[Semboku City, Akita Prefecture] It's best to see both the man-made autumn leaves of Kakunodate and the natural autumn leaves of Dakigaeri Valley

Semboku City is home to numerous events and festivals, including theKakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival(from early April to Golden Week) in spring, which attracts one of the largest numbers of tourists to Akita Prefecture;the Tazawako Ryujin Festivalheld throughout Semboku CitySasara dances(around the Obon festival in August); andthe Kakunodate Festival's float procession(September 7th to 9th). Autumn is also an excellent time to visit Semboku City and Kakunodate.

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The autumn leaves along Samurai Residence Street rival the cherry blossoms

Many tourists visit the Samurai Residence Street and the banks of the Hinokinai River as famous cherry blossom viewing spots. The weeping cherry trees along Samurai Residence Street are said to have originated in the Edo period when the wife of Satake Yoshiaki (1643-1699), the second head of the Satake Kita family of Kakunodate, brought three cherry tree saplings from Kyoto as part of her dowry. The weeping cherry trees planted around 1656 have since withered and been added, but there are now 162 trees (as of 2025, they are designated as a national natural monument), and their competing blooms are a magnificent sight

However, autumn is no less beautiful. Unfortunately, there are no trees designated as cultural properties, but the contrast between the black wooden fences of the former Aoyagi and Ishiguro residences and the maple, ginkgo, zelkova, and weeping cherry trees that turn autumn colors, captivates visitors

It is lit up every year from October 1st to November 30th, allowing you to enjoy a fantastical view that is different from the daytime

Information on autumn leaves in Kakunodate Samurai Residence Street

• Facility name: Samurai Residence Street
• Cultural property designation: Kakunodate, Kakunodate Town, designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings
• Location: Omotemachi Shimocho, Omotemachi Kamicho, Higashishorakucho, Uramachi, Kakunodate Town, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture
• For inquiries, please contact: Semboku City Kakunodate Tourist Information Center "Kakunodate Ekimaekura"　
• Phone number: 0187-54-2700
• URL:Samurai Residence Street
• access:
  • Public transportation: Akita Shinkansen, JR Tazawako Line, Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway, approximately 20 minutes on foot from Kakunodate Station
  • By car: Approximately 40 minutes from Kyowa IC on the Akita Expressway via National Highways 341 and 46

Google Map

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Dakigaeri Valley: A famous autumn foliage spot in the Tohoku region that rivals Samurai Residence Street

DakigaeriGorgeamong the many gorges with beautiful autumn colorsYabakei of Tohokuis a popular autumn foliage spot in Semboku City, known as the

wascarvedDesignated as part of the Tazawako Dakigaeri Prefectural Natural Park, the Dakigaeri GorgeHachimantai, and stretches for about 10 kilometers. Along the gorge are numerous waterfalls of varying sizes, and primeval forests of red and yellow maple and beech trees compete to cover them. The magnificent contrast is particularly vivid to the eye. For about 1.5 kilometers from the entrance to the gorge at the lowest point, there is a well-maintained walking trail with few ups and downs, which takes about 30 minutes round trip. The fact that anyone can enjoy the beautiful gorge is one of the charms of the Dakigaeri Gorge. From mid-October to mid-November, the "Dakigaeri Gorge Autumn Leaves Festival" is held, with various events taking place.

*Yabakei (Oita Prefecture) is a valley that is said to be the most magnificent in Japan, with its strange rock formations, valleys, and autumn foliage

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The highlights are the view from Kami no Iwabashi Bridge and Kaimeki no Taki Falls, both located along the walking trail

inThe Kami-no-Iwahashi Bridge was built in 1926 (Taisho 15) for the Obonai Forest Railway, a forest railway used to transport Akita cedar cut from deep in the mountains to the current JR Tazawako Line Jindai Station. It is the oldest suspension bridgeAkita Prefecture. A forest railway is a forestry facility where handcarts loaded with large quantities of timber run on steel rails. People operate the brakes as the carts descend the slope to their destination. On the way up, the empty carts are pulled up by human power, horses, dogs, etc., but it seems that oxen were used for the Obonai Forest Railway.

Even so, it's amazing to see a trolley loaded with a huge amount of cedar trees cross a suspension bridge. It really conveys the harshness of forestry work, where life and death are constantly at stake. The current Kaminoiwabashi Bridge was renovated in 1975 (Showa 50), and is now used as a footpath that is open only to pedestrians

The Ihouchi Forest Railway was abolished in 1963 (Showa 38), but the abandoned railway line was later developed into a walking trail in the Dakigaeri Valley

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The waterfall is so beautiful that you can look at it again and again, hence the name "Kaimeki no Taki" (Retrospective Waterfall)

MikaeriFallsare located about 1.5 km from the entrance to the gorge, near the end of a well-maintained walking trail. When the water volume is low, you can get close to the base of the falls. The waterfall has a drop of about 30 meters andMikaeriis named

at the entrance to the streamthe Dakigaeri Shrine, you'll soon arrive at the red-painted [Kami no Iwabashi] (SacredRockBridgeStone, [Shrine Maiden, you'll see various large and small strangely shaped rocks scattered in the river, such asSeiganbashi] (Vow Bridge). Steep cliffs are stained red and yellow, with a crystal-clear stream in the center. Autumn unfolds before your eyes. From there, after passing through three hand-dug tunnels built during the forest railway era, you'll reach "Kaiko no Taki" (Reminiscence Waterfall).

