Kakunodate (角館) is a historic town located in the south of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan. It is known for its well-preserved samurai district, traditional architecture, and beautiful cherry blossom trees.
The samurai district of Kakunodate is one of the town’s main attractions, featuring rows of traditional samurai houses with black walls and white lattice windows. Many of these houses are open to the public as museums, where visitors can learn about the lives and customs of the samurai during the Edo period.
Kakunodate is also famous for its cherry blossom trees, which bloom in the spring and attract visitors from all over Japan. The town is home to over 2,000 cherry trees, including the weeping cherry trees that line the Hinokinai River, making it one of the best places in Japan to enjoy cherry blossom viewing.
For history buffs, the Kakunodate Castle Ruins are a must-visit destination. The castle was originally built in the early 17th century by the Satake clan, but was destroyed during a fire in 1880. Today, only the ruins of the castle walls and moat remain, but visitors can explore the site and enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
Kakunodate is also known for its traditional crafts, such as lacquerware, ceramics, and silk weaving. Visitors can learn about these crafts and purchase locally-made products at the Kakunodate Traditional Crafts Museum and other shops in the town.
Samurai Residence Street
| Onoda-ke 小田野家 | April 10th to November 30th / 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Admission: Free | |
| +81 187-43-3384 | |
| 10 Kakunodatemachi Higashikatsurakucho, Semboku, Akita 014-0325 | |
| Kawarada-ke 河原田家 | April to November / 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM December to March / 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Admission: Adults: 500 yen Elementary and junior high school students: 300 yen | |
| +81 187-43-3384 | |
| 9 Kakunodatemachi Higashikatsurakucho, Semboku, Akita 014-0325 | |
| Iwahashi-ke 岩橋家 | April 10th to November 10th / 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Admission: Free | |
| +81 187-43-3384 | |
| 3-1 Kakunodatemachi Higashikatsurakucho, Semboku, Akita 014-0325 | |
| Matsumoto-ke 松本家 | April 10th to November 10th / 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Admission: Free | |
| +81 187-43-3384 | |
| 4 Kakunodatemachi Kobitomachi, Semboku, Akita 014-0324 | |
| Aoyagi-ke 青柳家 | April to November / 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM December to March / 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Admission: Adults: 500 yen junior high school students: 300 yen Elementary school students: 200 yen | |
| +81 187-54-3257 | |
| 〒014-0331 Akita, Semboku, Kakunodatemachi Omotemachishimocho, ３ | |
| Ishiguro-ke 石黒家 | April to November / 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM December to March / 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Admission: Adults: 500 yen Elementary and junior high school students: 300 yen | |
| +81 187-55-1496 | |
| 1, Omotemachishimocho, Kakunodatemachi, Semboku, Akita 014-0331 | |
| Kyu-Ishiguro-ke 旧石黒（恵）家 | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Closed on Mondays. |
| Admission: Free | |
| +81 187-55-4188 | |
| 〒014-0334 Akita, Semboku, Kakunodatemachi Omotemachikamicho, １ | |
| Resources | https://tazawako-kakunodate.com/ja/course/1 |
Getting there
From Tokyo Station to Kakunodate Station:
| Shinkansen | Tokyo Station ↓ Akita Shinkansen ↓ 3 hours (6 stops) Kakunodate Station (Cost 17,020 yen) |
