All About Japan

AKITA

The 5 Biggest Snow Festivals in Tohoku

Check out Tohoku's Five Great Snow Festivals and see how the region's long history of culture and tradition brings the frozen to life!

Zoo Hopes to Help Japan's Traditional Dogs

A zoo in Wakayama Prefecture will be showcasing traditional Japanese Kishu Inu in hopes of increasing owners, and keeping the breed strong.

Akita Confectioneries Celebrate New PM

Confectionery stores in Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide's home prefecture have started to sell sweets modeled after him.

Forgetting Time on the Resort Shirakami

The Resort Shirakami is a travel experience that combines the romance of the railways with traditional culture and beautiful scenery.

Take Your Prefectural Pride on the Road

These stylish license plates feature iconic imagery from prefectures throughout Japan, so you can show off your prefectural pride every time you hit the road!

Top 6 Places to Visit in Akita

Akita tends to be pretty far off the beaten path, even for those who do make it to Tohoku. However, Akita is rich in both history and natural beauty, well worth a visit.

Unique Ways New Years 2020 Was Celebrated

New Years in Japan is steeped in traditions, but there was more than one way to celebrate the coming of the new decade.

Get Hands-on in Rural Japan: Akita Farm Stay

By giving people unique first-hand experiences, green tourism can help revitalize and re-popularize the lifestyles and customs of rural Japan.

5 Great Things to See in Akita City

Akita City is not often at the top of anyone's list of places to visit, but that's unfortunate because it has a rich history and culture that includes a lively festival and a famous artist.

The 1,000-Year-Old History of Hanawa Bayashi

The small town of Kazuno in Akita Prefecture holds the Hanawa Bayashi Festival, designated by UNESCO as part of Japan’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

5 Reasons to Visit Tohoku in Summer

Summer is the season where things really heat up in Japan's northern region of Tohoku. Here's why you definitely don't want to miss it!

Capturing Tohoku's Summer Passion

In 2017, All About Japan sent a team up to Tohoku to capture some this northern region's summer vibe. From its craggy coasts and crater lakes to plunging falls and samurai festivals, there was plenty of energy to go around!

How to Build a Full-Scale Japanese Igloo

Have you ever wanted to build an igloo? Yokote in Akita Prefecture is very famous for its igloo making festival, called 'kamakura.' We'll show you the traditional method of building snow huts just like they do in Yokote.

Japan's Most Amazing Summer Fireworks Festival

Fireworks festivals are a staple in Japanese summer. We'll take you to the biggest firework festival in Japan, Omagari Firework Festival, where you can bear witness to 20,000 fireworks by masters from all over Japan shot over the course of an evening.

Tohoku in Summertime: Green Means Go!

The colors of northeastern Japan are vibrant and beautiful, from the pinks of spring to the wintry whites. But on this tour of the region, we focused on the emerald greens of summertime in Tohoku.

World's 3 Snowiest Cities All in Japan!

If you've never lived in Japan, you may now know the nation has sort of a thing for snow. How much snow? Well, the world's three snowiest cities are all in Japan! Can you guess which ones they are?

Aomori Nebuta Festival

The Aomori Nebuta Festival enthralls millions of visitors every year from August 2 to 7, with brightly lit, intricate and boldly colored floats known as nebuta.

Japan vs. China — Preserving Traditional Roots

Japan and China share traditional roots, but Japan preserves those roots to the present day.

5 Places to Visit Namahage on Oga Peninsula

Believe it or not, some fierce-looking legendary ogres can be found on Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture, an area so far off the beaten path that it doesn't even appear in most English guidebooks!

4 Days in Tohoku's Treasureland

Japan's northeastern region of Tohoku is full of incredible cultural traditions, breathtaking landscapes, mouth-watering cuisine, and more. Join Noam as he makes his way through this beautiful treasure land.

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