Kawabata Street

Kawabata Street is Akita’s well-known downtown entertainment district. The place name "kawabata" means "by the river," and nationwide it is usually written as "川端," and Akita’s Kawabata area was also written that way until the feudal domain era. However, when samurai moved to the east side of the river, the area became "the opposite side of the river" from the samurai viewpoint, so the characters "川反" were applied. It is said that as geisha houses and restaurants relocated one after another to Kawabata 4-chome, the pleasure district of Kawabata began to take shape. Crossing the bridge over the river, you will find a bar district that somehow feels distinctly Showa-era in atmosphere. Although it is called a bar district, the range of venues is broad, from izakaya serving regional cuisine to stylish bars, letting you enjoy everything from Akita specialty dishes to renowned local sake and explore Akita in depth. With many photogenic corners, it is also recommended for camera-focused travelers. The nationally famous phrase "Akita beauties" is said to have originated when many literary figures visiting Akita from the late Meiji to early Showa periods used it to refer to the "Kawabata geisha," making Kawabata Street the starting point of the expression. Access to Kawabata Street is about a 10-minute walk from JR Akita Station West Exit.