Things to do
Experiences & Sightseeing
After winter, various types of flowers starts blooming. One of the most popular place to go see is the Kakunodate Cherry blossoms, which famous all over japan. With snow still on the mountains, you can take in and experience snow along with spring flowers.
From the middle of may, trees begin to leaf out and trekking or walking among nature is popular. Water activities during this time in Lake Tazawa are also great and a lot of fun.
Autumn is a beautiful season here. You can see golden rice fields, indicating a season of harvesting rice, and the dynamic “Koyo” autumn leaves. Dakigaeri gorge, Nyuto Onsen and Mt. Komagatake are popular places to sightsee during this time too.
Tazawako ski resort is the largest ski resort in all of Akita, where you can enjoy the lake view from on top of the ski course. There are some unique and traditional winter festivals such as the Kamihinokinai Paper Ballon Flight and Kakunodate Hiburi Fire Festival.
Onsen & Accommodation
If you visit Semboku, we highly recommend staying overnight over taking a day trip. You can soothe the tiredness of your trip at the hot springs, talk and drink with the locals, or stay at a farmhouse as if you were living there.
Most inns and hotels in Semboku feature hot spring water. Most notable are the many hot spring inns in Nyuto Onsenkyo, Mizusawa Onsenkyo, Tazawako Kogen Onsenkyo and Tamagawa Onsenkyo. Would you like to experience traditional hot spring culture that inherits the benefits of nature?
Food&Dining
Akita is famous for its kiritanpo nabe (hot pot with pounded rice), Hinaidori chicken, and Inaniwa udon noodles. For Semboku city specifically, our recommended dish is the yamanoimo nabe (yam hot pot). Yams grown in Tazawako can be made into dumplings without using any fillers, and taste wonderful in miso soup and soy sauce based soups. These dishes are said to warm your body and soul. Other famous and delectable local dishes include sansai (mountain vegetable) dishes, local beers, char, homemade Japanese pickled, and oyaki (sweet bean filled rice buns). A new popular dish in Kakunodate is “okaribayaki” style cooked meat with seasonal vegetables.
Shopping
If you’re wondering what to buy as a souvenir, why not try Kakunodate’s traditional crafts and Japanese traditional seasonings such as miso and soy sauce.
Please take a look at Sakura birch work, Shiraiwa ware (pottery), Itaya work, etc. Ando brewing seasonings are recommended for those who like cooking.
Tradition & Culture
Feel history and culture at Kakunodate, enjoy water activities at Lake Tazawa, the place of the Tatsuko legend, and experience the lifestlye of a farmer at a farmhouse inn. All of which will surely be an experience of a lifetime.