20 Museums in Akita worth your time

This museum is a mecca for Japanese comic fans, preserving and displaying original manga artwork.

What it is

• Museum dedicated to Japanese comics, founded in 1995.
• Established as a gallery for original, hand-drawn manga pages.
• Houses hundreds of thousands of original manga pages.
• Promotes manga culture through preservation of original artwork.

What to see

• Manga Culture Exhibition on the first floor.
• Original artwork displayed along a sloped walkway.
• Rotating selection of original manga pages on the second floor.
• Permanent Exhibit shows artists' pencil marks and ink corrections.
• Exhibition of manga by artists from Akita.
• Manga library with 25,000 titles to browse.

Getting there

• Short walk from Masuda’s historic district.

Address

〒019-0701　秋田県横手市増田町増田字新町285 Map

Official site

manga-museum.com

Read more about Yokote Masuda Manga Museum

Explore Akita's samurai history at this modern museum, featuring clan artifacts and interactive exhibits.

What it is

• Museum dedicated to the Akita Domain and Satake clan.
• Opened in 1990, with a new building in 2025.
• Manages Kubota Castle Omikuyagura and Omogashira Gobansho.
• Manages the Former Kurosawa Family Residence.

What to see

• Armor of Satake Yoshishige and Satake Yoshinobu.
• Two-story reinforced concrete building.
• Second-floor deck with park views.
• Projection mapping and multi-language QR codes.

When to go

• New museum building opens October 25, 2025.

Getting there

• Located near Ninomaru Plaza of Senshu Park.

Address

〒010-0876　秋田県秋田市千秋公園1-4 Map

Official site

www.city.akita.lg.jp

Read more about Satake Historical Museum

Historical museum in Yokote City, Akita, preserving and displaying local cultural assets.

What it is

• A historical museum in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture.
• Opened on August 7, 1991.
• Collects and exhibits cultural assets and materials.

What to see

• Building has a triple pagoda motif exterior.
• Archaeological materials are housed here.
• Copper sutra containers and bone urns are stored.
• Excavated items from Otoriiyama and Kanazawa Castle ruins.
• Picture scrolls are exhibited.
• Armor and other military equipment are displayed.

When to go

• Open from 9:00 to 17:00.
• Closed on Mondays and during New Year holidays.

Read more about Gosannen-kassen Kanezawa Archive Museum

Explore Akita's nature and culture at this free museum, featuring local history and a historic residence.

What it is

• A general museum dedicated to Akita Prefecture.
• Opened on May 5, 1975.
• Includes the Sugae Masumi Data Center.
• Features an Akita Pioneers Memorial Room.

What to see

• Natural exhibition room on the first floor.
• Cultural exhibition room on the second floor.
• Old Nara Family Residence is a branch facility.
• Main building of Old Nara Residence is a National Cultural Property.
• Old Nara Residence outbuildings are Registered Cultural Properties.

Getting there

• Located in Akita Prefectural Koizumigata Park.

Address

秋田県秋田市金足鳰崎字後山52 Map

Official site

www.akihaku.jp

Read more about Akita Prefectural Museum

Akita Prefectural Children's Hall offers engaging exhibits and a planetarium for families.

What it is

• Prefectural cultural facility in Akita City.
• Only large children's hall in Akita Prefecture.
• Established in 1950, moved to current location in 1980.
• Reopened after major renovations on March 31, 2019.

What to see

• Planetarium, recreation hall, and library.
• Exhibition rooms about space, earth, light, and sound.
• Children's theater called Keyaki Theater.

When to go

• Hosts events like model train exhibitions on Children's Day.
• Closed on Mondays and during New Year holidays.

Read more about Akita Prefectural Children's Hall

See Foujita's 'Events of Akita' and other works in a modern building by Tadao Ando.

What it is

• Art museum in Akita City, reopened in 2013.
• Designed by architect Tadao Ando.
• Dedicated to works by Tsuguharu Foujita.
• Many collected works from Masakichi Hirano.

What to see

• 105 works by Tsuguharu Foujita, including drawings.
• Foujita's 'The Events of Akita' (1937) painting.
• Medieval Spanish religious paintings.
• Western, early Japanese Western-style, and Chinese paintings.
• A water garden on the second floor.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from Akita Station West Exit.

Address

〒010-0001　秋田県秋田市中通1-4-2 Map

Official site

common3.pref.akita.lg.jp

Read more about Akita Museum of Art

Explore Akita's history and art in a beautiful red brick former bank building.

