Visiting the Samurai Residence District in Kakunodate, Akita

Рет қаралды 8,177

2 жыл бұрын

The Kakunodate Samurai Residence District is most popular in the autumn with the beautiful fall colors and in the spring because of the weeping cherry trees. In fact, it's beautiful all year round, and whenever you happen to be in the area, it's worth visiting. There are two resdence-complexes that have become museums and charge a modest admission, the Aoyagi and Ishiguro houses, and four other smaller ones that are free to explore, though offer limited access. The streets themselves are beautiful in that area as well.
Location: goo.gl/maps/Y4MpeBsdbHE6M7peA
Enishi doesn't have an official English website, but is a great guest house to stay in while you're in the area. It's 7,000 yen per person per night, which is roughly $60 or so. You can email the owner at enishi.kakunodate@gmail.com or send her a direct message on Instagram. (Also, give her a follow on Instagram- @akitainu_kakunodate)
Location: goo.gl/maps/Ac4hoy131wvsBfoN6
The sunken forest that appears this time of year is best viewed from this bridge. (Pin dropped at best place to park your car.) goo.gl/maps/BdRJHAH4Sso6PfW4A
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早苗阿部

Пікірлер: 96

@Mirai_jin Ай бұрын

I went to Kakunodate, very cool place. I love the old Japanese culture.

@GoNorthJapan Ай бұрын

Love it!

@chrissappington8280 2 жыл бұрын

Hokay. So. Kakunodate is one of my favorite towns in Japan! There is/was a porcelain/china shop along the main road... like a few steps away from what I'll call the main intersection, in the opposite direction of the tiny little cafe that our group ate at. At the time (2016), it had this life-sized kabuki-style papier mâché samurai. I've used a photo of that as my profile picture almost everywhere for years. The whole town is almost surreal.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Oh, I think I know what you're talking about, yeah! Glad to hear you love the area! There's so much to explore and do around Akita!

@CelticUchuu 2 жыл бұрын

As someone who prefers older architechure and history, places like this are high on the to visit list.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

I really recommend it! There is an entire district with these houses you can walk around and explore, and the atmosphere is fantastic!

@8aba_Yaga 2 жыл бұрын

One day i'll be able to visit this beautiful country

@10000kmstockholm 2 жыл бұрын

The dogs are super cute 😍😍😍😍

@chrstopherblighton-sande2981 2 жыл бұрын

Those dogs are adorable and so gorgeously soft looking and it was great to see the lady was wearing rather cute paw print slippers 🙂. I love the architecture of that district and how green it is - I wish more of Japan's urban areas were like that. The museum looks like a great place to while away some time too. Thank you again for showing us these gems of Tohoku.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

I didn't even notice the slipper! Nicely spotted! Yeah- there entire neighborhood is like a museum (in a good way)!

@3tacoman 2 жыл бұрын

Spread the word !!!

@lucianoarrieta5786 2 жыл бұрын

Akita+Akita dogs+Quinlan= 🤩🤩🤩 Wholesome content like always😊

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Hahaha, thank you!

@3tacoman 2 жыл бұрын

Yes !!!!

@Laura_Darkspear 2 жыл бұрын

Samurai history is fascinating… so are doggos!! They’re so cute! 😍 I’d love to stay there!

@TopAnimeLoverEver 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing! I will definitely visit both of these places in a few years when I finally move there with my degree in hand ❤ I loved learning that tidbit about samurai! But most importantly, learning that tidbit about Japanese history and everyday life. I love learning history so much.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! See you in Japan in a few years after you graduate!

@HeatherHalavais 2 жыл бұрын

What a fun place to go! Those dogs were super cute! I would really love to see this town when I get back there. That sunken forest is so amazing. Who can resist a sweet faced Akita! 😍 Thanks for the trip to Kakunodate! Fabulous job Q!

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yeah- you'll love Su-chan and Fujiko! They are the sweetest!

@thesaitaman8596 2 жыл бұрын

nice light green nature

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the spring colors are nice!

@gugugoody 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve been to Kakunodate for a couple of times. It is absolutely one of beautiful places in Tohoku area!

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely! Agreed!

@VerhoevenSimon 2 жыл бұрын

A nice bit of history, and cute dogs to play with. That looks like a lovely place to stay.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

It really does! I think I may stay there sometime soon so I can see the area early in the morning and in the evening. It's about a 90 minute drive from Morioka, so I tend to only go there in the middle of the day.

@VerhoevenSimon 2 жыл бұрын

@@GoNorthJapan I'd certainly love a longer video on this.

@manfredmarschik 2 жыл бұрын

Danke!

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you sooo much! Bitte!!

@annika5893 2 жыл бұрын

There's one Akita doggo in the village I live in (in Finland). I've seen the owner walk him/her, looks so super gentle and beautiful!

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

These two were some of the most gentle dogs I've ever met! Yeah- I heard there are now more Akita in Europe than in Japan!

