🕓 2024/7/10
#Hotels
About Akita
Akita is known as a region that boasts beautiful nature and rich culture in Japan. Located in the Tohoku region and facing the Sea of Japan, this prefecture attracts many tourists with its scenic beauty across all four seasons. In particular, Lake Tazawa, the Oga Peninsula, and Odate (famous for the Akita dog) are popular tourist spots.
It is also an area that retains a strong sense of history and tradition. The Akita Kanto Festival, which dates back to the Edo period, and the samurai residences of Kakunodate, known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, offer abundant cultural attractions. Furthermore, Akita is known as the “Land of Beauty,” with many delicious foods and hot springs. Local dishes such as Hinai jidori (local chicken) and kiritanpo nabe (rice stick hot pot) are extremely popular with visitors.
Below, we introduce three carefully selected luxury hotels that offer a special stay when visiting Akita.
3 Carefully Selected Luxury Hotels in Akita Prefecture
- Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura
- Towada Hotel
- Nyuto Onsen-kyo Taenoyu
- ●The Appeal of “Taenoyu”
- ●Access Information for “Taenoyu”
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Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura
Source: Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura Official Website
●The Appeal of “Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura”
Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura (Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura) provides a superb accommodation experience where you can refresh both body and mind amid beautiful nature and a luxurious atmosphere. This onsen (hot spring) inn located in Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture, offers a space where nature and traditional beauty harmonize. With a total of 10 guest rooms, each room is equipped with a semi-open-air bath fed by free-flowing natural hot spring water. It is known for providing high-quality service along with a tranquil Japanese ambiance.
■ A Historic Thatched-Roof Traditional House
Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura is an inn created by relocating a 200-year-old thatched-roof traditional house to a satoyama (rural mountain area), where it stands as if embraced by nature among the gentle slopes of the grounds. Nestled in the tranquil mountain setting near the “Little Kyoto” of Kakunodate, the inn’s name is derived from a poem in the “Shinsen Rokujo Dai Waka”: “Furu yama no iwane ni fuseru wabizakura” (a lonely cherry tree lying against the rocky base of an old mountain), embodying the love of quiet and refined beauty.
■ Elegant Guest Rooms and Private Hot Springs
The guest rooms at Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura include Japanese-Western and Japanese-style rooms of over 70 square meters, featuring warm designs using natural wood. All 10 guest rooms are equipped with semi-open-air baths fed by free-flowing natural hot spring water — colorless, odorless, and alkaline with a pH of 9.5 — which can be enjoyed at any time. The hot spring, known for its skin-beautifying effects, allows you to refresh both body and mind.
■ A Culinary Experience Blending Tradition and Creativity
The cuisine is supervised by Chef Hiromitsu Nozaki of the renowned Tokyo Minami-Azabu restaurant “Wakotokuzan,” featuring creative dishes made with fresh local Akita ingredients. The dishes crafted by this Michelin two-star chef offer new flavor discoveries with each visit, and the meal satisfaction is said to be exceptionally high.
■ Design in Harmony with Nature
Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura has only 10 guest rooms on its expansive 42,000-tsubo (approximately 139,000 square meters) grounds, featuring a design that values harmony with nature. You can relax on spacious terraces and decks while enjoying the scenery of each season. In winter, soaking in a hot spring while surrounded by snowy landscapes offers a truly luxurious experience.
●Access Information for “Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura”
- Official Website: http://wabizakura.com/
- Access: Special taxi service available from Akita Airport to Kakunodate at a special rate
- Address: 2-8 Sasayama, Kadoya, Nishiki-machi, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wgj8za8yC1sauUaA7
Towada Hotel
Source: Towada Hotel Official Website
● The Appeal of “Towada Hotel”
Towada Hotel is a historic hot spring inn located on the western shore of Lake Towada in Akita Prefecture, offering a space where rich nature and traditional beauty harmonize. This hotel is a building that makes extensive use of Akita cedar, representative of traditional Japanese architecture, and has been designated as a nationally registered Important Cultural Property for its masterful carpentry by palace carpenters.
