Enjoy the flavors of Akita while admiring the autumn leaves! 3 recommended spots to see the autumn leaves in Akita

Enjoy the flavors of autumn while viewing the autumn leaves! Oyasukyo Onsen

A 40-minute drive along country roads from Yuzawa Station in Akita Prefecture will bring you to the hot spring town. Also known as Oyasukyo Onsen, this area is home to steam rising from the hot springs here and there along the road
Once you smell the hot spring water and get out of the car, you'll already be at Oyasukyo Onsen. As you descend into the steep, V-shaped Oyasukyo Gorge, you'll be able to see hot water gushing out of the cracks in the rocks. During the autumn foliage season, the trees on both sides of the valley turn red and yellow, a sight to behold. There are several hot spring inns nearby where you can enjoy char, sweetfish, and seasonal wild vegetables. As well as staying overnight, you can also choose to just take a day trip to the baths or just enjoy a meal, so why not enjoy the autumn leaves with your eyes and savor some delicious food?

INFORMATION

Autumn scenery seen from the summit! Mount Kurikoma

Mount Kurikoma spans three prefectures: Akita, Miyagi, and Iwate, and is located almost in the center of Tohoku. It is a place rich in nature, with an abundance of colorful trees such as beech trees that turn golden and rowan trees that turn crimson. If you approach from the Akita Prefecture side, you will find Sugawa Onsen halfway up the mountain. Sugawa Onsen is a hot spring with abundant hot spring water, said to have the second largest amount of water gushing from its source in Japan. The semi-open-air bath, where you can soak in the hot springs while gazing at the magnificent scenery outside, is highly recommended. How about soaking in the bath while admiring the autumn leaves, and then enjoying the local specialty, Inaniwa udon noodles?
There are also well-maintained hiking trails, and you can reach the summit of Mount Kurikoma. From Sugawa Onsen, it takes about 110 minutes to reach the summit. The view of the autumn leaves from the summit may be particularly spectacular.

INFORMATION

Enjoy the autumn leaves in Little Kyoto! Kakunodate Samurai Residences

Photo by juson.tw – 6 Senzan City Kakunodate Martial Artists (60)_Adjusted Size (2009) / Size-adapted.

Kakunodate is a town lined with samurai residences that retain the atmosphere of the Edo period. It was once the castle town of the Satake Kita family. Its historic appearance makes you feel like you're in that era.
There are many places called "Little Kyoto" all over Japan, and Kakunodate is one of them. It is famous for its weeping cherry blossoms, but that's not all. The lush green leaves of summer, the vibrant autumn foliage, and the monochrome snowscapes of winter all show different faces in each season.
When you come to the samurai residence street, why not try "miso kiritanpo" at a samurai residence teahouse? It's Akita's specialty kiritanpo grilled with fragrant miso paste. It's a dish you should definitely try when you visit Kakunodate.

INFORMATION

NEFT Editorial Department

This is the NEFT editorial team.
Articles written by our editorial team and articles by anonymous writers are published here.