Akita Prefecture in Tohoku, Japan, has beautiful natural scenery and healing, making it ideal for travelers who like to take photos and want to relax! In addition to the cutest and most iconic Akita Inu in Akita Prefecture, the World Heritage Sites "Shirakami Mountain" and "Kaze no Matsubara" are also popular spots to enter nature. This article will help readers introduce the 5 recommended healing itineraries in the Akita Shirakami area, and collect the best scenery and classics at once!
▋Experience (1) Feel like you are in the world of "Magical Princess": Yue Dai Nature Observation Education Forest
Yue Dai observes the 400-year-old beech in the forest
Yue Dai naturally observes the scenery in the forest mysterious and full of vitality
If you want to feel the natural atmosphere of Akita Prefecture, "Shirakami Mountain" is definitely a must-visit spot. The Shirakami Mountains span vast forests in the northwestern part of Akita Prefecture and southwestern Aomori Prefecture, and parts of the area were registered as World Heritage Sites in 1993. However, it is difficult to get to the area that is designated as a World Heritage Site, so it is recommended that those who want to go to the "Yuedai Nature Observation and Education Forest" can not only enjoy the scenery of the Shirakami Mountain, but also the road has been renovated, so you can wear a pair of light sneakers and set off.
Yuedai Natural Observation Education Forest is a 12-hectare beech native forest, in this forest of about 2 or 5 Tokyo Dome, there are several trails planned, some routes can also be passed by wheelchairs, well-prepared and easy to walk, due to the abundant water resources stored in the ground, creating a thick saprophyte soil, stepping on it is like a natural soft blanket. The mysterious, lush and full of vitality atmosphere here has inspired many artists, such as the Ghibli animation "Enchanted Princess", which is inspired by the design of the White God Mountain.
The Mori No Uga Water Area can drink the clear water of the Shirakami Mountains
Learn more about the forest with a guided tour
Along the trail, you can see the 400-year-old "400-year-old beech", the "Magic Beech" that is recognized as the next 400-year-old beech tree, and the "Mountain Frog Pond" reflected in the water to form a verdant green scenery.
Yue Dai naturally observes the education forest
・Location: Fujikin Aza Fujikotozawa National Forest, Fujisato Town, Yamamoto-gun, Akita Prefecture
▋Experience (2) Emerald green and vast, you can also do yoga: Matsubara of the Wind
Along the coast of Nagyo City , there is a " Matsubara of the Wind " , 1 km wide from east to west , 14 km long from north to south , with an area of about 760 hectares , equivalent to 163 Tokyo Domes , making it the largest pine forest in Japan. It's vast, but don't worry about getting lost! Because the pine trees here "blow" the sea breeze for many years, the pine trees are all inclined to the same side, so as long as you recognize whether the huge pine forest is on the left or the right, you can "see the direction of the tree and discern the direction".
"Kaze no Matsubara"
Omori Inari Shrine in "Kaze no Matsubara"
The "Matsubara of the Wind" is not a natural formation, but the result of the painstaking cultivation of the residents of the past. The story begins in the Edo period, when the area around Nengdai City was suffering from the sea breeze and flying sand blowing from the Sea of Japan, so in order to make the living environment more secure, it consciously began to plant windproof pine trees, and now 7 million pine trees have been planted, creating a verdant and mysterious atmosphere. The pine forest, which was named "Kaze no Matsubara" in 1987, features a promenade, a green plaza, a shrine, and a forest ride, which combines the uses of "natural disaster prevention" and "recreation."
Historical novelist Sima Liaotaro also mentioned "Matsubara of the Wind" in the "Walk in Akita Prefecture/Hida Kiyuki" series of works, and he described it as "when walking in the forest, the fallen leaves on the soles of the shoes are like cushions, and the pink roses under the feet are swaying, just as the poet's Sueda painter muttered: "As if you can hear the symphony."" All illustrate the laid-back, healing atmosphere of the place, in addition to walking, you can also try to see the "yoga experience", guided by a professional yoga teacher, immersing yourself in nature during the trip, which is also a special healing experience.
