8 Tasty Must-Buy Souvenirs from Akita Prefecture

Find the eight best souvenirs from Akita Prefecture

Akita Prefecture is famous for its delicious cuisine, which features ingredients from both the sea and mountains.

Alongside the renowned Akitakomachi rice, you may also want to get a taste of kiritanpo, which are toasted skewers of mashed rice dumplings, and Inaniwa Udon, celebrated as one of Japan's "Three Great Udon Varieties." Below, you’ll find eight unique souvenirs exclusive to Akita Prefecture.

Iburigakko: Smoked radish pickles

In Japan, especially in cold regions like Akita with its long winters, people have developed preservation methods, such as pickling all kinds of vegetables. Due to the extreme cold, pickles can even freeze while being sun-dried, resulting in the creation of iburigakko.

It's made by smoking daikon radish over a hearth before pickling it with rice bran. It's delicious on its own and pairs perfectly with cream cheese when enjoyed with a drink.

Inaniwa Udon: One of Japan's top udon noodles with a history of about 350 years

Akita's local specialty, Inaniwa Udon noodles, boasts a 350-year-old tradition and ranks among Japan's top three udon varieties. Made by skilled chefs who follow traditional methods, the dough is hand-kneaded from wheat flour and saltwater, and aged for around four days.

Inaniwa Udon is considered unfinished in its fresh state and acquires its distinct texture through the drying process. Its firm and smooth texture offers a unique taste compared to fresh noodles. Bring home this iconic souvenir and enjoy one of Japan's three great udon varieties in the comfort of your own home.

Damako Mochi: Sesame-sauce filled dumplings

Damako Mochi originates from the Hachiro Lagoon area. It's made by mashing rice in a mortar, then rolling it into balls by hand, similar to Akita's famous kiritanpo dumplings.

The Damako Mochi, which are made from local Akita rice, are filled with a light sesame sauce. They’re usually sold frozen, making them a bit difficult to take home, but their small size and irresistible flavor make them the perfect treat during your travels.

Sekito
Address: 63-13 Genaizaki, Noshiro-shi, Akita Prefecture
Access: 12-min bus ride from JR Noshiro Station (Gono Line) to Higashi Ose bus stop, from there it’s an 11-min walk
Official website: https://www.sekito.jp/product/jiman/damako/ (in Japanese only)

Kinman: White bean paste-filled sponge cakes

Kinman is a famous specialty sweet from Akita, where castella-like dough is baked to perfection and filled with sweet white bean paste.

Available in both fresh and vacuum-sealed varieties, the vacuum-sealed option is ideal for gifts. The fresh type, however, can only be purchased at select or directly managed stores, and makes for a perfect treat while exploring Akita City.

Akita Confectionery Kinman (Akita Ekimae Oyane Dori Store)
Address: 2-6-2 Nakadori, Akita-shi, Akita Prefecture
Access: 4-min walk from Akita Station
Official website: https://kinman.co.jp/ (in Japanese only)

Sanazura: A confection made from wild mountain grapes

A traditional confection made from wild mountain grapes found in the remote mountains of Akita. These grapes are turned into juice and solidified with agar.

Originally, sanazura referred to mountain grapes in the Akita dialect. It has a sweet and sour flavor, reminiscent of wine. It's a popular healthy snack as the grapes are known for their health benefits, and natural agar is rich in dietary fiber.

Thanks to its natural acidity, traditional confection with a 400-year history can last for about 40 days at room temperature. When visiting during summer, opt for the refreshing sanazura jelly.

Eitaro Confectionery (Minami-Dori Store)
Address: 11-9 Minami-dori Kameno-cho, Akita-shi, Akita Prefecture
Access: 14-min walk from Akita Station
Official website: https://shop.eitaro.net/products/list.php?category_id=31 (in Japanese only) 

Shitogi Mamegaki: Dried mochi with roasted black beans

Shitogi Mamegaki is a type of rice cracker made by baking mochi (rice cakes)with black beans. To endure the cold winter, many mochi in Akita are dried outside before being baked or fried and enjoyed as snacks. 

