Akita: Senshu Park and Red Brick Museum

For the city of Akita, information is well documented for Senshu Park on the former castle grounds and the Red Brick Folk Museum. The location details provided refer to the city area; a holiday rental should suit your desired address and route.

Senshu Park and Kubota Castle

• In the associated municipality: Senshu Park is located on the grounds of the former Kubota Castle, the residence of the Satake daimyō of the Akita Domain for 267 years, from 1602 to 1869.
• In the associated municipality: It is about a five-minute walk from JR Akita Station to the pocket park in Senshu Park and about 15 minutes to the Ninomaru grounds.
• In the associated municipality: According to historical descriptions, the corner tower of Kubota Castle was reconstructed as a two-storey building and supplemented with an observation tower. From there, you can look out over Akita; inside, display panels explain the history of the Satake clan.
• In the associated municipality: The ruins of Kubota Castle offer seasonal scenery: cherry trees bloom in spring and the leaves change color in autumn; you can take walks there.
• In the associated municipality: Lotus flowers bloom in summer in the Ōtemon Moat and Ko-getsu Pond in the Ninomaru area of Senshu Park, where they can be viewed.

Red Brick Folk Museum

• In the associated municipality: Construction of Red Brick Hall, the former head office of Akita Bank, began in 1909 and was completed in 1912. The building was donated to the City of Akita in 1981; following restoration, it opened as the municipal Red Brick Folk Museum in 1985.
• In the associated municipality: The Red Brick Folk Museum consists of three buildings: Red Brick Hall, a new building, and a depot. Red Brick Hall is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
• In the associated municipality: The new building of the Red Brick Folk Museum hosts changing exhibitions on the history, folklore, art, and crafts of the Akita region.

Other City Destinations

• In the associated municipality: From April 1 to November 30, free volunteer guided tours of Akita Castle Historical Park are available daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Individuals can come to the Historical Park administration building without booking in advance; groups are expected to make a reservation.
• In the associated municipality: The Kantō Festival features team and individual competitions with the Ōwaka, as well as performances by musicians, including ensembles of taiko drums and flutes.

Choose suitable accommodation

The walking times given are from JR Akita Station to specific parts of the park, not from every accommodation. Guided tours of the Historical Park are described with specific seasonal times; confirm that they are still valid. Exhibitions and festival dates may also change.

For regional context: Akita Prefecture.