Nishiki Area

The Tozawa clan built a castle in Kadoya in 1228 and later moved to Kakunodate in 1423. In 1602, under the leadership of the 21st lord, Tozawa Masamori, they were elevated from outside daimyo to fudai daimyo for their achievements in the Battle of Sekigahara. They ruled this region for approximately 400 years, until moving to Hitachi (later to Shinjo). The Tozawa clan's traditions are passed down as the "Tozawa Sasara." During the Edo period, numerous mines were mined from the Hinokinai area to the Ani region, including copper. The traditional "paper balloon raising" event held in the Kami-Hinokinai area during the Little New Year is said to have been introduced by Hiraga Gennai, who was invited by the Akita Domain at the time to supervise mining operations in 1773. With the implementation of the city and town system in 1889, the villages of Saimyoji and Hinokinai were created, and in September 1956, these two villages merged to form Nishiki Village, which remains the same to this day.

Characteristics of the Nishiki area

Nishiki Town is an area where time flows gently, surrounded by rural landscapes of rice fields and mountains.

The local Akita Nairiku Line runs leisurely through these nostalgic satoyama scenes, offering a glimpse of Japan’s traditional countryside.

There are many farmhouse inns operated by local farmers, offering valuable hands-on experiences such as farming work, as well as the chance to enjoy home-style local cuisine.

Interacting with the warm and welcoming locals is also one of the area’s charms.

Here, you can catch glimpses of life lived close to nature—seasonal wildflowers, the blessings of the mountains, and the daily rhythms of the people who reside in this landscape.

In this region, chestnut orchards are cultivated as a local specialty, and within them lies a habitat where clusters of katakuri (dogtooth violet) flowers bloom in spring.

In autumn, the famous Saimyoji-guri—known as Japan’s largest chestnuts—are harvested.

We will guide you through sightseeing in Nishiki, the home of the heart surrounded by nature. Nishiki Tourist Information Center

Nishiki Tourist Information CenterThis is a tourist information center inside the Nishiki office building of Semboku City Hall. We will guide you to attractive sightseeing spots such as the scenery of satoyama rich in nature, the fantastic winter festival “Kamihinokinai paper balloon”, and the “Katakuri Gunsei no Sato” that heralds the arrival of spring.
〒014-0592　47 Furukohorita, Kamiarai, Nishiki-chō, Semboku-shi (Semboku City) 
Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:15 PM 
TEL／FAX：0187-42-8480

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