Matsubara of the Wind
・ Location: Hiyori Yamashita, Noshiro Town, Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture
▋Experience (3) Akita people do this: outdoor boiling pot hiking experience
When I was a student, I used to hold hiking picnics, but the children in Akita were different, and their hikes were to cook hot pot outdoors! This is a "boiling pot hike" (なべっこ hike) that is unique to Akita Prefecture, and is held every autumn in both elementary and junior high schools, and from the preparation of ingredients to the cooking of the day, it tests the unity and coordination of children, which is of educational significance. Of course, in the autumn, families often replace picnics with boiling pots, and the most classic flavor must be the Akita famous "rice stick pot"!
Rice sticks are the soul ingredient of Akita pots
The pot cooking experience takes place in a place surrounded by nature and is particularly atmospheric
Originally a hunter's dish in northern Akita Prefecture, grilled rice sticks are made by mashing rice, wrapping them in a cedar branch and roasting them over the fire, and later becoming a well-known local dish in Akita. In addition to rice sticks, the rice stick pot also includes burdock, chicken, maitake mushrooms, cress, shallots, konjac and other ingredients, accompanied by sweet soup, delicious and stomach-warming, which can be tasted in many restaurants in Akita. But it is rare to reach the birthplace, and there is a chance to experience the leisurely life scenery of the locals eating pots outdoors.
▋Experience (4) Vast scenery + fresh air: A healthy walk in The ValleySide
The natural beauty of Akita is pleasant, which is very suitable for walking, and you can experience a special kind of "kurort healthy walk"! It is a "climatic topographic therapy" from Germany, which is mainly a kind of walking arranged in a beautiful scenery and a wide view of the sea or forest, which can achieve the effect of aerobic exercise and relax at the same time. To do this kind of hike, you usually choose bumpy trails such as sand or woods to make it more difficult to walk. In order to enhance the effect of exercise, it is also necessary to make sure that the place is cool enough to reduce the skin temperature by 2 degrees.
Buguhama healthy walking
A windmill full of boldness
Combined with the above conditions, the three towns in Akita Prefecture can be said to be quite suitable! Healthcare design akita, which promotes healthy hiking, offers the Kotogaoka Trail, the Morigatake Onsen Ishikurasan Route, and the Buganihama Route, where you can enjoy the sunset and the sea, all three of which allow you to experience a "kurort healthy walk" while watching the scenery.
Pine forest by the seafront
If you are lucky, you will also have a small Akita inuyasha walk together
If you have already visited "Shirakami Mountain" and "Kaze no Matsubara", it is recommended that you can participate in the "Kamayahama Route" for this healthy walking tour, which collects the azure sea view of Akita. The Main Passing Pujaya Beach is a water resort for local families in summer, offering beautiful views of the Sea of Japan, white windmills lined up along the beach, and a small forest bath in the pine forest by the beach. It is worth mentioning that there is also a trip here that provides a walk with the Akita dog partner who can be guided by a guide, and there is such a cute hiking partner, and it is even more healing to walk!
▋Experience (5) Hand-pick the freshest, sweetest and most delicious delicacies: Fruit farm experience
Tohoku is actually a hidden fruit kingdom! Because of the large temperature difference between day and night, the fruit is sweet, juicy and sweet, and it is impossible to miss a trip to Akita! Apples are not only famous in Aomori, but also the well-known carnelian, Fuji, Chiaki and Akita brand "Akita Red Akari" are delicious, and in addition to buying them at supermarkets, you can also come to a sightseeing orchard to experience fruit picking. The peak season for apples and chestnuts is autumn and winter, and there are also Pears, grapes, cherries, strawberries, etc., so you can look forward to visiting differently from time to time.
Famous apple variety "Carnelian"
In autumn, you can experience picking chestnuts
You can experience bbq on the farm
In addition to picking fruits at the tourist farm, it is recommended that you can experience it together with the bbq itinerary, sitting in the natural environment, eating freshly roasted wild vegetables and freshly hand-picked seasonal fruits on the spot, which is the most experience activity that can experience the healing effect of nature! Great for family travellers.
Akita is a place suitable for slowing down and having a good experience, the above recommends 5 healing itinerary spots for everyone, and those who want to come to Akita healing trip but do not know how to schedule the trip can take notes Oh, make the Akita trip more fulfilling and enjoyable!