Nakajima Wharf Cruise Pier → Port Tower Selion
Exit the pier gate and walk straight for about 5 minutes along the roadside sidewalk toward the glass pyramid of Selion Tower.
Cruise port in Japan
Akita
Allow about 20 min each way from the terminal to the city center. Average time in port: 10 hours. 23 places to explore.
- Ships calling here
- 7 ships
- Upcoming sailings
- 28 sailings
- Average time in port
- About 10 hours
- Lowest fare
- From USD 1,336
Photo by Pratik Bisht on Unsplash
After disembarking
Cruise ships dock at Akita Port Nakajima Pier. Allow about 20 min each way from the terminal to the city center.
- Where the ship docks
Cruise ships dock at Akita Port Nakajima Pier.
- Access to Akita Port Nakajima Pier and Port Tower Selion
Port Tower Selion, with a free observation deck 100 meters high, and a local specialty shop are a 5-minute walk from Nakajima Pier, where cruise ships berth.
- Transport from Akita Port to Akita Station
The temporary cruise-only train service that operated previously has been discontinued. To reach the city, use a cruise line shuttle bus, the city bus stop in front of Selion, or a taxi (about 20 minutes).
- Akita Shinkansen to Kakunodate
From JR Akita Station, the Akita Shinkansen Komachi reaches Kakunodate Station, known for its traditional samurai residences, in 44 minutes without a transfer.
About 10 hours in port: where can you go?
Time available at the destination after subtracting return travel.
- Akita city centreAbout 20 min each wayTime at destinationAbout 9 hr
- KakunodateAbout 1 hr each wayTime at destinationAbout 8 hr
Return travel Time at destination
Calculated from the average time in port. Return deadlines vary by sailing; check the daily programme on board.
Between the terminal, city and airport
Travel between the terminal, city center, railway station and airport.
Akita Port Terminal → JR Akita Station West Exit
Take the shuttle operating in front of the terminal or an Akita Chuo Kotsu bus from the stop in front of Selion and get off at the west exit of JR Akita Station.
JR Akita Station → JR Kakunodate Station
At the Shinkansen platforms at JR Akita Station, take the Akita Shinkansen Komachi toward Tokyo and get off at Kakunodate Station.
JR Akita Station West Exit → Senshu Park (Kubota Castle)
Exit from the west side of Akita Station, walk along Hirokoji Street, cross the pond, and continue to the Otemon slope at the main gate of Senshu Park.
Akita places to explore
Explore 17 checked places. Select a pin to see its card, or choose View on map from a card.
Akita Museum of Art
Designed by architect Tadao Ando, it features triangular spiral stairs and a water-feature terrace, and exhibits Tsuguharu Fujita's large mural 'Events of Akita'.
- Visit
- about 1 hr
- Admission
- JPY 310
The second-floor museum lounge offers a great view over the water basin toward the forest of Senshu Park.
Akita Port Tower Selion
A 143 m full-glass tower with a free 360-degree observation deck at 100 m, overlooking Akita Port, the Sea of Japan, Mount Gassan, and the Oga Peninsula.
- Visit
- about 45 min
- Admission
- Free
Admission to the observation deck is free, and Akita specialties are available on the first floor at the roadside station.
Akita City Folk Traditions Hall (Neburinagashikan)
An exhibition hall displaying actual large bamboo lantern poles from the Akita Kanto Festival year-round, where visitors can try balancing a pole on their forehead or shoulder.
- Visit
- about 50 min
- Admission
- JPY 100
It can be visited with a combined ticket together with the neighboring former traditional merchant house of the Kaneko family.
Senshu Park (Kubota Castle Ruins)
A park on the site of Kubota Castle, built by the Akita domain's Satake family, with restored Osumi Turret, Omote Gate, and a quiet lotus moat.
- Visit
- about 1 hr
- Admission
- JPY 100
There are gentle steps and uphill paths to the center of the park and the castle ruins.
Taiheizan Miyoshi Shrine
A historic mountain-worship shrine in Akita, venerating Mount Taihei and widely believed to bring victory and business prosperity.
- Visit
- about 40 min
- Admission
- Free
It is well known throughout Japan for the Miyoshi Bonten Festival held every January.
Akita Red Brick Folk Museum
A red-brick Renaissance-style building completed in 1912 as the head office of Akita Bank, with elaborate plaster relief ceilings and displays of local Akita crafts.
- Visit
- about 45 min
- Admission
- JPY 210
You can view the historic interior vault and wooden meeting room of this nationally designated Important Cultural Property.
Trips nearby
With enough time in port, you can explore beyond the city. One-way times are approximate.
Kakunodate
About 1 hr each wayTime at destination About 8 hr
NeighborhoodsKakunodate Samurai DistrictKnown as “the Little Kyoto of Tōhoku,” this Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings preserves the black wooden fences of Edo-period samurai residences and grand avenues of weeping cherry trees.
