The Akita Museum of Art (H“cŒ§—§”üpŠÙ, Akita Kenritsu Bijutsukan) is an art museum in Akita City designed by renowned architect Ando Tadao. The museum exhibits a large collection of work by Fujita Tsuguharu (1886-1968), also known as Leonard Foujita, who is arguably Japan's most famous Western style painter.
Born in Tokyo, Foujita spent a considerable part of his life in France and eventually acquired French citizenship. The Akita Museum of Art is one of the few places in the world to exhibit a collection of his works, and features his twenty meter long mural "Annual Events in Akita", illustrating Akita life in the four seasons, on permanent display as the museum's focal piece.
In addition to Foujita's art works, the museum exhibits other pieces from the collection of Hirano Masakichi, an Akita-born art lover and Foujita's patron who passed away in 1989. Temporary exhibitions include works by local citizens, and various projects are also exhibited in the gallery on the museum's ground floor.
Some features of the museum architecture include a free-standing staircase and a triangular skylight which greet visitors as they enter the building. There are also glass panels along one side of the building on the second floor where the museum shop and cafe are, which offer views of Senshu Park (the former site of Akita Castle). The paid area of the museum begins on the second floor; however, admission to the cafe and museum shop is free.
The triangular skylight in the museum entrance hall
Getting there and around
The museum is a ten minute walk west of Akita Station.
Directly connected to JR Akita Station and featuring free WiFi access throughout the property, Hotel Metropolitan Akita offers 2 restaurants, a bar and air-conditioned accommodation. All rooms are carpeted and equipped with a flat-screen TV, a refrigerator and an electric kettle. Some also come with a seating area where guests can relax. The private bathroom comes with a bathtub, free toiletries and a hairdryer. At Akita Metropolitan Hotel, guests can arrange for a soothing massage. The 24-hour front desk offers laundry, dry cleaning and luggage storage services. A variety of cuisine featuring fresh local produces can be enjoyed at Dining Manyo. Guests can also dine at one of the restaurants in the shopping and dining arcade of JR Akita Station. Akita Akarenga Kyodokan is an 8-minute drive away, while Omoriyama Zoo is an 18-minute drive from the hotel. Senshu Park can be walked to within just 6 minutes.
Located a 7-minute walk from JR Akita Station, Akita Castle Hotel features 4 dining options and comfortable guest rooms with free WiFi. There are a 24-hour convenience store, a nail salon and other shops available on site. Each carpeted room is fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a fridge. An electric kettle is also provided in the room. The private bathroom comes with a bath tub and free toiletries. Akita Castle Hotel provides 24-hour front desk services and room service meals. A laundry service is available for guestsf at an extra cost. Guests can also use free luggage storage or enjoy shopping at one of the on-site stores. The hotel is a 40-minute limousine bus ride or a 30-minute drive from Akita Airport. Senshu Park is a 5-minute walk away. On-site Japanese restaurant Kurumaya serves delicately prepared seasonal dishes. Chinese meals can be enjoyed at Totenko, while guests can sip their favourite drinks at Bar Lotus on the 8th floor.
Located just a 7-minute walk from JR Akita Station, Richmond Hotel Akita Ekimae offers simple and modern guestrooms featuring free Wi-Fi and an en suite bathroom. Akita Museum of Art is also a 7-minute walk away. Each carpeted room comes with a flat-screen TV, a telephone and a fridge. Guests can make a cup of tea using an electric kettle and tea bags provided. The bathroom has a bath tub and free toiletries. Akita Ekimae Richmond Hotel offers free luggage storage services at the 24-hour front desk. Drinks vending machines and laundry facilities are available on site. Akita Airport is a 40-minute drive from the hotel. Senshu Park and Kubota Castle are located within a 10-minute walk. On-site restaurant Kagura offers a breakfast buffet featuring a variety of Japanese dishes. Other Japanese meals and local specialities are also available for lunch and dinner.
Dormy Inn Akita is located opposite historical Senshu Park and is a 5-minute walk from JR Akita Station. Free internet access and a public bath are provided. Rooms at Dormy Inn Akita have air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a refrigerator. The en suite bathroom comes with a shower and toiletries. Guests can make use of the open-air public bath with natural hot spring water and the coin-operated laundry machines. Nearby attractions include Akita Museum of Art, Tazawa Lake and the Shirakami-Sanchi mountain range.