What it is

• A local history and art museum in Akita City.
• Main building was former Akita Bank headquarters, built 1912.
• Preserves the appearance of its bank era.

What to see

• The red brick main building, an Important Cultural Property.
• Traditional crafts of Akita City in the old archives.
• Memorial room for printmaker Tokushi Katsuhei.
• Large Kanto float at Neburi Nagashi Kan annex.
• Floats from Tsuchizaki Shinmei-sha Festival at the annex.
• Former Kaneko Family Residence, opened to public in 2005.

Address

〒010-0921　秋田県秋田市大町3-3-21 Map

Official site

www.city.akita.lg.jp

Read more about Akita Akarenga Museum

Explore science and play at this museum, honoring local innovators, just a walk from Nikaho Station.

What it is

• A municipal science museum in Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture.
• Opened on March 20, 2024.
• Honors achievements of Kenzo Saito and Teiichi Yamazaki.

What to see

• Two stories of exhibition rooms and a children's play room.
• Research workshop and multi-purpose gallery.
• Two magnetic-themed attractions.
• A science park surrounds the museum.

When to go

• Open 9:00 to 17:00.
• Closed every Monday.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from JR Nikaho Station.

Official site

www.ferrite.jp

Read more about Children's Ferrite and Science Museum

Explore Earth's resources and history at this university museum, a hidden gem for science enthusiasts.

What it is

• A museum attached to Akita University.
• Originated from Akita Mining College exhibition room in 1910.
• Established with donations from Akita Prefecture.
• Affiliated with the Graduate School of International Resource Sciences.

What to see

• Cylindrical building with exhibition rooms on three floors.
• First floor displays minerals and ores.
• Second floor displays Earth's composition and history.
• Third floor displays resource development.
• Outdoors, large rocks and excavation machinery.

Address

〒010-8502　秋田県秋田市手形字大沢28-2 Map

Official site

www.mus.akita-u.ac.jp

Read more about Mineral Industry Museum, Akita University

A children's museum with a space theme, planetarium, and outdoor play, great for families.

What it is

• An educational and cultural facility for children.
• Opened on April 5, 1987.
• The first floor was renovated in 2023.

What to see

• The Nobishiro Space Lab on the first floor.
• The Space Museum with space-related models.
• The prefecture's second largest planetarium.
• A two-story reinforced concrete building.
• Outdoor fountain and athletic equipment.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Noshiro Station.
• 15-minute drive from Noshiro Minami IC.

Official site

www.city.noshiro.lg.jp

Read more about Noshiro City Children's Museum

Explore Ōdate's history, culture, and nature in a repurposed school building.

What it is

• A museum exhibiting Ōdate's history, culture, and nature.
• Opened on April 25, 1996.
• Uses the former Ōdate Higashi High School building.

What to see

• Main building and an exhibition hall.
• Works by painters associated with Ōdate City.
• Introductions to figures like Takiji Kobayashi.
• Exhibits on local chickens.
• Akita Sankei Memorial Hall on the grounds.

When to go

• Open 9:00 to 16:30.
• Closed on Mondays and New Year holidays.

Official site

odate-city.jp

Read more about Ōdate City Museum

Omura Art Museum: a private museum in Akita, showcasing René Lalique's glass art.

What it is

• A private museum in Semboku City, Akita Prefecture.
• Opened in 1995.
• Specializes in works by René Lalique.
• Exhibits Art Nouveau and Art Deco works.

What to see

• About 400 items in the collection.
• Glass crafts and related materials.
• 70 to 80 items rotated every 2 to 3 months.
• A cafe on site.

When to go

• Open 10:00 to 17:00.
• December to March: closes at 16:00.
• December to March: open weekends and holidays only.

Official site

www.museomura.com

Read more about Omura Art Museum

Explore agricultural science and history at this free museum with a unique building and diverse gardens.

What it is

• A museum introducing agricultural science from a scientific perspective.
• Opened on May 22, 1991; renovated and reopened on September 22, 2007.
• Offers various classes for lifelong learning.
• Admission is free.

What to see

• A linear building with a round roof, nicknamed Sun Agrin.
• Two above-ground floors.
• A tropical greenhouse.
• A rose garden and an orchard.
• A relocated curved-roof house, a registered tangible cultural property.

Address

〒014-0073　秋田県大仙市内小友字中沢171-4 Map

Official site

www.obako.or.jp

Read more about Akita Prefectural Museum of Agricultural Science

This museum showcases Akita art within a theme park, offering a unique cultural experience.

