Akita in the Winter

Travel Reports by jacargon

Note: The opinions and views expressed in this user report are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of japan-guide.com.

February 19, 2018 - Akita in the Winter

Nestled nearby the top of Honshu, Japan�fs main island, lies Akita. A prefecture
that�fs often overlooked because of its rural setting, and potentially the fact that
here demon�fs are celebrated and used to scare children into behaving
themselves.

That aside, it�fs a gem of a prefecture with cozy towns and a relaxed
atmosphere that oozes the local culture. If you�fre seeking something with a bit of
a local flavor and lacking the overzealous crowds of tourists, Akita could be for
y�fall and here�fs why.

- Tazawako Ski Resort
Overlooking the deepest lake in Japan, Tazawako, this ski resort has
multiple runs and 6 different sets of chair lifts, some covered, to get you
up and running pretty quickly. Equipment hire is a breeze and the resort
is a stomping ground for locals with not so many other travellers passing
through, so there�fs plenty of room to cut loose down the mountain.
Special mention to the view of the lake, which is stunning at any point
coming down.

- Nyuto Onsen
After a long day out and about, nothing beats the feeling of sitting in a hot
spring bath to wind down and simply relax. Nyuto (Japanese for nipple)
Onsen is located nearby the ski resort and has private baths for both men
and women but the star of the show is the mixed outdoor bath. Its milky
water ensures you don�ft see anything you don�ft want to see, the ladies
come in through a fenced off section and the feeling of snow falling on you
whilst the rest of your body is kept toasty in the water is nothing short of
serene. It�fs something straight out of a movie, and there�fs really nothing
else like it.

- Lake Tazawako
The heart of this area. Tazawako is a giant lake that also holds the title of deepest in Japan. As such it doesn�ft freeze over in winter and provides some great views of the ski area, and surrounds. A lot of Korean tourists drop by as the popular TV drama �gIris�h was shot here, but it�fs still relatively quiet compared to many of the other tourist trodden ski resorts around the country.

On the western shore of the lake you�fll find the golden statue of a mysterious woman by the name of Tatsuko. As the legend goes, Tatsuko wanted to stay beautiful forever so made a deal with a god who told her to walk north and drink from a nearby spring.

Tatsuko went on to drink the water but only found she was getting thirstier and thirstier. So she continued until before she knew it, she had transformed into a dragon, who became the guardian of the lake. Various locations from the story are nearby if you want to check them out.

- Paper Balloon Festival of Kamihinokinai
Dating back around 100 years ago with no exact record of when it started,
the Paper Balloon Festival of Kamihinokinai is a cute 40 minute train ride
from Kakunodate station and occurs mid February each year. Loads (and I
mean loads) of balloons are fired up and sent into the air carrying the
wishes of the townspeople. Some are adorned with gorgeous artwork,
drawn by the locals and students in nearby schools. If you�fre feeling
hopeful you can also add a wish of your own at a nearby stall to the
smaller balloons that are also being sent on their maiden voyages that
evening. Seeing countless balloons being let off at the same time along
with seeing the sky littered with the small flames that are carrying them
up is remarkable and the sense of community around the event is
palpable.

- The Food
When asking people around Japan what they know about Akita, many of
them comment on the food. Kiritanpo is a mainstay for most dishes and
basically it�fs rice on a stick, with your choice of sauce on top. Miso is a
popular choice and even though it sounds super plain, it�fs actually really
easy to make yourself and pretty delicious to boot. Along with that,
Yokota Yakisoba is a popular festival food and I was even told by a local
that if your restaurant is going to serve this dish here, it can only serve
this dish, neat. Finally Inawina Udon is a style of udon that is flatter and
thinner than your regular run of the mill udon. As such it�fs a lot easier to
eat but no less tasty than it�fs thicker brethren.

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2018/02/19 - Akita in the Winter