Getting Around Akita
Akita is a compact prefectural capital, and that works in your favour as a visitor: much of what you'll want to see sits within a comfortable walk of the station, and the rest is served by a small, straightforward set of transport options. Akita Station is the hub where regional and interregional train and bus lines meet, including the Akita Shinkansen and the airport buses, so it's the natural place to start any journey around the city.
On Foot
Walking is genuinely the best way to explore central Akita. The city is relatively small for a prefectural capital, and the main sights cluster west of Akita Station. The Akita Museum of Art is roughly a ten-minute walk from the station, and Chuo Dori — the main street and the site of the famous Kanto Festival — is only a few minutes further on. If you're basing yourself near the station, you can cover the core of the city on foot without needing a ticket at all.
If you'd like to extend your range, head to the Tourist Information office on the second level of JR Akita Station, where you can organise free bicycles.
Rail and the Shinkansen
Akita Station is the anchor of the local and regional rail network, and the Akita Shinkansen (秋田新幹線) is how most visitors arrive from further afield. Komachi (こまち) services run from Tokyo and Ueno, stopping at Omiya, Sendai and Morioka before continuing on conventional lines through Shizukuishi, Tazawako, Kakunodate, Omagari — where the train changes direction — and finally into Akita. The journey takes just under four hours and costs around ¥10,000 in standard class. All seats are reserved, and the Komachi is coupled to Hayabusa trains that split at Morioka.
One thing worth knowing: once the Shinkansen leaves the dedicated high-speed line it slows to ordinary train speeds and makes several stops to let other trains pass. The payoff is that the slower stretch through the interior of Tohoku is genuinely scenic. For foreign visitors travelling from Tokyo, a JR East Rail Pass or the national Japan Rail Pass is the better deal.
Beyond the Shinkansen, Akita Station is where regional and interregional train and bus lines converge, making it the place to change between modes.
Buses
Buses fill in the gaps that walking and rail don't cover, and many routes start right in front of Akita Station — so the station forecourt is where you'll go to pick one up. This is also the network that connects the city to its airport, described below.
For longer journeys, Akita is served by several intercity coaches. JR Bus operates the overnight Dream Akita–Yokohama service from the bus terminal at Yokohama Station and from Tokyo Station. Odakyu and Akita Chuo Kotsu run the overnight Flora service from Shinjuku. For a daytime option, the Senshuu bus runs from Sendai with multiple departures. Overnight buses between Tokyo and Akita are also operated by Akita Chuo Kotsu, Odakyu Bus and JR Bus Tohoku, with reservations available through Willer and Japan Bus Online.
Taxis and Cars
Taxis are one of the standard ways to get around the city, alongside buses, cars and bicycles. If you're driving yourself, be aware that winter brings snow and ice, so reduce your speed accordingly.
Getting In from the Airport
Akita Airport (AXT) handles domestic flights from major Japanese cities including Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Sapporo, plus a single international link to Taipei. JAL and ANA both operate multiple daily flights between Tokyo Haneda and Akita Airport, taking around seventy minutes.
The practical connection into the city is the airport bus, which links the airport with Akita Station. The ride takes about forty minutes. Note that quoted fares vary between sources — one lists ¥980, another ¥1,200 one way — so check the current fare when you arrive. Either way, the bus drops you at the station, which is exactly where you want to be for onward travel around the city.
There is also Odate-Noshiro Airport (ONJ) in Odate, sometimes dubbed "Akita North Airport" because it lies within the city limits of Kita-Akita. It only has services to Tokyo and no public transport direct to Akita, so it isn't useful for reaching Akita city — though it may be a viable alternative if you're heading that way instead.
Arriving by Sea
Shin Nihonkai Ferry operates ferries from the Akita ferry terminal going both north and south: one route runs to Tomakomai in Hokkaido, while southern routes serve Niigata and Tsuruga. Reservations can be made in English by email. During Golden Week and other busy periods, ferries can fill up weeks or months in advance, so book early. The ferries carry passengers with or without vehicles, but be aware that the ferry terminals may be inconveniently located for travellers on foot.
Practical Notes
- Base yourself near Akita Station if you can — it's the hub for trains, buses and airport transfers, and the main sights are walkable from there.
- Stop by the Tourist Information office on the station's second level for free bicycle hire and local advice.
- If you're arriving from Tokyo by Shinkansen, look into a JR East Rail Pass or Japan Rail Pass before you travel.
- Fares and schedules change — confirm current prices and timetables locally, and check current yen exchange rates when budgeting.