Kakunodate, “Little Kyoto of the North,” and Oga Peninsula: walking Akita’s samurai quarter

About Akita

Akita lies on the Sea of Japan in western Tohoku. Its capital is Akita City and the prefecture is renowned for premium rice.

Main walking areas in Akita

Here are some of the prefecture’s most popular places to walk, where public smoking spots and facilities with smoking rooms tend to be available nearby.

• Around Akita Station and Senshu Park
• Kakunodate (samurai residence street, Hinokinai riverbank)
• Oga Peninsula (Cape Nyudozaki, area near Oga Aquarium GAO)

Akita trivia

Kakunodate is dubbed the “Little Kyoto of the North,” famed for its black-fenced samurai street and weeping cherry blossoms in spring.

Tips for finding smoking areas in Akita

• Use designated smoking spots in areas with no-smoking-on-the-street ordinances
• Stations, large commercial complexes and tourist information centres are good starting points
• Heated-tobacco-only rooms are growing — switch the tobacco-type filter to match your device
• Use a portable ashtray or the ashtray in the smoking area — good etiquette helps keep these spots open for everyone

Find efficiently with Mottosuitai

Allow location access on the Mottosuitai map to see smoking areas within 2 km of you. To browse by region, visit /search/?prefecture=akita for the Akita list.