@ShaneNixonFamily 2 жыл бұрын

The samurai history was fascinating. But cute Akita for the win. 😀

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Hahaha, yeah those dogs are super cute!

@Slewenski 2 жыл бұрын

I've been to Kakunodate! Absolutely recommend. I wasn't sure if it was that samurai village at first I thought I had been on my first trip (yeah my memory sucks) but then the i mages looked so familar i dug out the old tickets and lo behold there is one from aoyagike. So yay XD I really enjoyed it and want to try doing more open museum things on my next trip.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, Kakunodate is great!!

@derrabe1133 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this great tip! I will definitely come to this beautiful spot!

@madman7991 2 жыл бұрын

The camera quality always crisp like usual! Such a beautiful spot to visit

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

It is a really beautiful area!

@madman7991 2 жыл бұрын

@@GoNorthJapan I am very much considering adding that guesthouse with the Akita dogs to my Must See list when I get a chance to visit. I love the history on the Samurai and the surrounding area is stunning.

@Scohen415 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! I went here a few years ago in winter and I dont think ive ever been colder! Would love to come back in spring.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Spring and fall are probably best, yeah!! Winter must have been beautiful though!

@BloomBudsYT Жыл бұрын

I've been here twice now, a really beautiful area to see in both spring and fall! Great video :)

@michaelsmith7193 2 жыл бұрын

What a wonderful tour! You keep making my bucket list so much longer - hopefully, I can get back to Japan next year! Thank you, as always, for the historical and cultural insights you share. They are greatly appreciated!

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Glad that you liked it!! Thanks as always for watching!

@duckretainer1085 2 жыл бұрын

I love your videos. The detailed notes in the description is super helpful. You've made me really want to visit North Japan on my next trip to Japan!

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! So glad to hear that!

@etherdog 2 жыл бұрын

Usually people pay to have their dogs walked! Akita inu have terrific stamina, too! John Daub at Only in japan Go did a vid on the Kakunodate Samurai Residence District a couple of years ago, but your treatment is much more succint, Quinlan!

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Ahahaha, like many things in my life, this video was sort of spontaneous, so I didn't plan out anything and just saw the dogs and ended up filming that spot. So probably I should have done a more extensive video, maybe one about the dogs, and another about the Samurai Residence area, but... I just showed up and this is what I filmed... I'll try to plan better in the future!

@dianechaniewski293 2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow, this was beautiful! If I ever get a chance to visit and travel around Japan, I'm headed North thanks to your (and Sharla's) recommendations. You both have shown SO many absolutely beautiful places to visit, no matter the time of year. It was amazing to see what the original Akita breed looked like--so different. I definitely would want to stay there--I love dogs. The Sunken Forest was gorgeous too--I loved the outro drone clips. Thanks for this Quinlan! :)

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

So glad you liked it! And happy to hear you'll come up north!

@deanzaZZR 2 жыл бұрын

We planned on visiting the samurai residence but we wimped out as it was winter and quite cold so we spent an extra day in a nearby onsen. 🙂

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Well, an extra day at the onsen sounds great too... no real wrong decisions there...

@deanzaZZR 2 жыл бұрын

@@GoNorthJapan That was the trip I was introduced to Yuki no Bosha sake from Akita. I have picked up a bottle now and again ever since.

@samsoner2 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video! I hope to visit one day

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Hope you can go there!

@emilian5037 2 жыл бұрын

These places are so gorgeous, thank you for this video, would love to visit one day :)

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Hope you can visit!

@miralynne4137 Жыл бұрын

I really love your videos. I can't wait to visit Japan again after more than a decade after my exchange year there. I miss Japan so much.

@GoNorthJapan Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@PeteLeong 2 жыл бұрын

Just recently popped over to that town to see the sakura. Beautiful area and looking forward to going back and visiting the pups.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the weeping sakura there are just dreamy!

@ms.kayak7seas 2 жыл бұрын

Hi and thanks, GoNorth Japan for taking us to かくのだけ in 秋田県. Is that real 畳@0:46? It is embarrassing to say that I cannot even sit on my knees. Wowowow, the display of armors and samurais was stunning and brought back the history of Japan in the 12-19 centuries. Once, I was asked if the samurais still exist in JP...no way.. OMG, I am not familiar with dogs, but certainly, 秋田犬 is fluffy and adorable@3:21. They don't even bark at all??? This dog reminds me of the true story of 秋田犬, " Hachiko" a loyal dog, you may have heard of. It is very unique to stay there surrounded by 秋田犬. Great drone footage @6:12 and the beautiful water. adding to my bucket list. 😊😊

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Oh- I didn't notice, but looking at the tatamis at 0:46, it does look like they are the sort of "carpet" style thin ones that can be just put on top of flooring. Maybe they were protecting the hard wood with them there. Those Akitas are really well-behaved! They only bark when a kei-truck goes by, as apparently a dog they don't get along with rides in the back of a kei-truck near their house. But they are so quiet and gentle!

