Walking Tour of Wealthy Merchant's Storehouses in Akita
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Take a tour with your guide through the quaint street lined with Japanese old houses!
Masuda Town has prospered as a merchant town since the Edo period.
Because this town has been the transportation hub, a variety of agricultural products gathered here. Merchants amassed wealth in their fields and created mansion towns.
Inside these mansions, "Kura'' or a storehouse was built by wealthy merchants to store documents and household furniture.
This storehouse is still inhabited and rare even in Japan.
Feel the elegance in the detailed decorations such as white plaster, polished black plaster and lacquered interior.
The townscape is home to many historic buildings of this area.
Masuda town was designated as a National Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 2013.
Find the storehouses of each mansion with its unique structure and decoration.
In this guided tour, you will be able to visit two to three mansions with storehouse while receiving an explanation.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Please come to Masuda-kuranoeki(増田蔵の駅) bus stop through transferring JR Jumonji station by yourself. You will get on a bus or taxi from JR Jumonji station(JR十文字駅) to Masuda-kuranoeki bus stop depending on your arrival time so please bring some cash for fare. (round trip fare for bus : ￥500/person, for taxi : about ￥3,000/car) There are a limited number of trains departing from JR Jumonji Station, so please check your arrival/departure itinerary in advance. Please see the uploaded photo of Viator for the timetable. If you let us know in advance, we will meet and help you transfer at JR Jumonji Station. Parking is available next to "Hotaru - Masuda Tourist Information Center" if you visit by car. This is group tour, but if there are no other group at your chosen time, we can start the tour earlier if you let us know in advance. The small/medium size 100-yen-coin lockers are available in "Hotaru" or "Community Lounge". But if you bring large size luggage, please contact us after booking.
Masuda Storehouses
Explore Masuda town in Akita on a 2-hour walking tour of visiting several mansions that have storehouse built by wealthy merchants as a symbol of financial power more than 100 years ago. ・See the townscape of wealthy merchant's town in countryside. ・Explore "Uchigura or storehouse in mansion" with walls plastered black. ・Learn the lifestyle of residents of merchants more than 100 years before.
Options
Inc. PickUp/DropOff AKITA city
Including round-trip transportation from/to AKITA city. 90-min for one way. Meet 90-min before of scheduled time of tour.
Walking Tour of Wealthy Merchant's Storehouses in Akita
Inc. PickUp/DropOff AKITA port
Incl. round-trip transportation from/to AKITA port. 90-min for one way. Meet at cruise building at 08:30. Return at 14:00.
What‘s Included
Entrance fee up to 3 mansions
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
6 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful hospitality and knowledge
Kelly M,Feb 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Takeshi-san was the best tour guide I’ve ever had. He was incredibly thoughtful, from offering me hand warmers to picking me up at my lodgings before the tour and dropping me back afterwards. He was very knowledgeable about Masuda Town and also an excellent translator between me and the owners of the historic houses we visited. The day after the tour, I mentioned I was planning to go to the local Bonden festival and he offered to escort me which was truly going above and beyond. And he was a fantastic tour guide on that excursion as well, bringing protective gear for me to use in the snow, helping me navigate the slippery mountain, and telling me all about the history and cultural significance of the festival. Because of Takeshi-san, I hope to visit Yokote again in the future. I will never forget this experience!
Instructive
Flyer53457656552,Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Friendly and helpful guide and driver. Nice to see the interiors of the houses with explanations from the owners.
Akita best tour
Wesley C,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very professional tour Guide ,ease going ,warm and polite. The most comfortable tour I have ever experienced.
Unique and interesting experience
Asama Q,Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00A very unique and interesting experience, getting to see and learn the history of these old storehouses. With translation you even get to speak with the owners of these storehouses. Takeshi was a great guide and very generous with his time, and even took me to the manga museum afterwards which was not originally planned. Arigato gozaimashita!
Thoroughly recommend the tour as something very different.
gkdeb1travels,Apr 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a very interesting tour. All Merchants Storehouses were very different. Amazing wood paneling and interesting furniture. Our guide Takeshi was very accomodating and helpful. His English was good and he helped us to enjoy the trip to the full. He also deviated a little so we could see the Sake brewery.
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Operated by AKITA Geo Tour Co., Ltd.