Rediscovering Japan

Travel (Akita Part 3 (Oga/Senboku))

by tomizuta

The beautiful carpet of dogtooth violets under the chestnut trees.

On the last day of our three day excursion to Akita, we left the onsen ryokan early to visit Nyuudouzaki. Nyuudouzaki is the north western tip of Oga Peninsular famous for the sunset view. I understand that the lighthouse was constructed in the Meiji era over a hundred years ago. The north latitude 40 degrees line passes just beside the lighthouse. There were a couple of restaurants serving local seafood dishes that had just started to open. We then made our way back to Oga Onsen and set for our next destination Kakunodate. We had to return in the hope to see the weeping cherries in full bloom.

We left our hotel on the lakeside of Lake Tazawa early in the morning to head north to Amagi country.

On our way back to Kakunodate through Akita City, we briefly visited the Mining Museum of Akita University. Akita University is one of the few universities that retain mining faculties due to its long history in mining. The museum is located on a hilltop neighboring Senshuu Park, where Kubota Castle, the residence of the Satake Family once stood. The displays of the museum are quite academic. Our interest was to see their special exhibition of the Ani Mine.

(left) The Mining Museum of Akita University (right) The museum is located on a hilltop neighboring Senshuu Park, where Kubota Castle, the residence of the Satake Family once stood.

We thought it would be a good idea to have lunch outside of the tourist area of Kakunodate, as choice is limited there. We went past Kakunodate to Nishiki Town in the same Senboku City. Nishiki Town is known for clusters of dogtooth violets (katakuri) with purple flowers that bloom from April to May. The clusters are in chestnut farms, which open to visitors during the bloom period. We went to a local tourist building Katakuri-kan, with a restaurant, gift shop and ticketing office for the dogtooth violet viewing tour. We had a warm soba noodle with wild vegetables and a local chestnut lunch composed of chestnut rice and dessert, which we found very good and at more reasonable prices compared with Kakunodate.

(left) The local tourist building (Katakuri-kan) and (right) The local chestnut lunch composed of chestnut rice and dessert.

The clusters of dogtooth violets are scattered in several areas. We were advised by the staff that it would be best to drive through the area as parking spaces and attendants would be at each location. It was a pleasant drive through the woods and the carpets of dogtooth violets were magnificent.

Nishiki Town is known for clusters of dogtooth violets (katakuri) with purple flowers that bloom from April to May. The clusters are in chestnut farms, which open to visitors during the bloom period.

We then went back to Kakunodate. The weeping cherries were now in full bloom as we had expected. We spent an hour enjoying the cherry blossoms in the township. We were very lucky that the brief blooming period of the cherry blossoms had coincided with our visit.

The weeping cherries were now in full bloom as we had expected. We spent an hour enjoying the cherry blossoms in the township.