Akita City Port Tower Selion

A grand panorama stretching 100 meters above ground

Selion consists of three buildings: Port Tower Selion, Selion Rista, and Selion Plaza. It opened in 1994 and became a roadside station in 2010.
Selion Plaza is mostly for locals, but Port Tower and Selion Rista are also recommended for tourists.

Port Tower Selion is a glass tower that offers a panoramic view of Akita city. It is 143 meters high, and the observation deck is exactly 100 meters high. When it first opened, there was a fee to enter the observation deck, but it is now open to the public for free, in order to attract more people. From this observation deck, you can see a variety of views from a 360-degree panorama, including Akita city, the industrial area, and Akita Port. The observation hall two floors below can also be rented for events and parties. Why not hold an unusual event in a slightly elevated location?

The night view from Selion is also highly recommended. You can get a panoramic view of Akita's nightscape from the observation deck, and there are even seats for couples. The Port Tower itself is also lit up, so the view from below is great! The colors change depending on the season and events, such as Christmas and Valentine's Day

On the first floor of the Port Tower, you can purchase local vegetables and souvenirs, including Akita specialties. Best of all, this observation deck is free to enter. By the way, the name "SELION" is a combination of SEA (sea) and PAVILION (exhibition hall). It's a fitting name for an observation deck with a panoramic view of the ocean

Would you come here just to eat this?

Selion Rista is a building surrounded by greenery just outside the Port Tower, and it is home to a local specialty known only to those in the know: a vending machine selling udon and soba noodles. These vending machines were once found all over Japan, but are now rarely seen. This vending machine has a Showa-era feel to it. A bowl of udon or soba costs 250 yen. Although it is a vending machine, it is open from 10:00 to 17:00, coinciding with Rista's opening hours. Some people even visit Selion just to "see and try the food from this vending machine." It's a nostalgic flavor that's a must-try when visiting Selion

There is also a restaurant on the first floor of the Port Tower. Here you can enjoy Akita delicacies such as Ohirayama pork cutlets and smoked chicken tartare, as well as local Akita sake. You might also enjoy trying different sakes, such as Takashimizu, Yuri Masamune, and Ginrin

It's an 18-minute drive from Akita Station and has a large parking lot, so it might be a good idea to stop by during your drive

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