AKITA SHORE EXCURSIONS: KAKUNODATE SAMURAI DISTRICT & LAKE TAZAWA

Akita is in the north of Japan's main island. The best sights are inland, so the day has some long drives through rice fields and mountains.

Route 1: Kakunodate and Lake Tazawa (about 7 hours)

• Kakunodate, a street of samurai houses behind black wooden fences, under old weeping cherry trees. In late April the trees are in full flower.
• Inside one or two of the samurai houses.
• Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan, very blue, with the golden statue of Tatsuko, a girl from a local legend.

Route 2: Kakunodate and sake (about 6 hours)

Kakunodate as above, then a tasting at a sake brewery and a stop at the port tower in Akita city for the view.

How our Japan shore excursions work

• Private tour for your group only, from about 5 people in a minivan up to 40 in a full coach.
• A licensed English-speaking local guide meets you at the cruise terminal.
• We plan the day around your ship's times and bring you back to the pier well before all-aboard.
• The times on this page are a guide. Send us your ship name and port date and we fit the day to it.

Included

• Licensed English-speaking guide
• Private vehicle with driver, highway tolls and parking
• Entrance fees for the sights listed in the route you choose

Not included

• Lunch and drinks (your guide will point you to a good place)
• Tips for the guide and driver

Price

The price per person depends on how many people are in your group: a group of 30 pays much less each than a group of 6. Tell us your ship, date and group size and we will send a price.

More in Japan: all Japan shore excursions. Other ports: Beppu, Miyako (Iwate), Ishigaki. Or see all our cruise port tours in Asia.