Offering massages and a Japanese-style pub, Daiwa Roynet Hotel Akita is a 14-minute walk from JR Akita Train Station. Rooms include an LCD TV and an en suite bathroom with a fog-free mirror. Free Wi-Fi and wired internet access is available at the rooms as well as the lobby. Decorated in a pleasant modern manner, each room comes with a wood desk, an air purifier/humidifier, a mini-fridge and an electric kettle. Guests can enjoy pay TV channels, and rooms have a trouser press. Laptops can be rented at the 24-hour reception. Masakichi Hirano Museum of Fine Art is a 10-minute walk away, and Port Tower Selion is a 20-minute drive. Senshu Koen Park is 650 metres away. In addition to the free-use internet PC at the lobby and the on-site coin launderette, a shared-use microwave is provided. Luggage can be stored at the reception, which also offers fax/photocopying services. Japanese Dining Korin offers a breakfast buffet featuring mostly Japanese dishes. It is also open for dinner, serving Akita's local cuisine and local sake.
A 15-minute walk from JR Akita Train Station, APA Hotel Akita-Senshukoen offers simple Westerns-style accommodations with free wired internet access. Guests can enjoy video-on-demand movies on the flat-screen TV for an extra charge. Senshu Park is only a 5-minute walk away. The air-conditioned rooms feature carpeted floors, a fridge and an electric kettle with green tea bags. Guests can wear the provided Japanese Yukata robes and in-room slippers. The en suite bathroom comes with a hairdryer and toothbrush sets. Relaxing massages can be requested for an extra cost and a coin-launderette is on-site. Photocopying services and luggage storage is available at the 24-hour front desk. A trouser press can be borrowed for in-room use. Akita-Senshukoen APA Hotel is a 10-minute walk from Kawabata Street and a 35-minute drive from Akita Airport. A breakfast buffet is available at the dining room.
Situated in Akita, 1.6 km from Akita Station, Hotel KAN-RAKU Akita Kawabata features views of the city. The 2-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a shared bathroom and free WiFi. Private parking is available on site. All rooms in the hotel are equipped with a kettle. The rooms in Hotel KAN-RAKU Akita Kawabata are fitted with a flat-screen TV and a hairdryer. The accommodation can conveniently provide information at the reception to help guests to get around the area. Omoriyama Zoo is 6.7 km from Hotel KAN-RAKU Akita Kawabata, while Omoriyama Amusement Park Anipa is 7.1 km from the property. The nearest airport is Akita Airport, 16 km from the hotel.
Boasting 2 restaurants, a bar and a cafe, ANA Crowne Plaza Akita, an IHG Hotel is conveniently located a 3-minute walk from JR Akita Train Station. The simply decorated rooms offer free Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV with pay-per-view channels. Carpeted rooms are fitted with an en suite bathroom, a desk and a refrigerator. Each feature an electric kettle, a green tea set and Yukata robes. A hairdryer, free toiletries and slippers are also available. Guests at ANA Crowne Plaza Akita, an IHG Hotel can work out at the fitness centre for free and get a soothing massage at a surcharge. A variety of international meals are served at the restaurants. The Seibu Department Store is a 3-minute walk away, while both Senshu Park and Kubota Castle is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Omoriyama Zoo can be accessed within a 20-minute drive.
A 2-minute walk from JR Akita Train Station, Comfort Hotel Akita welcomes guests with a cup of coffee, and treats them to free WiFi and a free breakfast buffet. Facilities include drinks vending machines and a launderette. Air-conditioned rooms are equipped with an LCD TV, a small fridge and an attached bathroom with toiletries. A coin-launderette is on site and photocopying services are offered at the front desk. Private parking is available on site and massages can be requested for an extra cost. A free breakfast buffet with bread is served at the lounge space. Akita Comfort Hotel is a 5-minute walk from Senshu Park and a 15-minute drive from Akita hot-spring area.
Boasting 5 hot-spring baths and a Korean sauna, Route Inn Grantia Akita Spa Resort is 1.5 km from JR Akita Train Station. Rooms include free internet, a full bathroom and satellite TV channels. Guests at Grantia Akita Spa Resort Route Inn stay in air-conditioned rooms with a tea maker and wood writing desk. Relaxation options include a soak in the bathtub and pay TV programs. Akita City Folk Traditions Hall (Neburi Nagashi Kan) is a 10-minute walk away, and Senshu Park is a 15-minute walk. Parking is free. A relaxation room with massage chairs is provided. Skin treatments are offered at the spa, or guests can try out a new style at the hair salon. Restaurants Hanano Yume Maguroya and Hanachaya offer Japanese cuisine.
