- Day 1 -
Access
JR Odate station
Hachiko's statue at JR Odate station
- Hachiko's statue at JR Odate station
大館駅
If you’ve seen the statue dedicated to “Hachiko,” a dog of the Akita breed, at Shibuya station in Tokyo, you may be interested to know that Odate is Hachiko’s hometown. There is a Hachiko statue in front of Odate station as well, and there are many decorative items in the city themed around the Akita breed. Have fun looking for them!
Access
About 10 min by a car
About 26 min on foot
About 7 min to take Shuhoku bus Otani Line or Nakano Line, get off “Odate Omachi bus stop”
Zero-date art center
- Zero-date art center
ゼロダテアートセンター
An art gallery where you can make friends with an Akita dog. “Nono-chan,” a dog of the Akita breed, is always waiting for visitors!
Access
3 min on foot
Odate Magewappa Woodcraft Center
- Odate Magewappa Woodcraft Center
大館曲げわっぱ体験工房
Magewappa is made of the highest quality Akita Cedar in Odate, Akita. The origin of this wood craft work of Akita Cedar goes back to approximately 1300 years ago. Magewappa tableware enhances your dinner table with its natural beauty and soft touch. Their characteristic features-fine wood grain patterns of Akita Ceder, soft touch, simple and elegant forms and an accentuated cherry bark color-accompany your delicious food perfectly.
The center offers workshops where you can learn to make three types of objects: a bread dish, a tray and a lunch box. A master Magewappa craftsman with many years of experience will teach you how to make them from scratch. Challenge yourself to make your very own personal and unique Magewappa craft!
Access
4 min by a car
10 min on foot
Akita dog museum
- Akita dog museum
秋田犬会館
Akita dogs have a very long history. In this museum you can learn about the behavior and the history of Akita dogs. You can also hear stories of dogs who were hunting partners of Akita’s traditional “Matagi” winter hunters, and of that most loyal of dogs, Hachiko. At the entrance you will be welcomed by signboard shaped like an Akita dog!
Access
About 10 min on foot to the center city of Odate area.
Akita's traditional food "Kiritampo"
- Akita's traditional food "Kiritampo"
秋田名物きりたんぽ
Kiritampo is Japanese traditional food in Akita. Mashed steam rice put on the Japanese cedar stick and grilled. It serves with sweet miso or hot pot. It is served in many restaurants around Odate city restaurants and is definitely worth a try.
- Day 2 -
Access
9 min by car from Odate Station
UOZUMI Kimono experience
- UOZUMI Kimono experience
ウオズミ
Here you can try on traditional Japanese outfits like kimonos and hakamas. You can also have a commemorative picture taken outside. Other options include Japanese tea and Ikebana workshops. Enjoy walking down the street decked out in a kimono!
Access
16 min by a car
30 min to take Shuhoku bus from Odate station, get off “Hanaoka Hongo – Torigata Kaikanmae”
Torigata's House
- Torigata's House
鳥潟会館
This old house, which goes back about 400 years, was renovated and expanded in 1936 thanks to the labor of over 1,000 craftsmen. In its Kyoto-style gardens and interior halls you can get a sense of its history and the culture of the time.
Access
12 min by a car
30 min to take Shuhoku bus from Hanaoka Hongo – Torigata Kaikanmae, get off Odate station
Hanazen Chicken Rice bento box
- Hanazen Chicken Rice bento box
花善（鶏めし・大館駅前）
Hanazen’s chicken and rice dishes are famous as features in “Ekiben” lunch boxes sold at train stations. Their taste has remained unchanged since they were first sold in 1947. You can either buy a lunch box to take out or order chicken and rice dish at a restaurant, served in traditional Magewappa wooden vessels.
Access
30 min by a car
Korakukan
- Korakukan
康楽館・小坂
This wooden playhouse, built in 1910, is still functioning, and plays are still performed here. From December to March, the off season when no shows are held, you can take a tour of the premises and have a look behind the scenes. You can also have a commemorative photo taken on the stage wearing actors’ costumes.
Access
3 min on foot
1 min by a car
Mine Office
- Mine Office
鉱山事務所
This wooden three-storey Renaissance-style building was once the office of Kosaka Mine, which was once the largest mine in the country. It is entirely made of Akita cedar. You can rent suits and dresses inside and have a commemorative photo taken while wearing them.
Access
18 min by a car
Oyu Hot Spring Village
- Oyu Hot Spring Village
大湯温泉郷
These famous hot springs, which are said to have been operating for 800 years, feature hot water springing naturally by the banks of the Oyugawa River. The tradition continues to this day, and even now you can wander around the hot springs located in any of the six Ryokans (Japanese Inns) in the hot-spring village. Staying at one of the inns is highly recommended, as it gives you a unique chance to appreciate Japanese culture, cuisine, and tradition.
- Day 3 -
Access
26 minutes by car from “Okabe-so” of Oyu Hot Spring Village
Antora -Hanawa Bayashi festival center
- Antora -Hanawa Bayashi festival center
道の駅あんとらあ
In this facility, you can admire the portable shrines featured during the “Hanawa-Bayashi”, festival, one of the Japanese festivals designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage. The neighboring buildings host many shops selling fresh local produce, fruits, and souvenirs that you do not want to miss.
Hanawa Bayashi festival itself will be hold on 19th and 20th August every year. Dazzling and glittering. Ten gleaming floats fully adorned parade the streets all night. Bringing a spectacular climax to the summer of Hanawa, Kazuno.
Access
8 min on foot
3 min by a car
Old Sekizen Liquor Store
- Old Sekizen Liquor Store
旧関前酒店
This building, erected in 1905, was once a sake brewery. It features a wooden atrium built using a great number of trees. It is a masterpiece of Japanese woodcraft and a wonder to behold. By reserving in advance, you can take part in workshops for making hand-made Kiritampo (Akita’s traditional dish of grilled steam rice with sweet miso) in the traditional Japanese fireplace inside the building.
Access
10 min on foot
3 min by a car
Kazuno offal cuisine
- Kazuno offal cuisine
鹿角ホルモン
When visiting the Kazuno area, you definitely don’t want to miss the offal hot-pots (horumon-yaki).
Internal organs are seasoned with a salty-sweet condiment and cooked together with copious amounts of cabbage. The restaurants serving these dishes are always crowded with local customers.
* if you don’t drive back to Odate station
4 min on foot
* if you don’t drive back to Odate station
1 hour to take JR Hanawa Line