Kakunodate’s samurai district, its historic Aoyagi and Ishiguro houses, and the rustic Tsurunoyu hot spring at Nyuto Onsen are the highlights of Semboku, the most visited corner of Akita Prefecture. Kakunodate is often called the “Little Kyoto of Michinoku” for its preserved samurai residences and weeping cherry trees, while Nyuto Onsen is a cluster of remote hot spring inns deep in the mountains. Both are on the Akita Shinkansen, about three hours from Tokyo, and Lake Tazawa lies between them. This guide covers the three highlights, practical access tips and where to stay.
1. Kakunodate Samurai District
Kakunodate’s samurai district, or Bukeyashiki, is one of the best-preserved samurai quarters in Japan, a wide street lined with black wooden fences, gates and huge old trees, much as it looked in the Edo period. The district is about a 20-minute walk from Kakunodate Station, and several residences are open to visitors, some free and some with a small fee. Spring is the star season: about 450 weeping cherry trees bloom in the town, 162 of them designated National Natural Monuments, and the Kakunodate Sakura Festival usually runs from mid-April to early May (April 15 to May 5 in 2026). Along the Hinokinai River, a roughly 2-kilometer embankment of Somei-Yoshino cherry trees, planted in 1934, forms a pink tunnel and is a National Scenic Site. Autumn brings colorful maples to the gardens, and in winter the black fences stand out against deep snow. Rickshaw rides are a fun way to see the street, and the free Odano and Iwahashi houses open from mid-April to November.
2. Aoyagi House and Ishiguro House
Two of the samurai residences are especially worth paying to enter. Aoyagi House is a large estate of several buildings and gardens, with museums inside displaying samurai armor, swords, old household items and collections from the family’s long history. Admission is 500 yen for adults, and it opens 9:00 to 17:00 from April to November, closing a little earlier in winter. Ishiguro House belonged to one of the highest-ranking samurai families in Kakunodate, and its descendants still live on the property; part of the house and its garden are open to the public for 500 yen. Reports indicate that Ishiguro House may suspend public opening from late November 2026, so check before you visit. Kawarada House (500 yen) is another option, and the free Odano and Iwahashi houses let you peek into simpler samurai homes. Allow about two to three hours to see the street and two or three houses at a relaxed pace, and stop for local specialties such as inaniwa udon or Akita’s kiritanpo.
3. Nyuto Onsen and Tsurunoyu
Nyuto Onsen is a group of about seven traditional hot spring inns scattered in the beech forest at the foot of Mt. Nyuto, and Tsurunoyu is the oldest and most famous of them, with thatched and wooden buildings and milky-white spring water. Its large outdoor bath is mixed-gender (there are also separate indoor baths), and it is especially atmospheric in deep snow. Day visitors can bathe at Tsurunoyu for 700 yen from 10:00 to 15:00, though overnight guests may get priority in busy seasons. The inns are reached by Ugo Kotsu bus from Tazawako Station on the Akita Shinkansen, a ride of about 50 minutes to the end of the line (950 yen). For Tsurunoyu, get off at Alpa Komakusa and use the inn’s pickup service with a reservation, or walk about 3 kilometers uphill from the Tsurunoyu-iriguchi stop. The bus does not accept Suica, so carry cash. Overnight guests at the inns can buy a bath-hopping pass to try several of the springs.
Where to Stay Near Kakunodate & Nyuto Onsen
Where to stay: SembokuHotel links in this section go to Booking.com. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Kakunodate, Lake Tazawa and Nyuto Onsen are all part of Semboku City. Stay in Kakunodate to explore the samurai district early in the morning and late in the day, or spend a night at Nyuto Onsen for the full hot spring experience. Popular inns at Nyuto, including Tsurunoyu, are booked months ahead by phone, so reserve early.
Luxury
wanoi KAKUNODATE is a highly rated, stylish small inn in Kakunodate with modern rooms, breakfast and free parking, a refined base for exploring the samurai district.
Highly rated small inn near the samurai district.
Mid-Range
Kyukamura Nyuto-Onsenkyo is a public lodge in the Nyuto Onsen area with tatami rooms, hot spring baths and buffet meals, a family-friendly way to stay overnight in the hot spring village.
Hot spring lodge with tatami rooms and buffet meals.
Budget-Friendly
Hotel B4T Kakunodate is a simple, good-value hotel about a minute’s walk from JR Kakunodate Station, ideal for travelers arriving on the Akita Shinkansen.
Convenient rooms next to the station.
Compare prices before you book
Hotels in Semboku on Booking.com
Compare hotels and inns in Kakunodate, around Lake Tazawa and at Nyuto Onsen.
Affiliate link — if you book through Booking.com, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Quick Tips for Visiting
- Visit Kakunodate from late April to early May for the weeping cherry blossoms, or in autumn for colorful maples in the samurai gardens.
- Check the opening status of Ishiguro House before your visit, as it may pause public opening from late November 2026.
- Carry cash for the Nyuto Onsen bus, which does not accept Suica or other IC cards.
- Bring a small towel for the hot springs, and remember that Tsurunoyu’s outdoor bath is mixed-gender.
- Lake Tazawa, Japan’s deepest lake, is on the way between Tazawako Station and Nyuto Onsen and makes an easy add-on.
Getting there by train: From Tokyo, the Akita Shinkansen reaches Tazawako Station in about 2 hours 50 minutes and Kakunodate in about 3 hours (all seats reserved). Kakunodate and Tazawako are about 15 minutes apart on the same line. Read our guide to riding trains in Japan, learn how to ride the Shinkansen, and check whether the JR Pass is worth it for your route.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Kakunodate from Tokyo?
The Akita Shinkansen takes about three hours from Tokyo to Kakunodate Station. The samurai district is about a 20-minute walk from the station.
How much is Aoyagi House in Kakunodate?
Admission to Aoyagi House is 500 yen for adults. It opens 9:00 to 17:00 from April to November and closes a little earlier in winter.
Can day visitors bathe at Tsurunoyu?
Yes. Day bathing costs 700 yen and is available from 10:00 to 15:00. The large outdoor bath is mixed-gender, and there are separate indoor baths.
How do you get to Nyuto Onsen?
Take the Ugo Kotsu bus from Tazawako Station, about 50 minutes to the end of the line. For Tsurunoyu, get off at Alpa Komakusa and use the inn’s pickup service.
