Yokote
Yokote (横手市 Yokote-shi) is a city in Akita prefecture.
Understand
editTourist information sites
editThe city's official site has a tourism section with integrated machine translation. In addition, there is a separate tourist information page in English.
The local tourist associaiton has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.
Get in
editBy plane
editThe nearest airport is Akita Airport in Akita. Akita Airport's domestic flights fly from Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, and other cities. A shuttle bus runs twice daily from the airport to Yokote for 300 yen. Basically, reservations must be made online or by phone, and payment can be made in cash, by credit card, or by transportation system IC (Suica, PASMO etc).
- 秋田空港－横手ウェルカムシャトル よこてWARP (Yokote WARP)
Otherwise, you can take a bus from the airport to Akita Station (秋田駅) and then come to Yokote Station (横手駅) on the JR Ōu Line (奥羽本線).
By train
editFor most train travelers, taking the Akita Shinkansen to Omagari (Daisen) and changing to the Ou Line to reach Yokote Station will be the fastest way to reach Yokote. Those in Yamagata, can go north along the Ou Line, but trains are infrequent. The Kitakami Line (Kitakami) also terminates in Yokote. If timetables align, the Kitakami Line is the fastest way from southern Iwate.
Get around
editThe castle and historic district are a 30 minute walk from Yokote Station or a 10 minute walk from Motomachi (本町) Bus Stop.
See
edit
- 1 Yokote Castle (横手城). The original castle was burned down in the Boshin War. Although the reconstructed castle has a keep, the original castle had a palace but not a keep. ¥100.
- 2 Yokote Masuda Manga Museum (横手市増田まんが美術館), Shinmachi 285, Masuda (In Jumonji near Masuda Junior High School.), ☏ +81 182 45-5556. A museum about Japanese comics with original works by famous manga artists.
- 3 Masuda’s Historic Merchant District (Masuda’s Hidden Storehouses "Uchigura") (増田の町並み (内蔵)), Masuda (Bus or cab from Jumonji Station (10 min.)). It is a district where the traditional townscape is preserved. The internal structure called “Uchi-gura,” which is not visible from the exterior of the buildings, is a distinctive feature of the area. It is designated as a nationally important architectural district.
- 4 Kamakura-kan (Kamakura Museum) (かまくら館), Chūō-chō 8-12 (10 minutes walk from Yokote Station East Exit). Visitors can experience entering a real Kamakura (igloo-like snow houses) in a subzero space. There is a store where you can buy local products and a tourist information desk. ¥100.
- 5 Akita Prefectural Museum of Modern Art (秋田県立近代美術館), Tomigasawa 62-46, Akasaka, ☏ +81 182 33-8855. This museum's collection of modern art is predominately from Akita, though some is from elsewhere.
Do
edit- Kamakura (Yokote’s Winter Festival) (横手のかまくら) (This festival is held at many locations in Yokote -- see the website for a map.), ☏ +81 182 33-7111. Feb 15-16 18:00-21:00. Small igloos (called "kamakura") are built in many locations across town. There are hundreds of kamakura, some large enough to enter. Some of these, in turn, become small eating establishments. Traditionally, amazake (a sweet winter-season drink) and mochi are served.
- Bonden (Yokote’s Winter Festival) (横手のぼんでん) (Bonden Contest and Bonden Departure will be held on Fujimi Boulevard in front of the Yokote City Hall main building). Feb 16-17. decorated staves called bonden are carried through the city and presented as an offering at Asahi-okayama-jinja Shrine.
- 1 Yokote Gymnasium (横手市横手体育館), Jōri 2-2-40 (1 block NW of Yokote City Hall Jōri Office), ☏ +81 182 33-2102. This city gymnasium hosts a variety of sports and community events.
- 2 Jūmonji Track and Field Stadium (十文字陸上競技場), Bōzuzawa 20-1, Jūgonoshinden, Jūmonjimachi, ☏ +81 80-1847-5809. This is the regional track and field stadium.
Buy
editThe largest souvenir shop in Akita Prefecture is located in Akita Furusato Mura. Yokote Station also has a unique vending machine that sells souvenirs.
Eat
editA local delicacy called "Yokote yakisoba"(fried noodle) is famous, and there are many restaurants in the city that serve it.
Drink
editSleep
edit- 1 Yokote Plaza Hotel (横手プラザホテル), Ekimae-cho 7-1 (1 minute on foot from Yokote Station East Exit), ☏ +81 182-33-2111. Business hotel. Also has a capsule hotel. (For men only. Women-only capsule hotel is located at the west exit of the station.)
- 2 Hotel Plaza Annex Yokote (ホテルプラザアネックス横手), Ekimae-cho 7-7 (3 minute on foot from Yokote Station East Exit), ☏ +81 182-32-7777. A business hotel of a higher rank.
- 3 Hotel Plaza Geihin (ホテルプラザ迎賓), Ekimae-cho 7-7 (3 minutes on foot from Yokote Station East Exit), ☏ +81 182-32-7777. Tourist hotel with Japanese garden.
- 4 Hotel Nostal Yokote (ホテルノスタル横手), Ekimae-cho 6-33, ☏ +81 182-35-4000. Scandinavian-style designer hotel. Opening in October 2024.
- 5 Quad Inn Yokote (クォードイン横手), Sekibata 52-1, Yasuda (5 minutes on foot from Yokote Station West Exit), ☏ +81 182-36-5211. Business hotel.
- 6 Yokote Central Hotel (横手セントラルホテル), Heiwa-cho 9-10 (20 minutes on foot from Yokote Station East Exit), ☏ +81 182-33-1551. Business hotel.
- 7 Hotel Route Inn Yokote Inter (ホテルルートイン横手インター), Takuboshita 117, Fuke-oh-zutsumi (1 minute on foot from Yokote IC (Akita Expway & Tohoku-chuo Expway)), ☏ +81 182-33-1551. National chain business hotel.
