Kakunodate

Kakunodate is a small town in Akita Prefecture, close to the capital city of the same name. The town was founded in the early 1600s as a military outpost with a castle and a collection of grand samurai mansions and more modest merchant homes as the class system dictated.

“Perhaps the best preserved samurai district in all of Japan. This is the place to come to delve deeper into the culture and history of these noble warriors”

Harry Sargant, Marketing & Agents Manager

The town has been well preserved and although the castle has gone, much of the rest of the town remains relatively unchanged in the 400 years since its founding.

Many of the original samurai houses still stand proudly along the wide main street, most with spacious gardens and neat fences dividing each house from its neighbour. A handful of these houses are open to the public, giving a fascinating insight into the life of a samurai, famous as warriors, but skilled in a wide range of disciplines, many of them more artistic than aggresive.

A couple of the houses are still lived in by the descendents of their samurai, so you may even get the chance to meet a modern-day samurai in the flesh! Kakunodate is also famous for its weeping cherry trees, imported from Kyoto early in the town's history. They bloom in late April and early May (much later than more southern parts of Japan) and combine with the traditional buildings to provide a beautiful backdrop to this historic town.

Kakunodate is eay to combine with other nearby destinations in Akita prefecture, such as beautiful lake Tazawa (Tazawa-ko) and the remote mountain onsen (hot-spring) resort of Nyuto Onsen.

Accommodation
Weather & Climate

Recommended Accommodation in Kakunodate

The following are our favourites from among the western-style hotels and Japanese-style inns of Kakunodate.

Kakunodate

Tamachi Bukeyashiki

Superior
Kakunodate

Wanoi Kakunodate

Superior

Weather in Kakunodate

The Climate Guide for Kakunodate, Japan is perfect for planning your holiday. Monthly weather averages give the best indication of what the weather is usually like for every month of the year including figures for temperature, rainfall and sunshine.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Max Daytime Temperature (°C)	-1	0	4	11	17	21	24	26	21	15	9	2
Min Night-time Temperature (°C)	-7	-7	-4	1	6	12	16	18	13	6	0	-4
Hours of Sunshine (Daily)	3	4	5	6	7	6	5	6	5	5	3	3
Hours of Daylight (Daily)	10	11	12	13	14	15	15	14	12	11	10	9
Heat and Humidity Discomfort	None	None	None	None	None	None	None	Low	None	None	None	None
Days with some Rainfall	29	26	26	19	18	19	21	21	20	20	23	29
Monthly Rainfall (mm)	78	72	84	109	113	145	192	211	175	122	115	92
UV Index (Maximum)	2	2	4	6	7	9	9	9	7	4	2	1

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Featured trips including Kakunodate

Self-Guided Adventure

Northern Highlights (Classic)
- Tokyo
- Nikko
- Sendai
- Nyuto Onsen
- Kakunodate
- Mount Haguro
- Tokyo
Journey through the lush rural landscapes in Tohoku, a land steeped in tradition and mystery, on this classic two-week itinerary.

13 nights: from US$3497 pp (twin share) Read more >

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Self-Guided Adventure

Rural Tohoku Trail (Classic)
- Kakunodate
- Mount Haguro
- Ginzan Onsen
- Sendai
- Tokyo
Discover the highlights of rural Tohoku in this week-long add-on itinerary - samurai towns, hot spring villages, and sacred mountains.

7 nights: from US$2261 pp (twin share) Read more >

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Self-Guided Adventure

Northern Highlights (Superior)
- Tokyo
- Nikko
- Sendai
- Nyuto Onsen
- Kakunodate
- Mount Haguro
- Tokyo
Journey through the lush rural landscapes of Tohoku, the region that stretches 500 miles north from Tokyo, on this superior two-week itinerary.

13 nights: from US$5639 pp (twin share) Read more >

View more Self-Guided Adventures