This tradition gave birth to Shitogi Mamegaki. Shitogi is a mixture of raw rice flour and water kneaded into a ball. It turns into a rice cracker when beans are added and baked, offering a taste of perfectly seasoned, traditional simplicity.

Akita Shitogi Confections Ichinoho
Address: Akita Ekimae Nakakoji, 2-4-15 Nakadori, Akita-shi, Akita Prefecture
Access: 5-min walk from Akita Station
Official website: http://ichinoho.shop-pro.jp/ (in Japanese only)

Morokoshi: A sweet treat made from adzuki beans

Morokoshi is made from top-quality adzuki beans, carefully roasted, and ground into powder using a stone mill. Sugar, or a special type called wasanbon sugar, is added, and pressed into shape, and as soon as you put it into your mouth, the sweet powder dissolves, leaving a delicious aftertaste.

Morokoshi come in different colors, shapes, and flavors. There's also a fresh version called nama morokoshi available that's not baked. It makes a perfect snack paired with Japanese green tea.

Akita Pudding: A sweet treat made with local milk

Akita Pudding is made from rich Jersey milk from Chokai Kogen Hanadate Farm Park in Akita Prefecture, giving it a delicious flavor and creamy texture. Keep in mind it needs refrigeration and should be consumed within three days.

Jiro
Address: 2-1-8 Gosho-no-shimo Tsutsumi, Akita-shi, Akita Prefecture
Access: 26-min bus ride from Akita Station to Aeon Goshonoten-mae bus stop, from there it’s an 8-min walk
Official website: https://www.jiro-yozo.com/special_sweets/pudding.html (in Japanese only)

Where to shop for souvenirs in Akita Prefecture

Buying souvenirs while sightseeing is fun, but it can also be convenient to purchase them all at once at the end of your trip. That way, you won't have to carry them around. The best spots to shop for souvenirs are near airports and train stations.

Shop for souvenirs at Akita Airport

Akita Airport is home to various souvenir shops. At Mugendo, for example, you can not only buy local souvenirs, but also enjoy a bowl of fresh Inaniwa Udon.

Two other popular souvenir shops include ANA Festa and Omiyage Hiroba Aeru, selling Akita's famous sweets and other unique products.

Akita Airport
Address: 49 Yamagomori, Yuwatsubakigawa, Akita-shi, Akita Prefecture
Access: 40-min limousine bus ride from Akita Station (West Exit)
Official website: http://www.akita-airport.com/

Shop for souvenirs at Akita Station

There are many souvenir shops around Akita Station. At Akita Station Building ALS & Tópico, for example, you can find various Akita souvenirs, as well as restaurants, bookstores, shops, and pharmacies for any essentials you might need. Nearby, there's also Akitano (Akita Prefectural Goods Plaza,) offering a wide range of local specialties.

Akita Station Building ALS & Tópico
Address: 7-1-2 Nakadori, Akita-shi, Akita Prefecture
Access: Short walk from Akita Station
Official website: https://www.caoca.net/ (in Japanese only)

Akitano (Akita Prefectural Goods Plaza)
Address: 2-3-8 Nakadori, Akita-shi, Akita Prefecture
Access: 6-min walk from Akita Station
Official website: https://www.akita-yulala.jp/en/shop/akita-prefectural-goods-plaza

Looking for more souvenirs to bring back from Japan? Head to WAmazing Shop and choose from a wide range of tax-free products.

Get around Akita Prefecture with the JR East Pass (Tohoku area,) and enjoy unlimited rides on shinkansen and trains, including access to Akita Station.

Discover the best local souvenirs of Akita Prefecture

When visiting Akita Prefecture during your trip to Japan, make sure to try a few of the aforementioned snacks, or bring some home to enjoy them together with your friends and family.

Explore more of Japan by using one of the many different transportation passes.

*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.