Is the city of Akita worth visiting?

Hello!
I am planning to visit the city of Akita next February, but I think it has few points of interest. Has anyone visited there? It is worth spending a couple of days in the city? Is Kakunodate more interesting?
All kind of recommendations are welcome.

Thank you!

We are also pondering this dilemma: we will be following responses with interest.

I am not sure what I would do in Akita city itself for two days, especially in February, but if you look hard enough you can probably find a few things. My personal experience is that Kakunodate is more interesting as a place to visit for tourism (although one day is probably enough), but that Akita has better hotel choices and more places to eat around the station area.

I have spent the night in Akita on two different trips but have to confess that I didn't do much there except sleep. (Both times, I got excellent rates on comfortable hotels, and I had a rail pass, so Akita was a good logistical choice for me, even though I didn't sightsee there. I did visit Kakunodate on one of those trips; the two cities are only about 45 minutes apart by shinkansen.)

I'm wondering why you are planning to go to Akita for two nights if you don't have any idea what you want to do there. For some people, that region of Japan is too cold in the winter to be doing much outdoor sightseeing. And it gets dark quite early in February. I'd maybe look for a place where you can enjoy onsen baths and/or good local cuisine, in that part of Japan.

I have been to Akita several times. I was there most recently last month. Usually just for one night, but sometimes for two. I have a trip planned for 2025 that sees me there for three nights because I will be attending the Kanto Festival.
Is there much to do? Depends a bit on tastes, and usually if I am there for two nights I include a trip across to Kakunodate (usually for the cherry blossom, but not always). A Namahage Restaurant can be fun, and there is a small museum in the castle park inside one of the surviving turrets.
It is a good location to stay if doing trips around the western coast of Honshu and needing somewhere to break up the travel. In my case last month it was the stop-over point between Aomori and Niigata/Sado.

When you visit akita,you can consider to buy gono line free pass 2 day =3880 yen
Akita city bus 1 day pass=1000 yen
Yuri kogen railway 1 day pass =1100 yen
Akita nairiku railway 1 day pass= 2500 yen
2 day =3500 yen

Yes, I'd maybe bypass the city itself and go to the Oga Pensinsula (where we once spent a very cold but fun NYE), and check out the Namahage museum, and then go to Kakunodate.

Stay at a nice ryokan for a snowy onsen experience if you're lucky, and a kiritampo hotpot meal.

Thank you for all your comments!

In general - I think that February is often when snow is at it's deepest in Akita, but others who visit in winter will be able to confirm if this is the case or not.

I've visited Akita twice and found it to be a nice serviceable city - but it was nothing out of the ordinary. Akita prefecture has great natural beauty which is harder to enjoy in winter due to the short days and temperature.

Here are the sites I visited when I went: https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3271

Note that none were what I'd call world class - but there was enough there to do for a day. Note that some of these locations might be closed in winter so do take that into consideration.

I've also visited Kakunodate in summer and it was nice enough - but would be very cold in winter so take that into consideration. Places I've visited in Kakunodate: https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3270

Odd question to ask - but what do you want to experience or what do you like to do? Once we know this - some people might be able to give you location suggestions.

It would help if you better explained aspects that you're interested in. Plus, February is not the best time of year to visit, unless you specifically like the cold and snow.
Every place has something to see, but regarding if it's worth it, it really depends with where else you're comparing it to. If Kakunodate, I liked their preserved old district. Overall, I liked Aomori more than Akita. But I'd love to visit in August and see the Kanto Festival.

@Ken, it wasn't in my original plan to attend the Kanto festival, but I managed to get somewhere to stay which can be a challenge. The first pick was the Aomori Nebuta festival, but spending 150,000 yen per night on some crummy apartment wasn't in the budget. And, I do like visiting Aomori too.
Back to the OP, where does this stay/stop fit into your trip? It is certainly not a usual destination.

Well, I've visited Japan many times and Akita is still an unexplored area for me, so I wanted to visit there this time. My main reason to go on February is to attend Sapporo Yuki Matsuri. From there I am going down through Tohoku. I like cold and snow but I am not sure how hard the weather is in February in that area.
I've already visited other places in Tohoku like Aomori, Morioka, etc.
Maybe I will try the onsen and relax plan instead of the sightseeing one in Akita. I will check the options.
Before going to Akita I am spending a couple of days is Odate, maybe in some homestay.

Thank you very much for all your comments guys. ☺️

I went in the summer (it's a great escape from the muggy heat farther south). It's not on many people's lists even though there's a bullet train there. Aside from the festival, I'd love to go in the fall for the beautiful dahlia garden near the airport. I couldn't find much else there in the city that appeals to me - of course everyone immediately thinks of the dogs and rice/sake. But my interest is more in natural beauty, and with a car you can see a lot of it across the prefecture.