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Akita (city)

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Akita is a busy city in Japan. It is the capital of Akita Prefecture.

Akita City Hall main building 20160509b
Akita City Hall main building 20160509b

The city sits on flat plains near the Sea of Japan. The Omono River flows right through the center of the city. About 300,502 people live in Akita today. This means there are many households in the area. The city has been a core city since April 1997. It is a very important place in the Tōhoku region.

The weather in Akita changes a lot with the seasons. It has a humid subtropical climate. This means the summers are hot and wet. The winters are very cold and snowy.

Paddy fields Akita
Paddy fields Akita

Most of the heavy snow falls from December to March. It is a very snowy place because it is near the coast. It rains or snows on more than two-thirds of the days. The weather stays quite wet throughout the whole year.

Akita has a history that goes back thousands of years. People have lived in this area since the Paleolithic period. You can see old artifacts at the Jizōden ruins.

Jizouden4
Jizouden4

Long ago, the imperial court built Akita Castle in 733 AD. Later, local samurai clans ruled the land. During the Edo period, the Satake clan controlled the area. They built a castle town around Kubota Castle.

Akita Castle East Gate2
Akita Castle East Gate2

You can still see the reconstructed East Gate today.

Many different industries help the economy grow. Farming is a very big part of life here. People grow a lot of rice in the fields.

Paddy fields Akita
Paddy fields Akita

The city also uses wood and metal to make things. Akita has some of the most important oil fields in Japan. There are also oil refineries in the Tsuchizaki area. People work in silk textile production as well. Two regional banks, Akita Bank and Hokuto Bank, serve the people.

There are many fun things to do and see in Akita. Every August, people celebrate the Kanto Festival. Participants balance tall 15-meter poles with many lanterns.

Kogetsu-pond in Senshu Park 20180520
Kogetsu-pond in Senshu Park 20180520

In February, the Narayama Kamakura Festival uses walls made of snow. You can also visit the beautiful Senshu Park. The city has many schools and universities for students. It is a place where history and modern life meet.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Akita City Hall main building 20160509b.jpg
Akita City Hall main building 20160509b.jpg
File:Paddy fields Akita.jpg
Paddy fields Akita.jpg
File:JR logo (east).svg
JR logo (east).svg
File:JP Expressway E7.svg
JP Expressway E7.svg
File:Jizouden4.jpg
Jizouden4.jpg
File:Kogetsu-pond in Senshu Park 20180520.jpg
Kogetsu-pond in Senshu Park 20180520.jpg
File:Akita Castle East Gate2.jpg
Akita Castle East Gate2.jpg
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