24 Hours in AKITA | 4 Things to do in Japan's CHICKEN Capital

@Abroad in Japan

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Explore Akita Prefecture in northern Japan, known for its Hinai Jidori chicken, loyal Akita dogs, and the terrifying Namahage demons, all within a 24-hour whirlwind tour.

1 plan · 4 places · 6 experiences

Plan · 4 places · Akita, Japan

Akita in 24 Hours: Demons, Dogs, and Delicious Chicken

“We've come to see what we can do here in just 24 hours, from eating the juiciest yakitori chicken and enjoying a dip in a hot spring, to meeting the universally beloved Akita dogs, and our first stop is the Oga Peninsula, home to the utterly horrific Namahage demons.”

Experience · 1 place
Encounter the terrifying Namahage demons
Head to the Oga Peninsula to meet the utterly horrific Namahage demons. Inside a beautiful traditional straw house, you'll watch a video of the New Year's ceremony where grown men in massive costumes burst into homes, checking on harvests and intimidating children to work harder. It's like Santa's naughty or nice list, but far more traumatizing because they literally carry knives and drag screaming kids around the room. The noise they make is utterly horrifying, but it's an incredible amount of detail and a great way to get kids to do their homework!
1
Namahage Museum
Local history museum · Oga
4.3Closed · opens Thursday 8:30 AM
Displays on characters from local folklore, known for their fearsome wooden masks & straw outfits.
Namahage Museum, Mizukuisawa Kitaurashinzan, Oga, Akita 010-0685, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Soak in a Namahage-themed onsen
Experience a typically relaxing onsen with an ominous sense of dread, as the people of Oga Peninsula have even stuck Namahage figures inside the local hot springs. The water is really nice, full of minerals, and being outdoors, you get a cool summer breeze. Akita's hot springs are usually famous for being extremely hot, but this one is quite bearable, apart from the hot water spluttering in your face from the ground.
2
Oga Peninsula
Peninsula · Oga
4.4
Creator's voice
A peninsula in Akita Prefecture, known for its unique and terrifying traditions, particularly the Namahage demons. It's a secluded area on the northwest coast along the Sea of Japan.
Oga Peninsula, Anzenji Kitauraanzenji, Oga, Akita 010-0684, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Meet the universally beloved Akita dogs
Head inland to meet the Akita dogs, a great source of pride for the people of Akita. Visit the Akita Dog Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated to Japanese dogs. You'll learn about their origins in Odate, their DNA similar to wolves, and their use in hunting bears. Discover the story of Hachiko, the most famous Akita dog, whose loyalty is immortalized at Shibuya Crossing. You might even meet a real Akita dog, which are huge, weighing around 40 kilos, and incredibly loyal.
3
Akita Dog Museum
Museum · Odate
3.8 (26)Closed · opens tomorrow 9 AM
Akita Dog Museum, 13-1 Sannomaru, Odate, Akita 017-0897, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Savor Hinai Jidori yakitori
Dive into the nation's most delicious and sought-after chicken, Hinai Jidori, at a restaurant best known for serving it on grilled yakitori skewers. The skewers are slowly grilled over a charcoal grill, releasing incredible juiciness. This special chicken, bred in a free-range environment for at least 75 days, has thicker skin and sweeter fat due to being raised in a colder environment. Try the negima (chicken and leek) skewer, which is perfectly salted and incredibly juicy. It's a simple dish, but done so well, with a tender texture and crispy surface, and a more gamey, richer flavor than ordinary chicken.
4
Hinai Jidori Yakitori Restaurant
Yakitori restaurant · Akita
4.6 (285)Open · until 10 PM
6 Chome Nakadori
Japan, 〒010-0001 Akita, Nakadori, 6 Chome−12−16 焼鳥と鮮魚の専門店ひない
Hinai Jidori Negima Yakitori — This is the most popular yakitori skewer, featuring Hinai Jidori chicken and leek. It's incredibly juicy, heavily seasoned, and perfectly salted, with a tender texture and crispy surface from being slowly grilled over charcoal. The leek is said to aid digestion and adds a refreshing contrast to the chicken's saltiness.
Inaniwa Udon — A local Akita specialty, these udon noodles are thinner, flatter, and more translucent than typical udon. They are served in a dashi soy sauce fish stock and are less filling, making for a refreshing meal.
Hinai Jidori Oyakodon — This 'mother and child bowl' features Hinai Jidori chicken and egg mixed with soy sauce over rice, all marinated in a sweet sauce. The chicken is salty and juicy, contrasting with the sweetness of the sauce, making for a very satisfying and flavorful dish.

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