[Akiu, Miyagi Prefecture] To enjoy your trip to Akiu! Let's visit Akiu Sato Center!

Rairikyo Gorge, a scenic spot in Akiu, is well-known as one of the most scenic spots in Sendai City, and indeed in Miyagi Prefecture.
The bridge at the entrance has a heart-shaped rock hollow that has been certified as a lover's sacred place by the ``Lover's Sacred Land Project,'' and is visited by many couples every year.
Across the bridge, on the other side of Rairikyo Gorge, is the facility ``Akiu Sato Center,'' which we will be introducing this time.
Akiu Sato Center may give you a formal impression when you hear its name, but it is actually a lively facility where various events are held, such as light-up events, footbaths, and harvest festivals.
It's the perfect base for enjoying Akiu's scenic beauty, hot springs, and specialties!

What kind of facility is Akiu Sato Center?

What is Akiu Sato Center?

Akiu Sato Center is a tourist facility that fully introduces the highlights of Akiu.
There are many useful sightseeing spots within the building, including a tourist information center and a corner introducing hot spring facilities in Akiu.
Among them, the exhibition of crafts and craft works and the Akiu Electric Railway corner are must-sees!

The craft/craft work exhibition corner displays various genres of crafts and craft works made in Akiu, from traditional crafts that have been passed down in Akiu since ancient times to modern crafts.
From Akiu kokeshi dolls, Edo tops, ceramics, natural wood processing, buried woodwork, dyeing and weaving, lacquer work, woodwork, Sendai chest of drawers, glass crafts, sculptures, and flower arrangements, there's sure to be something to suit your taste!
This is a facility you should check before choosing a souvenir!

Akiu Electric Railway is a railway that connected Nagamachi and Akiukan until 1961.
One of the highlights of the museum is the corner introducing this railway, which is now discontinued.
In particular, the diorama that faithfully reproduces the Akiu Electric Railway is designed to make the train start running when you press a button, making it popular not only with railway fans but also with families with children!

Footbath! Maple! Outdoor facilities are also fun!

The charm of Akiu Sato Center is not only indoors.
There are many attractive facilities outdoors as well!

The first thing I would like to recommend is the footbath.
This footbath, named "Juuemon no Yu", allows you to enjoy the rich quality of Akiu Onsen for free!
By the way, Juemon is the name of the savior who rescued Akiu Onsen from being buried in the Great Ansei Earthquake.
If it weren't for him, Akiu Onsen wouldn't be where it is today, so we have to thank him for his great achievements!

The release period is Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from April to November.
On the day of our interview, it was the source of the Akiu Grand Hotel's ``Raigi-no-Yu.''
Even in the cold weather, the water warms you from the core, making you want to soak up to your shoulders.

When you exit from the footbath side to the banks of the Natori River, there is a walking path called ``Momiji no Komichi''.
Why not listen to the murmuring of the Natori River while feeling the nature of Akiu that changes with the seasons?

If you're hungry, have a meal at HACHI

After taking a walk around Rairikyo Gorge, it was lunchtime before we knew it.
I hadn't decided what to eat!
For such people, we recommend the restaurant ``HACHI'' attached to the Akiu Sato Center.
The specialty dish is "Akiu Doria with Hamburger Steak and Vegetables", which uses fresh ingredients from Akiu!
We also recommend ``Japan's Best Neapolitan with Hamburg Steak''!
We also have a wide selection of cafe menus and takeout menus, so please try them out depending on how hungry you are!

To enjoy Akiu to the fullest!

The Akiu Sato Center has everything you need to enjoy Akiu to its fullest, such as Akiu day trip hot spring maps, rental bicycles, and coin lockers.
Moreover, all these services are free!
Even renting a bicycle is free!

Akiu is a long stretch of land along the Natori River, so it makes a big difference whether you have a bicycle or not!
If you want to enjoy Akiu to the fullest, please give it a try!