As far as the cities go, I like Morioka a bit more, the center city feels more lively with fewer closed shops. But if you want to just relax in the area nearby you can’t go wrong with either one.
Why not both? It depends on how short your short trips mean but when I travelled up north for a week, I mainly stayed in Morioka and then travelled to Akita/Aomori with a mixture of train/bus rides.
If you meant for like a weekend trip, then I’d choose Morioka.
I personally liked Akita more since there were less people, nice ocean nearby and pretty towns in the prefecture. I feel like Morioka could be a bit more attractive with the volcano and farms nearby tho. Also recommend renting a car and going to see the cliffs in Iwate, really stunning scenery and easily doable in one day. Plus the road to the cliffs was pretty much empty which made for one of the most enjoyable drives Ive had so far
I was up in Akita a few months ago, for the first time. It was just a quick trip, but the main thing that I wanted to see (the Catholic nunnery with the famous statue which, purportedly, miraculously cured a nun’s deafness), was closed.
edit: close-paren, comma
Currently living on the border between Akita and Iwate in the mountains.
Morioka is definitely more connected for short trips. The Sansa festival is happening this year for sure (family is joining). On top of that, short trips to places like Tono are great for Japanese folklore (fun fact, the movie 「HOME 愛しの座敷わらし」was in Tono). A short trip to the Hanamaki springs is also nice and easily reachable with or without a car. Or if you want to visit the Sanriku coastline, you can visit those picturesque rock cliffs that seem to cut into the sea like a knife.
Akita is really beautiful, but Akita city is a little too spread out. It’s great to chill out, go to the GAO aquarium in Oga, and swim in the warmer waters of the sea of Japan. But as a whole, I feel that Iwate is the better experience and more to offer. But if you are into sakura (spring) or leaf peeping (fall), then Akita is better IMO.
Nyuto Onsen in Akita. There’s a “yumeguri” onsen pass including a hop-on/hop-off mini van. Spectacularly beautiful onsen, especially “Tsuru no yu”
it depends on what you want to see in addition to those places. Morioka, you can use as a base to go to Miyako (and see Jodogahama) or Hiraizumi for a day trip. In Akita you could do a day trip to Oga Peninsula or Kakunodate.
but if its just the city itself.. I personally preferred Morioka. I like their famous 3 noodles a bit more than Akita’s specialties such as Kiritanpo.
for foreigners living in Japan, you can get the Tohoku Rail pass (I think its hte only rail pass foreign residents can also use).. and do both! 5 days for 20,000 yen.
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The easy answer is Morioka if you feel like seeing mountains, Akita if you feel like seeing the ocean.
Akita will have it’s huge, yearly festival next month (Aug 3 to Aug 6). [Festival details here](https://www.kantou.gr.jp/english/)
As far as the cities go, I like Morioka a bit more, the center city feels more lively with fewer closed shops. But if you want to just relax in the area nearby you can’t go wrong with either one.
Why not both? It depends on how short your short trips mean but when I travelled up north for a week, I mainly stayed in Morioka and then travelled to Akita/Aomori with a mixture of train/bus rides.
If you meant for like a weekend trip, then I’d choose Morioka.
I personally liked Akita more since there were less people, nice ocean nearby and pretty towns in the prefecture. I feel like Morioka could be a bit more attractive with the volcano and farms nearby tho. Also recommend renting a car and going to see the cliffs in Iwate, really stunning scenery and easily doable in one day. Plus the road to the cliffs was pretty much empty which made for one of the most enjoyable drives Ive had so far
I was up in Akita a few months ago, for the first time. It was just a quick trip, but the main thing that I wanted to see (the Catholic nunnery with the famous statue which, purportedly, miraculously cured a nun’s deafness), was closed.
edit: close-paren, comma
Currently living on the border between Akita and Iwate in the mountains.
Morioka is definitely more connected for short trips. The Sansa festival is happening this year for sure (family is joining). On top of that, short trips to places like Tono are great for Japanese folklore (fun fact, the movie 「HOME 愛しの座敷わらし」was in Tono). A short trip to the Hanamaki springs is also nice and easily reachable with or without a car. Or if you want to visit the Sanriku coastline, you can visit those picturesque rock cliffs that seem to cut into the sea like a knife.
Akita is really beautiful, but Akita city is a little too spread out. It’s great to chill out, go to the GAO aquarium in Oga, and swim in the warmer waters of the sea of Japan. But as a whole, I feel that Iwate is the better experience and more to offer. But if you are into sakura (spring) or leaf peeping (fall), then Akita is better IMO.
Nyuto Onsen in Akita. There’s a “yumeguri” onsen pass including a hop-on/hop-off mini van. Spectacularly beautiful onsen, especially “Tsuru no yu”
it depends on what you want to see in addition to those places. Morioka, you can use as a base to go to Miyako (and see Jodogahama) or Hiraizumi for a day trip. In Akita you could do a day trip to Oga Peninsula or Kakunodate.
but if its just the city itself.. I personally preferred Morioka. I like their famous 3 noodles a bit more than Akita’s specialties such as Kiritanpo.
for foreigners living in Japan, you can get the Tohoku Rail pass (I think its hte only rail pass foreign residents can also use).. and do both! 5 days for 20,000 yen.