Go meet the big, fluffy Akita dogs! [Akita Prefecture, Odate City, Akita City, and other locations]

The Akita Inu is a popular Japanese dog breed, alongside the Shiba Inu, due to its large body, round eyes, and cute, curled tail

There are six native dog breeds in Japan that are designated as special natural monuments, and the Akita Inu is the only one from the Tohoku region to receive this designation

Widely known famous Akita dogs

The 2009 film "HACHI: A Dog's Tale," a remake of the Japanese film "Hachiko Monogatari," was a hit overseas, increasing the film's popularity abroad

When talking about Akita dogs, Hachi, who waited for his deceased owner at the train station, is often cited as the most representative example, but there are other Akita dogs that are also widely known

Wasao, the "ugly-cute dog" who also became famous through movies, was a particularly fluffy, long-haired breed

Also, "Masaru," the dog given to figure skater Alina Zagitova, and "Yume," the dog given to Russian President Vladimir Putin, are both Akita dogs

Let's protect the Akita Inu!

In response to the recent decline in the number of registered Akita dogs due to factors such as the aging of breeders, the Akita Dog Preservation Society has launched a preservation and protection project

As part of its efforts to preserve the Akita dog breed for future generations, the "ONE FOR AKITA Project" features a list of places in the prefecture where you can meet Akita dogs on its official website

ONE FOR AKITA Project

ONE FOR AKITA Project

https://www.saveakita.or.jp/ofa/

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Akita dogs are a Japanese treasure! The Akita Dog Preservation Society in Odate City strictly manages their bloodlines [Akita Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/27810

Odate City, Akita Prefecture, is located in the middle reaches of the Yoneshiro River, which crosses northern Akita Prefecture. It borders Aomori Prefecture and is the northernmost municipality in Akita Prefecture. Odate City is a basin (the Odate Basin) surrounded by mountains on three sides. The northwestern part of the city is a series of mountains and forests that extend to the Shirakami-Sanchi Mountains, a World Heritage Site, with forests accounting for approximately 80% of the city. The city center is located in the basin along the Yoneshiro River, with farmland surrounding it. The climate is typical of a basin, with large temperature differences between hot summers and cold winters. Odate is also one of the snowiest areas in Akita Prefecture, with an average snow depth of approximately 2.5 meters. Akita dogs were bred as hunting dogs...

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Spots in Akita Prefecture where you can meet Akita dogs, whose numbers are increasing

The "ONE FOR AKITA Project" has established nine "Akita Inu Meeting Spots" throughout Akita Prefecture, where you can see Akita dogs up close.

By the way, the reason why we say "you can meet" rather than "you can interact" with Akita dogs is due to the Akita dog's personality

Akita dogs, as seen in "Hachi," are very loyal and love their owners, but on the other hand, they are also very shy around strangers

While their strong vigilance makes them ideal as guard dogs or hunting dogs, they may become wary of strangers trying to pet them and, in some cases, may bite in self-defense

Due to these characteristics and to prevent stress from being surrounded by strangers, many facilities allow visitors to only observe without touching them

Akita Dog Hall (Odate City)

Located near the ruins of Odate Castle (Katsura Castle Park), the first floor houses the headquarters of the "Akita Inu Preservation Society," which handles the creation of Akita Inu pedigrees

On weekdays, Akita dogs are on duty as part of the staff, greeting visitors at the office's reception counter

On the day of the interview, we were greeted by Hime-chan (a 1-year-old girl), and a member of the preservation society guided her so that we could get her to look at the camera for photos

Although we couldn't pet them directly, we were able to get quite close through the fence, and they showed us their adorable side, such as appealing to the staff with their eyes to let them go outside

Additionally, the third floor houses Japan's only Akita Inu Museum (admission fee required), which displays materials and history related to the Akita Inu breed

The exhibition room is a place where you can linger, with movies such as "HACHI" playing on the televisions and numerous manga and books featuring Akita dogs as the main characters

Odate City Tourism and Exchange Facility: Akita Dog Village (Odate City)

Located in front of JR Odate Station, this facility is the former site of Odate Station on the Kosaka Railway, which once connected Odate and Kosaka, and includes a "Railway Park."

At Akita Inu Village, you can see Akita dogs relaxing and playing with their owners and staff through the glass in the "Akita Inu Exhibition Room (Akita Inu Room)."

On this day, Gin-kun (a 9-year-old male), who is good at getting pampered, was "on duty" and seemed to be enjoying being brushed in preparation for shedding season

For more details about Akita Inu Village and the Kosaka Railway, please see this article

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Train Trip in Kosaka Town: Part 1] Ride railbikes and trolleys along the tracks and stay overnight on a Blue Train! [Akita Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/46160

The abandoned Kosaka Railway in northeastern Akita Prefecture still has most of the tracks remaining along the Jukai Line (Akita Prefectural Route 2, Odate-Towada Lake Line), giving a sense of the area's former glory. The buildings and track land from the former Odate Station to the border with Kosaka Town were transferred to Odate City free of charge, while the town leased the former Kosaka Station site, providing the station building and rolling stock free of charge. These facilities have been turned into museums and parks, and the remaining tracks have been developed into an experiential attraction where visitors can ride rail bikes and trolleys on them. Prices in this article are current as of September 21, 2025. Local...

