: Travel, Shoes, Children's cloth.
I visited Akita Citizen’s Market. This is photo of building outside, no English sign. The sign shows ç§‹ç”°å¸‚æ°‘å¸‚å ´ in front of the building. It was clean market, selling seafood, vegetable and local products. Moreover, there is supermarket inside. Product price in supermarket is reasonable. Regarding the below photo, a toilet is on the left side.
Opening Hours: 5:00 - 18:00
Close: Sunday
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| Akita Citizen’s Market |
Keep walking to Akita Dog Station where you can meet Akita. I was there on Monday but it was closed. It opens on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. Goods sold on Thursday. You can check the meeting time and name of Akita dogs on website.
Akita Dog Station Website: http://www.saveakita.or.jp/station/
Short walk from Akita Dog Station is Akita Museum of Art, opens 10:00-18:00 daily. Admission Fee is 310 yen (adult), 210 yen (college student) and high school or under is free.
Nearby Akita station is quiet but still have other attractions i.e. Akarenga Folk Museum, Senshu Park, Akita City Folklore and Performing Arts Center.
Where you can meet Akita Dog
1. Akita Dog Station
Access: 5-10 minutes walk from JR Akita Station
2. Akita Inu Fureaidokoro in Senshu Park
Access: 10 minutes walk from Akita Station.
Location: Ninomaru Square in Senshu Park (downtown Akita City)
Check the update timetable on website: https://www.facebook.com/akitainu.hureai/
The previous timetable (year 2019)
Open every day from May 11 (Sat) to October 31 (Thurs), 2019.
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (break time: noon to 12:30 p.m.)
3. Akita Inu no Sato
Access: Odate Station
Opening Hours: April to October 09:00-18:00, November to March 09:00-17:00
Close on 31st December - 1st January
You can meet Akita dog during 09:30-16:15 (close at 12:30-13:15 and on Monday)
Free admission
For more information, visit website https://akitainunosato.jp/publics/index/49/
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