Making the most of Akita
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Akita is the largest city in the prefecture of the same name.
The Akita Port Cruise Terminal is approximately 5 kilometers from downtown Akita.
Selion bus has a stop near the berth, and city buses run from here to Akita Station (about 25 minutes). From Akita Station, you can use the Akita Shinkansen (bullet train), local railway lines, and highway buses to go anywhere in Akita.
At the port you will find the Selion Port Tower where you can enjoy the view from some 100 m up, and the Selion Lista, which is a lush intimate covered green tract of land that can be enjoyed year round regardless of the weather.
Akita City Folklore Museum. This lovely art museum is housed in a former 20th-century bank building. The red brick Renaissance exterior gives way to a lovely baroque interior that showcases the works of two renowned local artisans.
Senshu Park is a beautiful place to take a walk, especially during the spring season when the cherry blossoms are blooming.
Nearby places
Lake Tazawa. Situated in the center of eastern Akita Prefecture, Lake Tazawa is the deepest lake in Japan at almost 1,400 feet and is perfectly circular in shape.
Mt. Kanpuzan Observatory. Enjoy the changing scenery as you rotate 360 degrees, and take advantage of the many varied photo opportunities courtesy of the landscape, which is devoid of trees.
Kakunodate, one of Japan's last true historical towns and filled with old samurai houses open to the public, is only about an hour away by shinkansen.
Food and shopping
As one of Japan's most famous rice-growing regions, Akita has some of the best local sake in all of Japan.
Money
The currency in Japan is the yen. It comes in denominations of ¥10,000;¥5,000 and ¥1,000 notes, as well as ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1;coins.