@ms.kayak7seas 2 жыл бұрын

@@GoNorthJapan Ooops, please accept my apologies....my poor visions...Great video!😊😊

@solomoncrawford27atg 2 жыл бұрын

I was going to visit today, but changed my mind! Definitely making the trip in the morning. I live in Akita so I feel like it’s long overdue.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Oh- if you live in Akita, then yeah! Definitely check it out! Also the Oga Peninsula, also Yasu Falls, also.,.. there's so much to see in Akita!

@Thoraxe0987 2 жыл бұрын

And thus my travel list continues to grow...

@Nemuimori 2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow I have seen videos of Hakunodate before and have it as a potential for next May. Playing with the Akita dogs would be awesome, if there’s a way to see the sunken forest without a car that would probably seal the deal. I will have to check if there’s any tours.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

If you can get to Kakunodate next May- that's fantastic! Might be hard to do the Sunken Forest, but just Kakunodate and some of the surrounding area are so worth it!

@Sindrijo Ай бұрын

My dog, that is a petite and super kind and accommodating black and tan Shiba from Nagasaki, I named her 'Alda' (アルダ / 波美 ) loves other dogs especially Akita dogs! Unfortunately, when on public transportation all dogs need to be in cages. :(

@Nynke_K 2 жыл бұрын

oooh, I love Kakunodate! didn't see any real dogs when I was there though, just a picture of one 😅

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

If you come back again, you can meet those two! They're always there!

@sierraandcali9589 2 жыл бұрын

Cuteness 🐾

@maximilianschroder6821 2 жыл бұрын

🔥❤️

@jeshanrai6790 2 жыл бұрын

😃😃

@Air2theRon 2 жыл бұрын

I miss my akita, Kuma !

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Great name!

@kantorobo7718 Жыл бұрын

@GoNorthJapan I never knew you went to go see Akita dogs :o next time I need to join :)

@GoNorthJapan Жыл бұрын

Didn't know you were into them! Sure- just give me more notice next time you're coming to town!

@darkforest6811 2 жыл бұрын

Looks like an amazing place to visit, it's now on my list! I'm guessing it snows a lot in winter or no?

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, Akita get tons of snow! It's really beautiful when it's all white too!

@vlweb3d 2 жыл бұрын

DOGE Much Wow Home of the Meme :)

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Almost! Isn't Doge a shiba rather than an Akita? Similar though!

@vlweb3d 2 жыл бұрын

Those dogs need to "get busy" and start mating. Otherwise, that breed will go extinct.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Hahaha, I'm sure they'd love to!

@InakaAdventure 2 жыл бұрын

Must have been Ruff to film

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Hahaha, indeed.

@user-ko1cc3he6j 2 жыл бұрын

Japan is volcanic island. When the sea water drop into the magma, the gold popped up. Tohoku region used to have a lot of gold everywhere in the past. On the other hand, when the thunder hit on the desert, the glass generated. There is Indas river in Pakistan and when you go up the Indas river, you can go all the way to Vladivostok in Russia in old days. In Ottoman Turkey era, there was Japan village in Vladivostok, there were trade between Ottoman Turkey or Iran and Japan. Glass products and gold. Before Edo period, Tohoku people were wealthy because they can trade gold with Ottoman Turkey or Iran.

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, that's interesting! I had heard about the gold in Tohoku. It's famous because of Hiraizumi. I guess in the Kitakami mountain range there was a lot. Didn't know about the degree of foreign trade though! I'll have to read about it.

@user-ko1cc3he6j 2 жыл бұрын

@@GoNorthJapan Yes, I learned about it from KZfaq channel called むすび大学チャンネル Googleマップで明かに・・・シルクロードは水路だった！ by 小名木善行

@user-zf6zu8ng5y 2 жыл бұрын

I prefer you speak the way you used to instead of the put-on TokyoLens voice, it’s not necessary

@Air2theRon 2 жыл бұрын

its a genuinely respectful tone for the occasion

@user-zf6zu8ng5y 2 жыл бұрын

@@Air2theRon right..especially talking about Akita dogs 🤷🏼‍♀️

@GoNorthJapan 2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow, I don't think anyone has ever said I sound like Tokyolens (Norm) before. What video would you say shows the way that I used to speak? I'm interested to compare my past to present manner of speaking if you don't mind saying.

@Air2theRon 2 жыл бұрын

@@user-zf6zu8ng5y yes including that since the dogs are in this particular environment...it shows his humility and respect for the situation, people, and culture. There may be a nuance involved that is hard to grasp for us westerners. My mom who is born and raised in Japan says its easier to understand after living there for a long time. It's cool to see some of these nuances of KZfaqrs who call Japan home.

@deanzaZZR 2 жыл бұрын

@@GoNorthJapan To sound like Norm you need to work on those vowel sounds that jump out of nowhere to remind you that Norm is from the land of maple syrup and Mounties.