AKITA

Tozawa-ko

A lovely lake with a particular shade of blue that is its own color in Japanese (Tazawakoaoi?). It has a few famous stories (monsters in the depths and whatnot). There's a very affordable camping ground right across the street from its shores too.

Kakunodate

A beautiful old Japanese samurai town. Beautiful in its cherry blossom season, really nice and well preserved.

to do:

A few of the more popular February festivals:

Nishiki Kami Fusen - big hand painted paper hot air balloons, 10th

Kariwano Oh-tsunahiki - giant tug of war, 10th

Namahage Sedo - scary men in demon masks/costumes scaring naughty children, 10th - 12th

Yuzawa Inukko - snow dogs and snow shrines, 11th - 12th

Amekko - candy market, 11th - 12th

Mitsuseki Oh-tsunahiki Taikai - 12th

Kakunodate Hiburi Kamakura - fire swinging, 14th

Daisen Tsunahiki - 15th

Rokugo Takeuchi - big bamboo pole battle, quite violent, 15th

Yokote Kamakura - snow hut festival, 15th/16th

Asahigaokayama Bonden - decorated bonden "sacred wands" parade and race to shrine, 16th - 17th

Jumonji Mizukaburi - lots of sake, almost naked men drenching themselves in buckets of water, and throwing straw sandals, ouch!, 19th

Akita Prefecture's Tourism Division (mostly Japanese but with an English link): http://www.akitafan.com/

http://www.akitafan.com/language/en/index.html http://www.pref.akita.jp/e/0501.html (Some English information)