■ A Building Where History and Tradition Live On
The main building of Towada Hotel was constructed by 80 palace carpenters using authentic Japanese architectural techniques, exuding the warmth and stateliness of Akita cedar. This building, now over 90 years old, is a precious structure that conveys the craftsmanship and aesthetic sensibility of the era to the present day. The annex has been newly built with modern Western-style rooms, creating a charming space where tradition and modernity merge.
■ Spectacular Views Overlooking Lake Towada
Towada Hotel is situated on a hill, and all guest rooms offer spectacular views of Lake Towada. The autumn foliage and winter snow scenery are particularly breathtaking, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful nature of each season. The observation open-air bath “Koyo no Yu” (Autumn Leaves Bath) offers a luxurious moment of relaxation while gazing at the lake.
■ Comprehensive Relaxation Facilities
The hotel features a large public bath, open-air bath, and sauna, providing a relaxing environment. The hot spring has a gentle water quality that soothes fatigue of body and mind. There are also gardens and terraces, offering abundant spaces to refresh yourself in nature.
■ A Gourmet Experience Featuring Local Ingredients
The restaurant at Towada Hotel offers a blend of Japanese and Western cuisine using fresh local ingredients from Akita and Aomori. The seasonal menus bring new discoveries with each visit, making mealtime truly special. For breakfast, you can choose between Japanese and Western options, with a rich selection of dishes available.
●Access Information for “Towada Hotel”
- Official Website: https://towada-hotel.com/
- Access: Shuttle service available from JR Lake Towada bus stop — approximately 15 minutes
- Address: Nishi Kohan, Lake Towada, Kosaka-machi, Kazuno-gun, Akita Prefecture
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uR5tsby2gCTGwBuK6
Nyuto Onsen-kyo Taenoyu
Source: Nyuto Onsen-kyo Taenoyu Official Website
●The Appeal of “Taenoyu”
Nyuto Onsen-kyo Taenoyu is a hot spring inn located within Towada-Hachimantai National Park in Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, where you can relax in a quiet, nature-surrounded environment. This inn was founded in 1952 (Showa 27) shortly after the war and continues to provide healing time to visitors to this day.
■ Two Hot Spring Sources and Abundant Baths
Taenoyu has two hot spring sources: Kin no Yu (Gold Bath, a brown-colored hot spring containing iron) and Gin no Yu (Silver Bath, a colorless and transparent simple spring). These hot springs each have different water qualities and flow freely into eight different baths. With separate indoor and outdoor baths for men and women, as well as a mixed-gender outdoor bath, there are diverse hot spring facilities where you can leisurely enjoy bathing. There is also a private bath called “Yawaragi no Yu” where you can spend private time.
■ Exquisite Cuisine with Seasonal Ingredients
The cuisine at Taenoyu features local Akita dishes made with an abundance of fresh local ingredients. In particular, you can enjoy kiritanpo nabe (rice stick hot pot), seasonal wild vegetables, river fish, and mushroom dishes. Dinner is served in a dining area facing a mountain stream, where you can enjoy the scenery while eating. Breakfast also receives high praise for its generous variety. Hot dishes are served hot and cold dishes are served cold, maintaining high culinary quality.
■ Comfortable Guest Rooms and Nature’s Healing Touch
The guest rooms at Taenoyu include the Momiji-kan (Maple Wing), Sakura-kan (Cherry Blossom Wing), and Tsubaki-kan (Camellia Wing), each of which has been renovated to provide a comfortable environment. The stream-side rooms in the Momiji-kan offer beautiful views, making your stay in nature truly special. Additionally, the hot springs have two sources — Kin no Yu and Gin no Yu — allowing you to enjoy various water qualities, which is another attractive feature..
●Access Information for “Taenoyu”
- Official Website: https://taenoyu.com/
- Access: From Tazawako Station bus stop, get off at “Taenoyu Onsen-mae,” 1 minute walk
- Address: 2-1 Komagatake, Obonai, Tazawako, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture 014-1201
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4FW7PCCvTNJPY88i6