DESTINATION / Akita Prefecture
Akita's journey combines Lake Tazawa, highland ski resorts, Mizusawa and Nyuto hot springs. If you base yourself at a hot spring inn near the mountains, the skiing will be the main focus, while if you spend time by the lake, the food and scenery will be the main focus. Starting from the trip from Lake Tazawa Station, think about what you want to do in one day.
Tazawako Ski Resort / Akita PrefecturePhoto: Dquai/Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0. Landscapes from past shoots. Size adjustment, WebP conversion, and cropping to fit the display frame.
Choose a base, then discover the places around it.
Akita's journey combines Lake Tazawa, highland ski resorts, Mizusawa and Nyuto hot springs. If you base yourself at a hot spring inn near the mountains, the skiing will be the main focus, while if you spend time by the lake, the food and scenery will be the main focus. Starting from the trip from Lake Tazawa Station, think about what you want to do in one day.
The route from Lake Tazawa Station to the plateau and Nyuto Onsenkyo, and the route around the lake are different. The Tatsuko statue on the other side of the lake is not the same stop as the ski resort. The conditions for using the hot spring tour vehicle are different from those of regular route buses, so please confirm accommodation and transportation together.
Read the access guideCompare each location with its booking and visiting conditions.
Venue photographA guest-room interior at Motoyu Mizusawa Sanso.
元湯 水沢山荘 公式サイト · Rights not verified · Source ↗
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Stay close to Tazawako, with more time for the baths.
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Venue photographThe exterior of Tazawa Plateau Hotel in woodland.
田沢プラトーホテル 公式サイト · Rights not verified · Source ↗
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A highland inn among beech trees, with dinner by the hearth.
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Venue photographKyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo surrounded by woodland.
休暇村乳頭温泉郷 公式サイト · Rights not verified · Source ↗
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Give the slopes one day and the forest hot springs another.
Read the property guideCompare each location with its booking and visiting conditions.
Venue photographRestaurant Shirakaba — venue photograph
レストランしらかば / official website · Rights not verified · Source ↗
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Enjoy a hot lunch and a break on the second floor of Rera.
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Venue photographORAE — venue photograph
湖畔の杜レストラン ORAE / official website · Rights not verified · Source ↗
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View Lake Tazawa, local vegetables and beer.
Read the property guideCompare each location with its booking and visiting conditions.
Venue photographExterior view of Mizusawa Onsen Outdoor Baths. Photographed in 2022.
After skiing, head to the sulfur hot springs on the plateau.
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Facility sceneryNyuto Onsenkyo Tsurunoyu (Semboku City, Akita Prefecture)/ Winter (February 7, 2004)
Photo: Markmark28/Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0. Winter (February 7, 2004) landscape. Size adjustment, WebP conversion, and cropping to fit the display frame.
Tsurunoyu is located in the back of Nyuto Onsenkyo. It is known for its open-air baths surrounded by snow and its thatched buildings. Transportation from the regular bus stop to the hot springs needs to be considered separately, so don't assume that day-trippers can also use the shuttle service for overnight guests, and inquire about the terms of use.
Check day-trip business/closed days, mixed bathing/bath rules, access, and conditions of use for Yumeguri.
The Tatsuko statue on the southwest shore of Lake Tazawa is a lakeside landmark named after the legend of Princess Tatsuko. This will be a detour to see the lake seen from the ski resort from a different angle. However, since the location is far from the ski resort and the east shore of the lake, we plan to move cars and buses around the lake. We don't rely on sightseeing boats or rental bicycles in winter, but rather visit according to the snowfall and road conditions.
Check winter transportation, bus services, parking, snow on sidewalks, and opening hours of nearby stores along the lake.
Learn about the atmosphere of the destination from the scenery at the time of the photo shoot.
Tazawako Ski Resort (Semboku City, Akita Prefecture)
Winter (February 11, 2007)Photo: Dquai/Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0. Winter (February 11, 2007) landscape. Size adjustment, WebP conversion, and cropping to fit the display frame.
Tsurunoyu hot spring (Nyuto Onsenkyo, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture)
Winter (December 25, 2007)Photo: Fumiaki Yoshimatsu from Tokyo, Japan /Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0. Winter (December 25, 2007) landscape. Size adjustment, WebP conversion, and cropping to fit the display frame.
Connecting skiing days with time to enjoy the surroundings. Consider the model plan for each area.
Make the journey back and forth and the time spent there a single flow. You can choose from guides for each area.
Even within the same region, transportation hubs and convenient accommodations vary. Choose your destination based on your accommodation and last leg of travel.
Make the journey back and forth and the time spent there a single flow. You can choose from guides for each area.