In the Tohoku region, north-east of Japan, there are several lakes of volcanic origin, and the deepest of them is Lake Tazawa, which offers a series of pleasant hints to spend a day in the fresh summer of the north. What kind of place is Lake Tazawa? With a maximum …
In Akita Prefecture’s inland there is a city of samurai residences and beautiful cherry trees. This time we are going to talk about the historical city of Kakunodate. What’s special about Kakunodate? A long time ago Kakunodate was a prospering castle city. In the Edo period there was a castle that ruled all the neighboring provinces. Around this castle many samurai residences still remain, today it is possible to visit a part of these wonderful buildings. This is a must-see place for everyone who has an interest in samurai culture. Moreover, Kakunodate is famous as the city of cherry trees. In springtime it is possible to see weeping cherries (called “shidarezakura – 枝垂桜” in Japanese) everywhere around the city. They are especially worth seeing in combination with the samurai residences. How to get to Kakunodate Going to Kakunodate is relatively easy. From Tokyo it is possible to go directly to Kakunodate Station with the Akita Shinkansen. It takes around 3 hours to get there, and fare is aprroximately 17,000 yen. There is about one train every hour from Tokyo. Since all the seats are reserved you should book in advance, especially during busy periods such as the Golden Week (that usually coincides with …
