Kakunodate Samurai House and Lake Tazawa
Inland Akita provides you with beautiful nature and rich historical culture. Unfolded from a Lookout is a breathtaking view of Lake Tazawa and high mountains seen beyond it. At Kakunodate Castle Town, you will feel its 400-year history strolling along the Samurai House street lined with beautiful and lush tall trees. If we drop in at a Samurai House, we will be impressed with the armory and the other Samurai tools used hundreds of years ago!
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Akita Port, Akita Airport, or your hotel in Akita
Lake Tazawa Lookout
Breathtaking view of Lake Tazawa colored cobalt blue to emerald green and high mountains (1,637 meters or 4,700 feet tall Mt. Komagatake etc.) seen beyond it, its peak being capped with snow in winter to early spring season!
Golden Statue of "Tatsuko"
The statue represents a famous lady named ”Tatsuko”, having become a water dragon in the folklore, symbol of eternal beauty!
Lunch at restaurant along the Lake
Charming glass-walled restaurant with plenty of sunlight, serving typical Western foods.
Kakunodate Samurai House Street
You will enjoy strolling along lush green street lined with Samurai Houses and tall trees, formulating rich historical townscape.
Leaving Kakunodate
Road Station or "Michino-Eki"
Drop in to enjoy seeing local food products, locally brewed Japanese sake, and other souvenirs.
Ending Point
Back to Akita Port, Akita Airport, or your hotel
Want to personalize this tour?
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/57933/eca51912-3806-4376-b0b5-14b34547a8e8.png)
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
-Guiding fee
-Private car (Subaru Impreza XV)
-gasoline, toll, parking
-Lunch and drinks
-Entrance fee to Samurai House(s), approx. 500 yen per a house per person
Tour Important Information
This tour is the party up to three persons.
If you are the party over four persons, please consult me as we need to arrange for different logistics.
This tour involves a certain amount of walking, so please make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
This tour is not recommended for those with severe back/knee problems.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Kenichi K.
I would be very glad to guide overseas tourists based on my various working experiences over 30 years in a general trading house, including overseas clients' guide in Japanese local cities, being aware of their interests and viewpoints learned through my engagement with various clients during my overseas assignments (10 years in total) and business trips to some 40 countries.
During the past 10 years living in Akita City (northern Japan), I could greatly expand my outdoor activities such as trekking (not only green season but also winter snowshoe hiking), skiing, and experiencing various local traditional festivals, fireworks festival, hot spring lodges stay with local cuisines/Sake etc. I would very much like to share such joy with our valued overseas tourists!
Reviews
Vibes C.
“Kenichi-San is a good find for a guide!”
My daughter and I had a memorable time in Akita. Thanks to our exceptional guide! Kenichi-san was well prepared, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic throughout our tour. He even sent us a PowerPoint presentation beforehand, which he used very effectively during the trip to help us better understand the history and significance of the places we visited in Akita. Being a former professor was truly an advantage. He had a wonderful way of explaining history in very simple and easy-to-understand terms, without making it feel like a lecture. His stories brought the past to life and made the entire experience so much more meaningful and enjoyable. What made the visit even more special was his personal connection with the descendant of the Ishiguro family. Ishiguro-san who is a resident of the house toured us in their Samurai house (one of only six original samurai residences that remain standing today). This gave us such a rare and authentic glimpse into the family’s history and made the visit even more memorable. I especially loved our guide’s energy, warmth, and sincere desire to always give us more than what was expected during the tour. He is truly a wonderful find, and I would book him again in a heartbeat! Thank you Kenichi-san! See you again soon!
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/57933/eca51912-3806-4376-b0b5-14b34547a8e8.png)
Kenichi K.
Dear Vibes, Thank you very much for your utmost appreciation, very much honored and pleased. I feel more than happy to learn that you have really enjoyed the tours in Akita and elsewhere in Japan. It was wonderful to spend time and to have a variety of conversations with your people, starting with a quiet and beautiful church, then to nature around the Lake and Samurai Town, dropping at Sake brewery, ending at a wonderful Onsen lodge deep in the forest. I am also deeply impressed with the great careers of you and your daughter likewise. Good days and months, take best care of yourselves and see you not in the distant future. Best regards, Kenichi
Soeyantho L.
“Akita 1 day private tour”
Kenichi-san was an outstanding tour guide in Akita. He took us to the Our Lady of Akita, Lake Tazawa, Tsurunoyu Onsen (Nyuto Onsen area), and Kakunodate Samurai Town, and he made the whole day smooth, comfortable, and genuinely enjoyable. He is very helpful and attentive to detail—always checking timing, weather, walking conditions, and the small practical things that make a trip stress-free. He’s also knowledgeable, explaining the background and local stories in a clear, engaging way without ever rushing us. Throughout the day he was cheerful, friendly, and easy to talk to, which created a relaxed atmosphere from start to finish. If you’re looking for someone professional, warm, and reliable in Akita, I highly recommend Kenichi-san. He’s the kind of guide who truly elevates the experience, and I would gladly book him again and recommend him to others.
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/57933/eca51912-3806-4376-b0b5-14b34547a8e8.png)
Kenichi K.
Dear Soeyantho-san, Many thanks for your utmost appreciation, very grateful! Thanks to your beautiful family members’ good behaviors, we were very much blessed with pretty fine weather, which was unusual and rare in this winter season of the year in this side of Japan along Japan Sea. My fun too was the exciting walking Our Lady of Akita garden covered with small snow, beautiful scenery along shining Lake Tazawa and challenging Onsen experiences in sunny open-air bath etc.! Our various conversation including your country's today was interesting and exciting. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you not in distant future. Best regards, Kenichi
Kerrie J.
“half way around the country ”
what an absolutely amazing day we went to so many beautiful places ken is the greatest guide an so full of knowledge the information he provided on each place was fantastic i wish i had more time to do more things with ken. highly recommend anybody wanting to use these guys to go exploring
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/57933/eca51912-3806-4376-b0b5-14b34547a8e8.png)
Kenichi K.
Dear Kerrie, Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback, very much honored! I enjoyed a lot sharing excellent experiences and also exciting conversation with you. Good holidays with rich snowboarding in various fields of northern Tohoku! Best regards, Ken
$459/ per group
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/16236/08e37b38-6eba-44e8-9309-09059a832f1d.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/16236/bbd47e89-f1b7-4e98-9a11-1906037407a5.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/16236/4895f352-95dc-42f0-b42b-51a64509995f.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/15634/5b4dec68-4bdc-4a56-9987-c70ed88971e6.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/10179/cf7a411f-3330-4922-bf7f-582e7cb48d25.png)