Driving down the largely abandoned expressway snaking its way through the Akita landscape, the bumps in the road keep my wife awake in the seat next to me. We are on our way home from the nearest cinema, which is a full hour’s drive from where we live. The old man in the toll booth acknowledges the long drive we must have taken to get to him, telling us to have a safe drive for the rest of the way. From there, it is a 15-kilometer drive, straight into the sunset, with hardly a single bend in the road. The last remnants of sunlight paint the sky in a vivid tapestry of colors, which reflect off of the water covering the endless rice fields. The road is lonely and drones on forever, but the scenery is beautiful. In eight months, it will be a windblown frozen tundra, visited only by birds migrating south and Namahage demons hunting for lazy children. By then, the inhabitants will be fortified under heated kotatsu tables, eating hotpots and keeping the cold at bay.
This is Akita – this is home.
With that dramatic opening, I would like to welcome you to Akita Unfiltered – a blog dedicated to showing one of the least visited prefectures of Japan, as seen from the perspective of a foreigner living there. In the posts to come, I will explore everything from everyday life, to the best sights the prefecture has to offer, be it good or bad.
But who am I, and what am I doing in Akita?
My name is Andreas (but people just call me Andy) and I live in Akita with my wife and our dog Bobo. I have been a huge Japan enthusiast since my teen years, which eventually lead me to study and live in Japan. I have travelled most of the country and lived in both the Kantō and Kansai regions. Now, however, I live in the middle of nowhere in Akita, working at a small townhall. In my free time, I can either be found in the local sports hall beating a taiko drum, or you can’t find me at all, because I am out exploring.
This is my first time writing a blog and I am very excited to share my experiences. I hope it will make for an enjoyable read and that you might learn something you didn’t know about Akita.
But what kind of place is Akita?
At a glance, Akita is big, scarcely populated, and probably not on most people’s travel itinerary. Not that anyone could blame them. Reaching Akita takes time, and once there, getting around can be a daunting task. The trains and busses are few, far in between, and usually only accessible to people who speak Japanese. Sights are spread thinly across the prefecture, and there isn’t much to speak of in terms of ancient temples or hypermodern city centers.
However, for those who dare brave the frontier of Akita, there are some great experiences to be had. Nestled amidst the captivating landscapes and warm-hearted locals, Akita offers a truly authentic and immersive experience of rural Japan. The nature is stunning, the festivals boisterous, the lore deep.
So, join me on this adventure through the untamed beauty of Akita. Together, we’ll uncover the treasures that lie within this off-the-beaten-path prefecture and ignite your wanderlust for this enchanting corner of the country.
Stay tuned for more stories, tips, and recommendations on Akita Unfiltered. Let's embark on a journey that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.