【ひとり旅】角館や増田、田沢湖など、秋田の古い町並みと自然を散策した日のVlog。夏らしい湿度の多い空気を静かに堪能する休日。【秋田観光】/ Walking in Akita, Japan.

【ひとり旅】角館や増田、田沢湖など、秋田の古い町並みと自然を散策した日のVlog。夏らしい湿度の多い空気を静かに堪能する休日。【秋田観光】/ Walking in Akita, Japan.

This is a place where the nature and history of Akita are passed down. Walking through the town in the slightly humid summer air. This video captures such peaceful scenes. Please enjoy while reminiscing about summer memories. It’s early morning. The sky is cloudy and a light rain is falling. “Kakunodate Samurai Residences” I’ve come to the samurai residences in Akita Prefecture. There’s no one around. The town is still asleep. The air is so moist, it feels like stepping into another world. In the quiet air, the chirping of small birds echoes. Looking up, I see crows flying overhead. At this quiet hour, it feels like time belongs to the birds. Wooden fences line both sides of the street. This is a castle town with 400 years of history. The northern area was for samurai, the southern for merchants and craftsmen. This area was the residential zone for samurai. In the dim morning light, it feels like a samurai might appear at any moment. Beyond the gate, a Japanese-style building stands among the trees. Beautiful… The trees arching over the street are cherry trees. In spring, they form a stunning tunnel of weeping cherry blossoms. The blossoms fill the sky and decorate the samurai residences. The green season is lovely too, but the pink season is surely just as wonderful. During the day, rickshaws pass by and the area is lively, but the quiet hours feel especially meaningful. From here, the street curves in a hook shape. The gradually opening road has a unique atmosphere. Though the castle no longer exists, it is said to have stood here. The layout was likely designed to block direct views during attacks. The fact that this clever design remains today shows how little the town’s structure has changed over time. Perhaps people long ago also walked these green-lined streets. Looking up, the trees are so tall it makes my neck ache. Green leaves on wooden latticework and soft light. The wooden gate glows green under the filtered light through the leaves. Clear water flows gently along the edge. A charming path where you can feel the water and nature. It’s midsummer, normally a time for sweating, but thanks to evaporation and Akita’s northern location, the time passes comfortably with little sweat. There are several samurai residences along the street that you can enter. I took some photos—please take a look. “Samurai Residence Ishiguro House” The tatami room exudes dignity. You can almost imagine a samurai meditating there. Let’s head a little further south. “Kakunodate Merchant district” What a nostalgic townscape… This area was home to townspeople and merchants. The buildings lined up here radiate a sense of history. Old streets that still carry traces of daily life are truly wonderful. While walking, I came across a hot spring. It might be a place of relaxation for the locals. One of my favorite things when traveling is visiting hot springs. I especially love the slippery, mildly alkaline water. When I find a spring with that texture, I get really excited😌 I think I’ll visit a hot spring today too. There’s a place nearby called Nyutō Onsen, with a large open-air bath filled with milky white water. I’d love to stay overnight there someday. I found a striking brick warehouse. Unlike plastered walls, it has a modern feel—I really like it😌 To the east stood a stately house backed by forest. Preserving buildings like this must take a lot of effort. This place, Kakunodate, is one that lovingly protects the old. Walking here brings a deep sense of calm. It’s time to head to the next location. “Masuda’s Historic Merchant District” It’s early afternoon. The sky that was cloudy in the morning is now a bright summer blue. This town, like Kakunodate, is preserved as a historical district. Wooden buildings with character line both sides of the street. All the houses look solid and spacious. That’s because it’s common here to build homes with internal storehouses. Rather than explain, it’s better to see for yourself. I’m going to visit a house where you can view the storehouse inside. “Former Ishida Rikichi Residence” Wow… it’s huge 😶 The wall you see inside is the storehouse. Its presence is overwhelming…! It’s hard to believe something so massive is inside a house. From the front, you can see the entrance behind the sliding doors. There’s a distinct atmosphere about it. Inside is a shiny, sturdy space, with a tatami room in the back. Lots of wood was used in the beams and pillars. It has a luxurious feel. Storehouses are usually thought of as storage spaces, but in this region, they’re used as living quarters. Masuda had many merchant homes with lots of visitors, but the storehouse was off-limits to outsiders. It was carefully protected as a private family space. Even neighbors didn’t know what other families’ storehouses looked like. Only the family members knew. Later, people began to think these unique storehouses should be preserved. In 2013, the area was designated as a preservation district for traditional buildings. As preservation efforts progressed, even the interiors of storehouses unknown to residents