Visit Kakunodate, Japan

Kakunodate is a quiet town in the east of Akita prefecture. The town is enclosed on three sides by mountains, and the Hinokinai-gawa River runs southwards through it. It has a smart, elegant feel and is called the Little Kyoto of Michinoku.

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Kakunodate, Japan

Kakunodate is a quiet town in the east of Akita prefecture. The town is enclosed on three sides by mountains, and the Hinokinai-gawa River runs southwards through it.

Underneath its Tohoku (the northeastern region) appearance, the town has a smart, elegant feel and is called the Little Kyoto of Michinoku (the old name of Tohoku).

Architecture

A large number of samurai houses remain in Kakunodate, making it one of the best places in Japan for viewing this old style of house. Some of the most impressive are the houses of Ishiguro, Aoyagi and Nishimiya.

There are also shrines, temples and merchants' storehouses, which seem to surround the town and give visitors the feeling that the history of Kakunodate is still alive today.

Landscape and scenery

Hinokinai-gawa River is lined with cherry trees for 2 kilometres. The tunnel of cherry blossoms that forms along the riverbanks in spring is beautiful, and has been designated a national beauty spot.

Even after the flower season, the banks are loved by the townspeople as a pleasant place to walk - after the cherry leaves come summer's green shades followed by the colorful hues of autumn.

Local events

Many traditional events are held throughout the four seasons in Kakunodate. If you come at the right time you can enjoy some of these: the Sakura-matsuri Festival (cherry blossom festival) in spring; the Sasara-mai (dance) in summer, in which people dance while they rhythmically rub two sasara (bamboo whisks) together; the stirring Oyama-matsuri Festival in autumn, in which floats collide with one another; and the Hiburi Kamakura in winter, in which a straw bag on the end of a rope is set afire and swung around to pray for good health.

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Start planning your tailor-made trip to Kakunodate by calling one of our Japan specialists at 1-855-834-8210

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Suggested Kakunodate itinerary

This sample itinerary will give you an idea of what is possible when you travel in Kakunodate, and showcases routes we know work particularly well. Treat this as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.

Japan

Tohoku Discovered

15 days from $6,490pp

This fascinating itinerary offers the chance to escape the crowds and explore a magical area of Japan rarely visited by foreign tourists. The region blends traditional culture and spectacular scenery with the famed hospitality of the Tohoku locals. Travel by train and hire car to explore the clear lakes, deep forests, mountain peaks and secluded lamp-lit inns of Japan's best kept secret. Come summer the area is awash with the bright colours and raucous noise of local festivals and in winter heavy snowfall makes relaxing in an outdoor hot spring bath all the more romantic!