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Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Train Trip in Kosaka Town: Part 2] Ride railbikes and trolleys along the tracks and stay overnight on a Blue Train! [Akita Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/46489

The Kosaka Railway (officially known as the Kosaka Smelting Kosaka Line) was a 22.3km local freight railway line connecting Odate City and Kosaka Town, operated by Kosaka Smelting Co., Ltd., which is still located in Kosaka Town. It initially transported ores such as gold, silver, copper, and zinc from the Kosaka Mine. After the mine closed, it was used to transport concentrated sulfuric acid manufactured by the company, and simultaneously operated passenger services. Passenger service was discontinued in October 1994, but continued to transport concentrated sulfuric acid until March 2008, when that service was also suspended. The entire line was officially closed on April 1, 2009. [https://jp.neft.asia/archives/46160 Encountering various nostalgic railway vehicles...].

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Furusawa Onsen (Odate City)

This is a hot spring inn located near Takumi Arena (Odate City Jukai Gymnasium)

Here you can interact with Haru-chan (a 9-year-old girl) and Hana-chan (an 8-year-old girl), a mother and daughter duo known as "Akita beauties."

This popular inn offers not only overnight stays but also day-use bathing and dining, and unlike other spots, it allows guests to interact with the women

The day I visited was unfortunately their regular day off, so I stopped by just to take some photos of the inn's exterior. Luckily, Haru and Hana were tied up outside, basking in the sun

As we approached, the dog barked softly as if to say, "We have guests!" The innkeeper heard it and came out, and when he told us various things, we learned that not only Japanese people but also many foreign visitors come to interact with Akita dogs

Next time, I'd like to stay overnight and properly say hello to On-chan and Hana-chan

Akita Inu Station (Akita City)

Located on the first floor of "Area Nakaichi," near Senshu Park, this is the activity base for the "ONE FOR AKITA Project," which also handles dog training and finding adoptive homes for rescued dogs

While you can't interact with the Akita dogs themselves, you are free to take photos of the dogs at the station, and official project merchandise is sold inside

Akita Inu Satellite Station (Akita City)

At the "Akita Dog Station" satellite located inside the west exit of Akita Station, you can meet Akita dogs inside the station on Saturdays and Sundays

The shop was scheduled to be open on the day I visited, but it was closed due to the high temperature that day, out of consideration for the Akita dogs, who are sensitive to heat

Furthermore, as the hot weather is expected to continue beyond July, the shop will be closed for the time being

Please check the Akita Inu Station's official website for information on when the service will resume

Akita Inu Interaction Area at Senshu Park (Akita City)

The Ninomaru area of ​​Senshu Park used to be a spot where you could interact with Akita dogs, but as of the end of June 2026, it is closed for relocation and renovation work, so I will report on what it was like when I visited last July

I visited on a hot day in July 2025, but thanks to measures such as using a large fan to lower the temperature inside the tent, I was able to interact with Shoheimaru (a boy, 3 years old at the time)

Although it was a weekday, many tourists were visiting, and Shoheimaru-kun did not show any displeasure and made an effort to interact with them, even letting them pet him

This spot is scheduled to relocate and reopen around September of this year in a building that used to be the Senshu Park shop, located near its previous location

Other places where you can encounter Akita dogs

In addition to those mentioned above, there are other dating spots in Akita Prefecture that are being developed by the "ONE FOR AKITA Project"

• Moriyoshiyama Ani Ski Resort (Kitaakita City)
• Roadside Station Oga Namahage no Sato Ogare (Oga City)
• Enishi (Semboku City)

Some of these "ONE FOR AKITA" spots are temporarily closed due to unforeseen circumstances

For access information and operating status, please check the official "ONE FOR AKITA" website below

GO! Akita: Spots where you can meet Akita dogs | Akita Prefecture

GO! Akita: Spots where you can meet Akita dogs | Akita Prefecture

https://www.saveakita.or.jp/ofa/map

A map of spots in Akita Prefecture where you can meet Akita dogs is now complete! You can also find Akita dog merchandise and take photos and interact with Akita dogs

Also, in May of last year, a privately owned "Akita Inu Café" where you can interact with Akita dogs opened in Odate City

This basic plan includes a drink and a 30-minute stay, during which you can spend 10 minutes interacting with an Akita dog (2,000 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for children)

For other plans and access information, please check the official website of " Akita Inu Café " via the link provided

summary

Akita dogs have a reputation for being ferocious and aggressive, biting people, due to their history as hunting and even fighting dogs.
However, they are actually very intelligent, gentle, and patient dogs. They have a strong protective instinct towards their family and can become aggressive towards strangers or other animals, so it's important to be cautious and check with their owner before interacting with them.
Incidentally, "Hachi," "Wasao," and "Yume," mentioned in the article, have already crossed the rainbow bridge, but "Masaru" is reportedly living happily with figure skater Alina Zagitova in Russia.

DaiwaConsilio

I'm a former Edoite (Tokyoite) who loves Morioka and the six prefectures of Tohoku, and I'm a big fan of history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and choral singing.
I'll introduce you to interesting things, delicious food, and great places in Tohoku!