2-Hour Kakunodate Food Walking Tour with Samurai District Tastings

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Experience Japanese sake tasting at a local sake shop
• 02 Visit the historic Nishinomiya Samurai House
• 03 Discover century-old recipes at Ando Miso and Soy Sauce Factory
• 04 Enjoy traditional sweets at Goto Fukushindo sweet shop
• 05 Walk through the preserved Samurai District of Kakunodate
• 06 Taste the iconic miso kiritanpo

This guided culinary tour introduces the unique culture and lesser-known sights of Kakunodate through its local flavors and historic atmosphere. Visit a sake shop for tastings and insights into Akita's brewing traditions, explore a miso and soy sauce brewery, enjoy traditional Japanese sweets, and sample beloved regional specialties such as iburigakko and miso kiritanpo. Along the way, walk through the preserved Samurai District and discover the heritage that makes Kakunodate so distinctive.

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

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access Yes

City Akita

Languages English, French

Day by day

The 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.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

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

What's Not Included

• Transportation costs to Kakunodate
• Personal expenses for souvenirs

What to bring

• Comfortable walking shoes (high heels or boots are not recommended)
• A water bottle (there is 1 place to refill it along the way)
• Adequate clothing for each season

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.

Logistics

Meeting & route

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.