Walking through the entire district is free, while each samurai residence charges a separate admission fee.
Food and cafésSakura no SatoA famous restaurant in the center of Kakunodate’s samurai-residence district, serving charcoal-grilled Hinai-jidori oyakodon with softly cooked egg and Sato Yosuke Inaniwa udon together.
Queues may be long at lunchtime during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons.
SightsIshiguro Samurai HouseThe oldest surviving samurai residence in Kakunodate, with a thatched-roof main gate and tatami rooms; direct descendants provide commentary.
You must wear socks when entering the indoor tatami rooms.
SightsKakunodate Denshokan MuseumA craft museum displaying demonstrations by artisans of Akita's traditional kabazaiku, intricate cherry-bark woodworking, and works such as tea utensils.
The souvenir shop is well stocked with traditional handmade items such as tea canisters and pencil cases.
Food and cafésSato Yosuke KakunodateIn a traditional earthen-storehouse-style shop in Kakunodate, it serves handmade seiro udon with cold tsuyu and sesame-miso tsuyu.
The shop has a section selling gift sets of udon.
SightsAoyagi Samurai Manor MuseumThe largest residence of a high-ranking samurai in Kakunodate, on a 3,000-tsubo estate with six exhibition spaces, including the main house, weapons storehouse, the Kaitai Shinsho Memorial Hall, and gardens.
Thousands of authentic Edo-period samurai artifacts, including swords and armor, are systematically displayed.
Cruises calling at Akita
28 sailings are grouped into 27 cruises by ship and route.
Princess CruisesBook now
Sailing 2027.03Asia cruises · 23 nights · Long cruise
Grand Circle Japan Cherry Blossoms
Tokyo departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 4,468
Regent Seven Seas CruisesSailing 2027.03Asia cruises · 14 nights · Long cruise
Hanami Experience
Tokyo departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 17,149
Princess CruisesBook now
Sailing 2027.04Asia cruises · 13 nights · Long cruise
Circle Japan Cherry Blossoms
Tokyo departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 2,801
Princess CruisesBook now
Sailing 2027.04Asia cruises · 24 nights · Long cruise
Grand Circle Japan Cherry Blossoms
Tokyo departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 4,575
Norwegian Cruise Line2 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2027.04 ~ 2027.11Asia cruises · 14 nights · Long cruise
Japan: Osaka, Kochi, Nagoya & Busan
Yokohama departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 3,498
Princess CruisesBook now
Sailing 2027.07Asia cruises · 22 nights · Long cruise
Grand Circle Japan with Summer Festivals
Tokyo departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 3,189
Princess CruisesBook now
Sailing 2027.08Asia cruises · 24 nights · Long cruise
Grand Circle Japan with Summer Festivals & Kumano Fireworks
Tokyo departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 3,619
Princess CruisesBook now
Sailing 2027.08Asia cruises · 11 nights · Long cruise
Circle Japan with Summer Festivals
Tokyo departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 1,632
Royal Caribbean InternationalSailing 2027.09Transpacific cruises · 15 nights · Long cruise
14 Night Seattle To Tokyo Cruise
Seattle, Washington → Yokohama
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 1,336
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionSailing 2027.10Asia cruises · 11 nights · Long cruise
Tokyo Roundtrip
Tokyo departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 19,400
Norwegian Cruise LineSailing 2027.10Asia cruises · 11 nights · Long cruise
Asia: Nagoya, Sakaiminato & Hakodate
Yokohama → Incheon
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 2,479
Regent Seven Seas CruisesSailing 2027.10Asia cruises · 14 nights · Long cruise
Miyako Mystique
Tokyo departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 10,799
27 cruises call at this port.
Ships calling at Akita
Explore cabin types, dining and deck facilities for each ship.
Princess Cruises · 9 sailings
Sapphire Princess
7 cabin types · 15 dining venues · 23 entertainment options · 13 decks
Explore the ship
Princess Cruises · 6 sailings
Diamond Princess
7 cabin types · 17 dining venues · 27 entertainment options · 13 decks
Explore the ship
Norwegian Cruise Line · 5 sailings
Norwegian Jade
29 cabin types · 15 dining venues · 35 entertainment options · 12 decks
Explore the ship
Regent Seven Seas Cruises · 4 sailings
Seven Seas Explorer
10 cabin types · 10 dining venues · 41 entertainment options · 10 decks
Explore the ship
About Akita
Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection call at the port of Akita. The average port stay is about 9 hours, and it is placed on an itinerary that includes an at-sea segment connecting to Kanazawa, Niigata, and other destinations.
Cruise lines calling here: 5 places
Norwegian Cruise LinePrincess CruisesRegent Seven Seas CruisesRoyal Caribbean InternationalThe Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
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