Akita is located in the Northern part of Honshu, Japans Main
Island. It’s well known for long snowy winters, hot springs (Onsen) and
sake. Last time I checked Akita was ranked seventh in the snowiest cities in
the world! Wish I knew that before going there the middle of winter. In ancient
times Akita was occupied by nomadic tribes who lived in the mountains hunting
and gathering. Now days Akita is a well known tourist spot famous for the Samurai Village and beautiful cherry blossom.
Akita City Center |
I landed in Akita
after the longest flight of my life! I remember waking up totally dazed as the
aircraft touched down at the airport. Looking out of the window I could just
see white, everything was covered in snow. The Akita airport was small and they
didn’t have an air bridge, I was a frozen icicle by the time I got inside the
airport. Travel 101 keep warm clothes in you carry on!
I was in Akita for work visiting a client who had a factory in the outskirts of the city, every day I would cross a snow covered highway to get to work. Some days there were blizzards and the ride to work was super scary for me, to my colleagues it was just another day at the office.
Way to office |
Around the office |
I was in Akita for work visiting a client who had a factory in the outskirts of the city, every day I would cross a snow covered highway to get to work. Some days there were blizzards and the ride to work was super scary for me, to my colleagues it was just another day at the office.
Akita Town |
Japan 101 - you will find vending machines in every street corner |
One of the first things you will notice once you land in
Japan are the vending machines; they are everywhere. There is a vending machine for every 23 people
living in Japan. The popularity of vending machines is attributed to soaring
real estate prices and Japans love for automation.
Photos of Akita Town
My hotel in the center right |
After work I spent rest of the day exploring the town on foot, by
6 most of the shops had shut and I was out hunting for a place to have dinner.
Although Akita is a small town and people don’t speak English they really went
out of their way to help! I loved my 3 weeks in Akita, hopefully my next visit would
be around Cherry blossom time
Orderly Traffic |
Frozen lake |
Akita Railway Station |
Near Town Square |
First dinner in Japan I discovered Gyudon; a rice and beef
dish with simmered onions and topped with egg yoke
|
Happy winters and snowy roads to all of us.
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