What it is

• A museum opened in 1994.
• Displays art by artists associated with Akita Prefecture.
• Located within the Akita Furusato Village theme park.

What to see

• Exhibition rooms with Akita Ranga and modern Japanese paintings.
• Crafts are also on display.
• A museum shop is available.
• Building has 7 floors above ground and 1 basement floor.

When to go

• Open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Closed on December 29, 30, and 31.

Address

〒013-0064　秋田県横手市赤坂字富ヶ沢62-46 Map

Official site

akita-kinbi.jp

Read more about Akita Museum of Modern Art

Meet Akita dogs and explore a unique railway park, just a minute from Odate Station.

What it is

• A tourist facility in Odate City, Akita Prefecture.
• Opened on May 8, 2019.
• Official name is Odate City Tourism Exchange Facility.
• Admission is free.

What to see

• Building models the 1920s Shibuya Station.
• Akita dog museum and exhibition room.
• Shop selling goods.
• Displayed Tokyu 5000 series train.
• Railway park with hand-pumped trolleys.

Getting there

• 1-minute walk from Odate Station.

Address

秋田県大館市御成町一丁目13番1号 Map

Official site

akitainunosato.jp

Read more about Akita Dog Visitor Center

Explore TDK's magnetic innovations and history at this corporate museum.

What it is

• A corporate museum of TDK Corporation.
• Built in 2005 as TDK History Museum.
• Renovated in 2015 and renamed TDK Museum.
• Focuses on TDK's strength in magnetism.

What to see

• Showcases TDK's products and technologies.
• Exhibits in a history zone.
• Exhibits in a future zone.

When to go

• Open 10 AM to 6 PM; last admission 5 PM.
• Closed Sundays and Mondays.
• Closed December 30th to January 4th.

Read more about TDK Museum

Explore traditional cherry bark artistry and local culture at this award-winning museum.

What it is

• A tourist facility in Semboku City, Akita Prefecture.
• Opened in September 1978.
• Japan's third oldest traditional craft museum.
• Displays craft, culture, and history materials.

What to see

• Red brick arch entrance with concrete columns.
• Product shop with local crafts.
• Cafe for refreshments.
• Exhibits on cherry bark work.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Kakunodate Station.

Address

〒014-0331　秋田県仙北市角館町表町下丁10-1 Map

Official site

www.city.semboku.akita.jp

Read more about Kakunodate Cherry Bark Work Museum

A free folk museum in Kosaka Town, offering a glimpse into local history.

What it is

• A municipal folk museum in Kosaka Town.
• Dedicated to the history and culture of the region.
• Admission is free.

When to go

• Open 9 AM to 5 PM, last admission 4:30 PM.
• Closed Mondays and the day after a holiday.
• Closed for winter from December 20 to March 10.

Getting there

• 3-minute walk from Shuhoku Bus Kosaka stop.
• 1.2 km from Kosaka IC via Akita Prefectural Road 2.

Address

〒017-0201　秋田県鹿角郡小坂町小坂字中前田48-1 Map

Official site

www.town.kosaka.akita.jp

Read more about Kosaka Town Municipal Museum Kyōdokan

A forestry museum in a forest, showcasing historical logging equipment and locomotives.

What it is

• A forestry museum in a forest area.
• Opened on December 21, 1964.
• Renewed in 2008.

What to see

• A repaired diesel locomotive moved indoors.
• Outdoor forestry machinery exhibits.
• Outdoor forest railway locomotives.
• A Baldwin steam locomotive.
• A Sakai Heavy Industries D-29 diesel locomotive.

Getting there

• Access is by car.
• Use Akita Expressway Akita-Chuo IC.

Official site

www.rinya.maff.go.jp

Read more about Nibetsu Forest Museum

Kaneyū is a historic ryotei building, now a cultural property, offering a glimpse into traditional Japanese architecture.

What it is

• Founded in 1890 as a high-class Japanese restaurant.
• Main building rebuilt in 1937, now a cultural property.
• Operates as a tourist exchange facility since 2013.

What to see

• Building with seven distinctive hip-and-gable roofs.
• Traditional dry landscape garden.
• Second-floor grand hall is 159.5 tatami mats.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from Noshiro Station.

Address

秋田県能代市柳町13番8号 Map

Official site

www.kaneyu.jp

Read more about Kaneyū