Book Your Perfect Traditional Akita Onsen Ryokan with Secret Retreats

Attractions in Akita – What to Visit from Your Hotel in Akita

A land of volcanos and rivers, forests and lush green countryside, rice paddies and ancient cities, all this awaits you once you’ve booked your hotel in Akita with Secret Retreats. A land of superlatives, Akita is home to Japan’s deepest lake, Lake Tazawa. Located in the shadow of Mount Akita-Komagatake, one of Akita’s highest mountains at over 1,600m, Lake Tazawa is a caldera lake, formed over 1.4million years ago and measured at over 400m deep. Named by the Ainu people, an indigenous people of Northern Japan, this 12miles round lake makes for a great place for trekking – as do many of Akita’s mountains and forests. The lake is also overlooked from the northeast by the Tazawako Ski Resort. And to the northeast of Lake Tazawako is the wonderful Akita onsen ryokan, Taenoyu. Built on the banks of the Sendatsu River the team at Taenoyu Ryokan have been offering a warm and traditional Japanese style of hospitality to travellers to Akita since 1953. The quintessential Akita ryokan experience, the location is ideal for people looking to explore Akita’s rugged and rural countryside. This classic Akita ryokan has 17 rooms with private bathrooms and a choice of shared and private onsen baths. And as is the way with traditional Japanese ryokan, breakfast and dinner are served. A wonderful choice for a hotel in Akita, the property is set deep in the Akita countryside, shaded by trees and with the Sendatsu River flowing gently past, this bucolic setting is sure to relax you. And after an exhilarating day mountain walking, exploring Japanese shrines along the way, return to your Akita onsen ryokan and immerse yourself into the rejuvenating naturally heated waters of one of Taenoyu Ryokan’s onsen.

To the southwest of Lake Tazawako lies the ancient city of Kakunodate, famed for its samurai history and samurai architecture. Built around 500years ago to support a now destroyed castle, Kakunodate was built in two distinct districts, the merchant district and the samurai district, and architecturally very little has changed since it was all built. A walk around the town transports visitors back in time as it tells the story of the town and its samurai. Stroll along cobblestone streets, admire well-preserved samurai residences, and enjoy the picturesque weeping cherry trees during spring. The Aoyagi House, a historic samurai mansion, is a must-visit for history, culture and samurai enthusiasts. There are in fact 6 original samurai houses open to visitors along with 2 museums, one an art museum and the other a museum of Kakunodate’s history and artisans – craftsmanship being something all Japanese are very proud of. And after all that exploring of Kakunodate’s art, history and architecture a return to a carefully selected Akita onsen hotel would make for the perfect end to a day. And a great choice for a hotel near to Kakunodate but still placed within Akita’s beautiful countryside has to be the luxurious Akita onsen ryokan Miyako Wasure. This traditional Japanese hotel is located on the banks of the Tama River in the beautifully scenic Dakigaeri Valley. The wooded gorge is wonderful to visit anytime of year, but it is particularly special in autumn when the leaves turn a mix yellow and red, gold and brown, making picture postcard perfect scenes. Trek downriver from your Akita ryokan to the Kami no Iwahashi Suspension Bridge. Originally built in 1926 as part of a forest railway, the red painted suspension bridge spans the Tama River and makes for a fantastic photograph with the autumnal (or lush green... or dusted with snow) leaves of the forest in the background. This is the oldest bridge in Akita. The mysterious cobalt-blue mountain stream and the ancient Dakigaeri Shrine, dedicated to sericulture, are also great places to trek to from your countryside Akita ryokan. Miyako Wasure is just 30minutes from Kakundate by car but secluded perfectly in the beautiful and serene Dakigaeri Valley. With just 10 rooms this Akita ryokan takes traditional Japanese hospitality to a luxurious level. Beautifully appointed rooms, each comes with its own private outdoor onsen that are all positioned to enjoy wide, uninterrupted views of the river and valley.

If you are staying in a hotel in Akita over the Chinese or Lunar New Year, be sure to ask the Secret Retreats team to add the Namahage Festival to your itinerary. This lively event features performers dressed as Namahage, mythical ogres who visit households to ward off laziness and evil spirits. The men dress as ogres with outfits made of straw and painted wooden demon masks to terrorize the townsfolk until they are given mochi (rice cakes) to appease them. Or if you are booking into an Akita onsen hotel in August, be sure to check out the Akita Kanto Festival. This mesmerizing event showcases the balancing act of performers carrying towering Kanto lantern poles adorned with paper lanterns that light up the night sky.