were revealed. Perhaps because they were protected only within families, the culture of inner storehouses has survived to this day. Let’s return to exploring the town. Outside, large cumulus clouds decorated the sky. Maybe the biggest clouds I’ve seen this year…😶 I’ll take a short walk around the area. It really feels like I’ve arrived deep in the countryside 😊 Buildings reminiscent of the Showa and early Heisei eras feel nostalgic, and the clouds drifting across the sky evoke the feeling of summer. Such a lovely place. I’ve visited Akita a few times before, but always along the coast—this is my first time inland. I never imagined there would be towns with such charm. Places where nature and townscape blend together are truly wonderful. I feel like there must be more retro towns like this in Akita, so next time I’ll search more intentionally. On this street, a morning market is held on days ending in 2, 5, and 9. It’s said to have continued since the 1600s 😶 This area was once a castle town called Masuda-jō, and the market was likely created to supply goods to the samurai. “Manpukuji Temple” While walking, I came across a well-kept temple. The bell tower stands quietly, full of dignity. A temple feels essential in a town like this. No human voices—only the constant sound of cicadas. It brings a wonderfully peaceful feeling 😊 “Yamakichi Fertilizer Store” Since I was nearby, I visited another residence. This house also has an inner storehouse. Its presence is impressive… The door has a five-layer structure and still closes perfectly. The more layers, the newer the storehouse tends to be. This is the newest storehouse in Masuda, built in the early Showa era. Its structure and decorative techniques are especially refined, and it’s considered the pinnacle of Masuda’s storehouse architecture. It truly radiates the grandeur it deserves. With the spread of concrete, inner storehouse construction declined, and some techniques can no longer be reproduced. Some technologies evolve, while others fade away. Perhaps that’s the impermanence of the world. It’s sad to lose existing techniques, but new ones are born in their place. Feeling the passage of time through these changes is also beautiful. I stepped out of the residence grounds. It’s almost time to say goodbye to this beautiful townscape. Besides the storehouses and old buildings, the wind chimes hanging from the eaves left a strong impression. One of my old hobbies was taking photos with vintage lenses. This time, I filmed wind chimes using an old camera and a very antique lens. If you’d like, please watch the 40-second video. The next destination is a world of pure blue. Faced with this open landscape, I let out a sigh of wonder. “Lake Tazawa” Upside-down clouds float across the surface of the water. Ripples overlap, and gentle waves drift softly. Looking down, I see small fish swimming. They head toward a glowing, radiant staircase. This lake feels like a place where even the sun comes to bathe. Its transparent waters are a paradise for fish. I want to dip my hand in, but I hold back. I’ll simply watch the little ones swimming through the sky. With light filtering through the trees, I walk along the lake. With this lake before me, I feel I could walk forever. “Goza-no-ishi-jinja Shrine” A red torii gate stands on the lakeshore. Blue sky, blue lake, red torii—a perfect combination. Beyond the torii, the opposite shore appears majestic. A torii facing the lake reminds me of Hakone Shrine, but what sets this one apart is the purity of the lake. Tazawa Lake is the deepest lake in Japan. Its cobalt blue waters have enchanted many. Naturally, I’m one of them. Stone tools, pottery, and pit dwellings have been found in this area. It seems a civilization existed here even in the Jomon period. Perhaps the Jomon people saw this lake not just as a resource, but also as a place of beauty. In the distance, large, towering clouds appear. The green of the lakeshore stands firm against the blue and the clouds, remaining proud at the edge of the water. The sun begins to set, and orange hues emerge. Even the clouds change color, preparing for dusk. I want to imprint the image of the lake at sunset in my memory. I’ll head to the east side of the lake, where the setting sun is clearly visible. This is today’s final destination. “Lake Tazawa Swimming Area” A band of light stretches across the lake, creating a romantic mood. The duck-shaped boats have closed for the day, and few people remain. The orange-tinted beach signals the end of the day. Watching the waves roll onto the shore, I conclude this journey. Today I explored the old towns and beautiful lakes of Akita Prefecture. Each place was full of nature and offered a sense of peace. A slow day, immersed in thoughts of the past. I want to continue cherishing moments like these. That’s all for today. Bye bye.

重要伝統的建造物群保存地区を目的地として秋田に行ってきました。
角館や増田は自然と町が融合した風情のある場所で、癒し効果抜群でした😌
その後時間が余ったので田沢湖へ行きました。
コバルトブルーの素晴らしい透明度の湖がきれいすぎて、本当に行ってよかった…😊

0:00 オープニング / Opening
0:57 角館 武家屋敷通り / Kakunodate Samurai Residences
8:47 増田の町並み / Masuda’s Historic Merchant District
17:55 増田の風鈴 / Masuda Wind Chimes
18:34 田沢湖 / Lake Tazawa
22:33 田沢湖の夕景 / Evening view of Lake Tazawa

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