2-Hour Kakunodate Food Walking Tour with Samurai District Tastings

2 Hours Duration

Experiences

About This Tour

This guided culinary tour introduces the unique culture and lesser-known sights of Kakunodate through its local flavors and historic atmosphere. Visit a sake sh...

Duration: 2 Hours · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Easy · Accommodation: Not included · Transport: Not included · Wheelchair access: Yes · City: Akita · Languages: English, French

Know before you go: There are 2 places where you have to take off your shoes to enter.; The total walking distance will be around 2.5 km, but the land is flat and there will occasionally be time to sit and rest.; The itinerary includes family-run stores, and they may take extra holidays. In such cases, we will visit alternative shops.; Some shops only accept cash, so if you would like to buy souvenirs for yourself, please bring some cash with you.

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What's Included

English-speaking guide
Sake tasting experience
Iburigakko (smoked radish pickle) tasting
Sweets from Ando Miso and Soy Sauce Factory
Mochi rice cake from a local sweet shop
Entrance fee for the samurai residence
Miso kiritanpo at the teahouse in the Samurai District
Insurance
Umbrellas when raining

Not Included

Transportation costs to Kakunodate
Personal expenses for souvenirs

Itinerary

1

Day 01

Sake Tasting at a Local Sake Shop

At this sake shop, you will receive an explanation about Japanese sake from your guide. On the tour, you can see how the rice and water nurtured by Akita's climate create high-quality sake. You will also learn how to choose sake that suits your taste and the best way to enjoy it. Finally, enjoy a tasting of three different types of sake and discover your favorite.
2

Day 02

Nishinomiya Samurai House and Akita Flavors

The Nishinomiya family was a leading presence in Tamachi Bukeyashiki, a district in Kakunodate that once gathered 80 elite samurai residences. Several traditional storehouses still remain on their estate, and during this tour, we will stop by a souvenir shop inside one of them. Here, you can also sample iburigakko, a smoked daikon pickle that is a soul food of Akita. Enjoy this unique culinary tradition born from the region's heavy snowfall.
3

Day 03

Ando Miso and Soy Sauce Factory Visit

Ando Jozo is a long-established brewery that has been producing miso and soy sauce in Kakunodate for over 170 years. Made using locally sourced Akita ingredients and underground water from Ando Jozo, their miso and soy sauce are rich in deep flavors and umami. Committed to natural brewing without the use of machines, Ando Jozo also boasts a historic building dating back to the Meiji era, making it a fascinating place to visit. On this tour, you can sample their soy sauce and miso, as well as enjoy unique sweets made with these traditional ingredients.
4

Day 04

Traditional Sweets at Goto Fukushindo

This traditional Japanese confectionery shop has been making mochi sweets and yokan in Kakunodate for over 100 years. With the warm and welcoming presence of the shop's proprietress, you'll feel at ease as you enjoy their unique take on mochi - one of the most beloved rice-based sweets worldwide. We invite you to try these locally cherished treats that have been loved for generations.
5

Day 05

Walk Through Kakunodate's Samurai District

The street lined with samurai residences is called 'Uchimachi' and still retains the layout of estates from the late Edo period, including the main houses, gates, and storehouses, preserving the characteristics of a samurai district. Designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the Japanese government, these samurai residences continue to reflect the era of the Satake Kita clan's rule.
6

Day 06

Miso Kiritanpo at the Samurai District

Kiritanpo is a soul food of Akita. It is made by mashing Akita rice, shaping it into sticks, grilling until golden brown, and then coating it with miso or simmering it in a hot pot with vegetables and meat. At this teahouse, you will enjoy the miso-coated version of kiritanpo. This will be the final dining spot of our tour.

Meeting Point

Meeting point: 94-7 Nakasugasawa, Kakunodatemachi, Semboku, Akita 014-0368, Japan · Tour start: 日本、〒014-0368 秋田県仙北市角館町中菅沢９４ — Tour ends at the same location as the start point.