![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Japan_akita_map_small.png/220px-Japan_akita_map_small.png)
Akita prefecture (秋田 県 Akita-ken) is located in the region of Tohoku in the north of Japan.
Understands
In 2010, the population of the prefecture was just over 1 million people. This prefecture is famous all over the world thanks to the grandfather of Shinnosuke Nohara (protagonist of the Shin Chan manga) who lives there.
History
The Akita area was created in what was formerly the Dewa and Mutsu provinces. Akita was a region primarily of hunters and nomadic tribes. The earliest historical record of what Akita is today dates to 658, when the Abe conquered the native Ezo tribes in what is now the cities of Akita and Noshiro.
Cities
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Akita_Prefecture_cities_and_towns.svg/450px-Akita_Prefecture_cities_and_towns.svg.png)
- Akita - capital of the prefecture
- Misato - a town near Yokote famous for the Takeuchi Festival
- Nikaho - coastal city at the foot of Mount Chokai.
- Noshiro
- Odate - Hachiko's hometown
- Oga - the western peninsula, famous for namahage
- Semboku - city with hot springs, Lake Tazawa and historical town Kakunodate
- Ugo
- Yokote
- Yurihonjo - home of Mount Chokai
- Yuzawa
Other destinations
- Nyuto onsen - one of the popular hot spring resorts of Japan
To get
By train
The Akita Shinkansen offers hourly service from the station Tokyo to Akita station.
By plane
By boat
By bus
Idiom
Few people speak English in Akita.
Watch
Do
To buy
Currency
To eat
Perhaps the best known dish in Akita is the kiritanpo. Kiritanpo is prepared by pounding freshly cooked rice until it is slightly crushed, then forming cylinders around skewers of Japanese cedar, which are roasted over a fire. It can be served with sweet miso or used as dumplings in soups.
To drink
Akita's famous komachi rice is used to prepare different varieties of sake.
Sleep
There are a large number of hotels and resorts (osen).
See also
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Akita prefecture. Commons
Wikipedia has an article on Akita prefecture.w: Akita Prefecture