6 Must-See Tourist Spots in Kosaka Town, Akita! Step into a Stylish World of Japanese-Western Fusion

Kosaka Town, Akita Prefecture, is a fascinating tourist destination filled with must-see attractions, such as historic cultural facilities, well-maintained townscapes, and beautiful nature.
A variety of annual events—like the Acacia Festival, the Korakukan Kabuki Grand Performance, the Kosaka Railway Festival, and the Christmas Market—captivate and attract many visitors to Kosaka Town. For some tourists, just a few days of sightseeing isn't enough, and they often decide to return. Many people fall in love with Kosaka while exploring it and become repeat visitors who come back to enjoy its charms in every season.
Here, we’ll introduce some of the top tourist spots in Kosaka Town!

1. Korakukan Theater

Korakukan is the oldest surviving wooden playhouse in Japan and has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the national government. It’s one of Kosaka Town’s most popular tourist spots. Since Kosaka was once a mining town, this theater originally served as a vital entertainment venue for the miners. Even today, it continues to entertain its audiences. Watching a play in this proud, historical building of Kosaka is sure to become a wonderful memory. Be sure to spend some meaningful time at Korakukan Theater!
Admission for a facility tour is ¥700. A combo ticket for both the facility tour and play viewing is ¥2,500. For the latest information and details, please check the official website.
Note: The information provided is as of December 2023.

2. Kosaka Mine Office

Kosaka was once famous as a mining town. The Kosaka Mine Office was built in 1905 and has impressed people with its luxurious design since then. Here, you can get a glimpse of the prosperity Kosaka once enjoyed as Japan’s top mining site.
The dazzling white plaster exterior walls and the elaborately designed interior are definitely worth seeing! The building was actually used as an office until 1997. In 2002, it was designated an Important Cultural Property and is now open to the public as a museum.
Inside, exhibits from Kosaka’s mining era are on display. The Renaissance-style building features plaster finishes, and the colors of the balcony and window frames have all been faithfully restored.
Just viewing the building itself is enjoyable, but if you want to make the most of your visit, why not dress up and take photos? There’s a dress rental service where you can choose from over 100 outfits, and you’re free to wear as many as you like within your rental time. It’s a fun way to create special memories!
Outfits are available for children and men as well, so the whole family can enjoy dressing up. Taking photos on the elegant spiral staircase that goes up to the third floor is sure to make you feel sophisticated! After your photoshoot, we also recommend dining at the Western-style restaurant inside the building.

3. Meiji Centennial Street (Meiji Hyakunen Dori)

Meiji Centennial Street is a tree-lined avenue approximately 300 meters long, which has been selected for the "Beautiful Streetscape Award." Lined with precious historical buildings and gardens from Kosaka Town’s prosperous mining days, the retro atmosphere makes it a popular tourist spot. Because of its close connection between the fragrance of acacia and Kosaka Town's historical and cultural heritage, it was also selected in 2001 by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment as one of the “Top 100 Fragrant Landscapes.”
The street has been carefully preserved to retain its appearance from the Meiji era, making it feel like time has stopped. It’s not uncommon to see tourists enthusiastically taking photos, trying to capture the charm of this miraculous street with their cameras.
During early summer, the Acacia Festival is held here. Local gourmet foods and specialty products are a hit among visitors. Kosaka’s specialty, acacia honey, known for its mild sweetness and rich flavor, is also available for purchase.
After enjoying the soothing scent of acacia on Meiji Centennial Street, be sure to take the memory of the fragrance home with you. The gentle aroma of acacia will bring back memories of your trip to Kosaka and offer a sense of calm.

4. Kosaka Railway Rail Park

Kosaka Railway Rail Park is a railway museum built on the site of the former Kosaka Railway line, which has been discontinued. Various trains and vehicles that were active during the mining era are on display, making it a hit with both adults and children. Seeing steam locomotives and nostalgic train cars excites many visitors.
You can even try driving a diesel train! And amazingly, you can spend the night in the actual sleeper train "Akebono." Staying overnight in a train that was once in operation is sure to thrill not only children but adults too! It’s a unique and unforgettable experience that’s special to Kosaka Town.
Kosaka Railway Rail Park is open from April to mid-November and is closed during the winter season. Please check the official website for the latest information before visiting.

5. Kosaka Nanataki Waterfall

Kosaka Nanataki is one of Japan's “Top 100 Waterfalls.” It’s cherished as a sacred waterfall due to the local legend of the Nanataki Falls in Kosaka Town. Its convenient location along the Jukai Line—which connects Kosaka Town, Lake Towada, and the airport—near the roadside station “Michi-no-Eki Kosaka Nanataki” makes it easy to visit. Many tourists stop by to take a break and admire its beauty, making it an essential sightseeing spot in Kosaka.
Around the waterfall, you’ll find a charming shrine, a bridge, and a watermill that enhance the atmosphere. The waterfall itself cascades powerfully in seven tiers, dropping a total of 60 meters. The sight and sound of the water will wash away your travel fatigue.
You can freely explore the area. Admire this natural work of art and feel refreshed by the pure white mist of the falling water. It’s a perfect place for sightseeing or as a rest stop during a drive.

6. Kosaka Town General Museum "Kyodokan"

This museum features a distinctive modern brick exterior. It mainly showcases the formation of Lake Towada, the history of Kosaka Mine, and local culture.
Exhibits about Kurt Netto—a mining engineer who introduced German smelting techniques to Kosaka Mine and contributed greatly to Kosaka Town's development—are preserved not only at the Kosaka Mine Office but also here at Kyodokan. His hand-drawn map of Japan and numerous sketches offer valuable insights into Kosaka Town’s past and are designated tangible cultural properties of the town.
Many visitors leave the museum with a sense of excitement after learning about Kosaka Town’s historical ties to European countries. Despite being slightly off from Kosaka’s symbol, Meiji Centennial Street, Kyodokan is not far and is easy to find along the Jukai Line.
Admission is free! Be sure to stop by the Kyodokan when you visit Kosaka Town. It will make your trip even more rewarding.

◎Summary

Kosaka Town, located in the northeastern part of Akita Prefecture, faces the Oirase Gorge entrance of Lake Towada, sharing a border with Towada City in Aomori Prefecture. Popular sightseeing spots include Takinosa Observatory, where you can admire the magnificent surface of Lake Towada, and Hakka Pass Observatory, which offers a direct view of the caldera's outer rim mountains—both are favorites among photographers.
The Kosaka Christmas Market, which colors the town in winter, originated from the interaction between a German mining engineer and local villagers. During the mining era, acacia trees were planted as a countermeasure against smoke pollution, and today they are used as a key ingredient in local specialty products. The former Kosaka Railway site has been transformed into a theme park.
Kosaka Town’s tourist attractions have adapted to the changing times, continuing to captivate visitors. A visit to Kosaka will surely become a treasured memory, accompanied by the gentle scent of acacia. Be sure to visit Kosaka and immerse yourself in its stylish, retro-modern world!

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6 Must-See Tourist Spots in Kosaka Town, Akita! Step into a Stylish World of Japanese-Western Fusion