Top Things to do in Semboku
Top 10 Things to do in Semboku, Tohoku
Discover the best top things to do in Semboku, Japan including Dakigaeri Valley, Ando Jozo Brewery Honten, Mt. Akita Komagatake, Omoide no Katabunko, Tamagawa Onsen Nature Study Paths, Samurai District, Aoyagi Samurai Manor Museum, Ishiguro Samurai House, Tazawa Lake, Kakunodate.
Restaurants in Semboku
1. Dakigaeri Valley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
Reviewed By MarvinY52
The views are nice and the trail not too difficult for all ages. The full trail can be completed in slightly over an hour (or an hour if you hurry past the photo ops). Something I wish I knew before coming was transport options and could not find an updated one in 2018. There is a Free shuttle bus from Kakunodate station (yes, they do a return leg too) at 4 times a day during 10 oct to 10 nov 2018. Timings in the picture. The visitors centre at the station will be able to advise you. (Come out of the station, its a standalone hut on the right). The visitors centre can also hold your bags for you, but if they run out of capacity, there are always lockers.
2. Ando Jozo Brewery Honten
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 61 reviews
Reviewed By WarnerL_12 - Pasadena, United States
You see many grain storage buildings, non combustible, throughout Japan, but this one really catches you attention. It is on the opposite end of town from the samurai houses.
3. Mt. Akita Komagatake
4. Omoide no Katabunko
5. Tamagawa Onsen Nature Study Paths
6. Samurai District
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 543 reviews
This historic neighborhood consists of wide, tree-lined streets with mansions built during the Edo Period, only six of which remain and are open to the public. The area is particularly beautiful in late April, when the cherry trees are in full bloom.
Reviewed By WarnerL_12 - Pasadena, United States
There are a minimum six houses to visit (of which two are admission), others to be viewed from the exterior free since they are city maintained
7. Aoyagi Samurai Manor Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 180 reviews
The Aoyagi Samurai Manor Museum is an impressive complex of buildings that depict the Samurai way of life from the 17th through 20th centuries. A wide variety of objects are on display including samurai swords, utensils, clothing, toys, hanging scrolls, pictures and documents.
Reviewed By DesmondLim - Singapore, Singapore
We made a day trip at Kakunodate, drop our luggages at Kakunodate Station locks. It was easy 20mins walk from the station in early winter. We visited only handful of samurai house, and I think this is one of best organized. The compound is consist of few buildings, showing the living condition of the time. One of the main highlight is the large collections of Samurai weapons, armors and equipments. This is the largest I came across so far. They displayed one Kanata and one Naginata in enclosed, allowing guest to try lifting them. The naginata is lighter than expected. If there is only one house to visit, this should be the one. Entrance fee is JPY500. Do drop me a message, I will try to help answering if I know. Please give me a thumbs up if you find the review useful. Thanks
8. Ishiguro Samurai House
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 142 reviews
Ishiguro Samurai Residence The direct descendant family continues to live in this house. This is only samurai residence in Kakunodate town like this. Maintenance and publishing is done by our family. This building keeps livable condition. And the building has not been re-built since it was built in the end of Edo Period, early 19th century. When you see the precious and cultural displayed items, you may be able to feel long history of this house. This is the only Samurai residence in Kakunodate that has a guided tour. The tour guide is provided by our family or staffs. The tour takes about 5 minutes. A guide fee is included admission fee.
9. Tazawa Lake
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 481 reviews
Reviewed By journata - New York City, United States
cycling around this lake is everything! the perimeter around the lake is remnants from the bubble era, which is not necessarily a bad thing. there's plenty of nostalgia and nature to be experienced while riding through local villages and bike paths through the greenery. the statue is what it is but perfect photo opp for IG bragging. rent a bike when you get off the bus, pick up some drinks and snacks at the shop and stroll around the lake!
10. Kakunodate
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 159 reviews
Kakunodate is an old castle town located on the northern part of the Senboku Plain. Located along the banks of the Tamagawa and Hinokinaigawa Rivers and cradled on three sides by mountains, this town is known both for its historic samurai mansions and the beautiful blossoming cherry trees that line the streets. Popular with tourists from all over the world, it has an atmosphere truly appropriate to its nickname of “the Little Kyoto.”
Reviewed By 781sarahb - Tacoma, United States
My sister and I had originally planned to spend our 2 days in this area hiking Nyuto/Hachimantai and Akita-Komagatake... but unfortunately the rainy season lingered and so we got tired of being soaked and fighting our way through the muddy/jungly terrain. Having basecamped at semi-remote Kuroyu Onsen (see separate review), Kakunodate was a one-hour drive south - but the driving was easy compared to other routes we did in Hachimantai. We had not planned this side-trip so we visited the very helpful tourist information/office first. My sister does speak Japanese - so that made things easier. We were given some English summaries/maps of the samurai houses - and specific advice to visit the museum house first (which cost about $5 equivalent each) and allocate an hour/most of our available time there (this was fairly accurate). We were also advised to drive to the samurai house district since we were told walking the whole route alone was a couple hours. Although we were told there was free parking, we somehow didn't find it at first - and paid $3 to park along the river (where there are many cherry trees that bloom in the spring); after heading out on foot, we actually did find a small free parking lot by the public restrooms that had room. We hit the museum first. I haven't studied or seen samurai gear much so seeing all that was the most interesting to me. The extensive gardens/grounds (with at least a dozen different buildings) were also impressive. We visited about 5 other free-to-enter samurai properties; most were smaller and simpler - and you could only walk around the exterior of the single-structure grounds. There were also lots of nice eating establishments in the samurai district - and, overall, it is a really cute area for tourism. We did enjoy an umeboshi (pickled plum) soft serve ice cream and we bought lots of low-cost handkerchiefs for coworkers. We were one of probably 20 small groups walking the same route of houses - nearly all others were Japanese families.
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