"Dakigaeri GorgeThe well-maintained walking trail inShowa. The trail continues beyond that point, but as of 2025, it is closed due to damage from heavy rain. YouNatsuse Onsencan reachthe Senboku City Tazawako Tourist Information Center "Forelake" (phone number: 0187-43-2111)please contact

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The best thing in Japan discovered in the forest

The forest surrounding "Dakigaeri Gorge" was once a mixed forest of Akita cedar, beech, maple, and other deciduous broad-leaved trees. However, most of the Akita cedar has now been cut down, and the area is now dominated by natural deciduous broad-leaved forests. Within this forestnatural chestnutandbeech trees,. Unfortunately, there are no hiking trails, so it's not easy to visit them, but it is hoped that walking paths will be developed in the future.

[Japan's best chestnut]

"Japan's Largest Chestnut Tree" stands on a steep cliff in the "Dakigaeri Gorge," and is particularly striking among the many naturally occurring giant trees in the forest. The trunk circumference at the base is about 8.1m, and it splits into two branches about 2m above the ground. Giant chestnut trees are rare, and its estimated age is 200 to 300 years, with a height of approximately 22m.

[Japan's best beech]

"beech tree in Japan"​​the Tazawako Dakigaeri Prefectural Natural Park. Its largest trunk circumference is 8.6m, and it splits into two branches at a height of 4-5m above the ground. Its majestic presence, complete with large knots, makes it a natural beech tree truly worthy of being called the largest in Japan. It is said to be 200-300 years old and stands approximately 24m tall.

*There has been an increase in the number of bears, deer, and other animals spotted. When entering valleys and forests, please be careful and bring bear protection items such as bells and bear repellent spray. Please refrain from picking mushrooms without due consideration

Dakigaeri Valley Information

• Location: Dakigaeri Valley
• Location: Sotsuda, Lake Tazawa, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture, and other locations
• For inquiries, please contact: Semboku City Kakunodate Tourist Information Center "Kakunodate Ekimaekura"　
• Phone number: 0187-54-2700
• URL:Dakigaeri Valley
• access:
  • Public transportation: Approximately 20 minutes by car from Tazawako Station on the Akita Shinkansen or JR Tazawako Line, or approximately 15 minutes by car or reservation-based on-demand taxi "Yobunoru Kakunodate" from Kakunodate Station　
  • "Yobunoru Kakunodate" Reservation URL:Tabi-CONNECT
  • By car: Approximately 50 minutes from Kyowa IC on the Akita Expressway via National Route 46

Google Map

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Shiraiwa, a castle town older than Kakunodate. Unganji Temple, with its beautiful old Akita cedar trees and autumn leaves

UnganjiTempleis an ancient temple said to have been established in 1450, located in Shiraiwa, Kakunodate town, about 3km west of Kakunodate, andShiraiwa ware pottery. At the end of the approach lined with ancient Akita cedar trees stands the temple gate (a designated tangible cultural property of Akita Prefecture) which was built more than 300 years ago. The temple grounds are beautiful with autumn foliage, and although more than half of the "1,000 Shiraiwa ware Buddha statues" from the late Edo period were stolen during the Edo period due to rumors that "owning one would make you rich," all 1,000 statues have now been donated twice by the Shiraiwa ware pottery kilns and are on display together.

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Shiraiwa ware, the first pottery in Akita Prefecture that has been in business since the Edo period

ShiraiwaGennaiware originated in the early 1770s during the Edo period. The Kubota domain invited Hiragathe Ani Minewas also working as a mining engineer at the time, to modernizean inventor from Edo who. Hiraga Gennai built theKagoyama Smelting Plant (site: Futatsui, Noshiro City), a state-, a potter from Ohori Soma ware in Fukushima Prefecture, accompanied him to make ceramic containers for smelting, and heMatsumoto Unshichibegan firing pottery in Shiraiwa. Shiraiwa ware is said to be the first pottery kiln in Akita Prefecture.

Shiraiwa ware suffered devastating damage in the Riku-U earthquake of 1896 (Meiji 29) and was no longer viable, but thanks to the efforts of local people it managed to make a comeback and is still popular today as a type of pottery that represents Akita Prefecture

Information about Unganji Temple and Shiraiwa Pottery

• Facility name: Unganji Temple and Shiraiwa Yaki
• Location: Shiraiwa, Kakunodate-cho, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture
• For inquiries, please contact: Semboku City Kakunodate Tourist Information Center "Kakunodate Ekimaekura"　
• Phone number: 0187-54-2700
• URL:Unganji Temple, Shiraiwa Pottery
• access:
  • Public transportation: Akita Shinkansen, JR Tazawako Line, Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway, approximately 10 minutes by car from Kakunodate Station
  • By car: Approximately 45 minutes from Kyowa IC on the Akita Expressway via National Route 46

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