Akita has been a prominent city of the Tohuku area since the medieval times and it was in the year 1889 that the modern city was officially founded. It is today the capital city of the Akita prefecture. The advantage that Akita has is that its location is in close proximity to some of the most important oil fields in Japan. The chief industries of the city include oil refining, wood, metalworking and production of silk textiles. Akita is surrounded by a lot of river banks. Akita has always been a city connected with history. It has been witness to at least four historical periods viz., Edo, Meiji, Showa and Heisei. The chief neighboring cities today are Kita-Akita, Katagami, Yurihonjo, and Daisen amongst a few others.



The beginning of Akita dates to the Edo period. In the beginning a settlement known as Kubota Castle town was formed. The construction of this town began in 1604 and subsequently it became the center of Akita. The Meiji era was a period of further progress and it was in this period that the renaming of the Taihei School to Akita Normal School took shape on the 12th of April, 1878. The school system was then divided into 2 systems namely, the Kitaakita and Minamiakita districts. Akita was officially founded one year after that on the 1st of April, 1889.

Initially the major form of transportation was horse-car which began in July of its foundation year between Shindaikumachi to Tsuchizaki. This was to become the Akita City Rail Services in the years to come. In May the following year the first bank of Akita was inaugurated and commenced services. The Showa period was one of devastation and destruction as Japan was caught in the throes of war. The city was bombed into devastation on August 14, 1945. Akita had to unfortunately bear the brunt of what was supposedly the farthest range of bombing as well as the last bombing mission in World War II carried out in an air raid of 134 B-29s from midnight to dawn. A few hours later Japan announced its surrender.

The Heisei Era is associated with the period beginning April 1, 1997 when the city was integrated as one of Japan’s core cities. Akita gained further prominence with the hosting of the “World Games" in August 2001. The 400th anniversary of the city was celebrated in 2004. Akita had come a long way since its humble beginnings as Kubota Castle Town.

January 11, 2005 was a turning point in the history of modern Akita city as the towns of Kawabe and Yuwa and the merger was celebrated with much fanfare. The locational position of Akita City Hall was left unchanged while the former Kawabe and Yuwa Town Halls were used as the civilian center.

Make advance room reservations in any Akita hotel for a fabulous holiday experience in the city which has seen a lot of history. The staff at any Akita hotel always greets you with smiling faces!