Akita

About Akita

Akita Prefecture occupies 11,637.69 square kilometres sixth largest population 864,753 July 1 2026 about 865,000 density 74.3 per sq km. Capital Akita City about 289,000 core city. Geography northwestern Tohoku on Sea of Japan bordered east by Ou Mountains with Mount Komagatake and Mount Kurikoma surrounding inland plains Dewa Mountains Shirakami in north. Oga Peninsula juts into sea enclosing Hachirogata reclaimed lagoon second largest lake before reclamation. Rivers Yoneshiro Omono Koyoshi. Lake Tazawa 423.4 m deep Japan deepest Towada caldera lake shared with Aomori 327 m. History anciently southern Dewa Province plus parts of Mutsu. In 658 expedition name Akita appears as soil shape description. In 734 Dewa fence moved to Takashimizuoka in present Akita City later renamed Akita Fortress origin of name Akita from ancient Agita meaning chin-shaped lagoon. Northern Tohoku remained outside Yamato until ninth century Evento. In Edo Satake clan ruled Kubota domain 200,000 koku known for Akita ranga western-style painting under Hiraga Gennai invitation. In 1871 haihan-chiken created Akita Prefecture. Climate entire prefecture designated heavy snow zone roughly half special heavy snow zone. Coastal areas Japan Sea climate with short winter sunshine inland continental midwinter mean below zero daily minima often minus 10 Celsius blowing snow from Siberian high. Average temp Akita City 12.1C 273 cm snow Yokote Yuzawa 793 754 cm highest in Tohoku. Koppen Dfb subarctic seen in mountains. Industry top rice production Akita Komachi brand sake brewing with Yamada Nishiki mutated brewery varieties mochi for kiritanpo hot pot staple using leftover rice pounded, Akita cedar forestry natural cedar brand premium sweet trees 200-year growth window-frame goods wood furniture, hatahata fish hot pot shottsuru fermented fish sauce. Mining legacy Osarizawa Hanawa Kosaka copper gold. Modern industry electronic components medical devices at Goshono Akita city industrial park Noshiro. Tourism includes Towada-Hachimantai National Park Oga National Park Quasi Parks Chokai Kurikoma Oga Peninsula, samurai district Kakunodate called Little Kyoto with 6 bushido residences preserved as national Important Preservation District with weeping cherries 400 year old parent from Kyoto, Tazawa Lake with Tatsuko legend dragon-torn princess wishing beauty turned dragon size five metres golden statue symbol, Nyuto hot spring milky baths seven distinct spring sharing dispatch, Ibuki daffodil Ogata? Moriyoshi mountain Azalea June, Omagari national fireworks competition in August gathering 18,000 shells 750,000 spectators tournament uses music, Akita Kanto Lantern Festival balancing 12m poles with 46 lanterns 50kg as one of Tohoku three great festivals praying for plentiful harvest from August 3 to 6 280 poles, Oga Namahage demon folklore UNESCO Intangible Heritage shouting bad kids crying in New Year, Yokote kamakura snow hut festival Feb 15-16 producing mineral water excellent within deep melting underfloor warmth traditional way store children pray then present environmental quality plus Akita dogs national icon near Odate birthplace. Rural hospitality endures.