Yurihonjō

• • Akata Giant Buddha — A large Buddha statue. — Address: Uwadaomote 115, Akata — Directions: on Route 69, several kilometers south of the rest area in Ouchi — Price: Free — Phone: +81 184 22-1349 — Website: http://www.kensoudan.com/firu-minami-e/akada2.html
• • Honjo Culture Hall — This building is the only large auditorium in Yurihonjo. It hosts many kinds of shows, such as dance shows, concerts, and karaoke contests. — Address: Mikuramachi 30, Honjo — Directions: 1 block west of Max Valu and 1 block SW of the large pink hospital — Phone: +81 184 22-3033
• • Honjo Park — Have a picnic. In April or May, watch cherry blossoms in the park. — Address: Honjo
• • Hottai Waterfall — A large waterfall with picnic and camping area and restaurant in Momoyake, Hitane, Chokai. There is also a 2-km hiking trail. The facilities are closed in winter, and the road is not plowed. However, the road is plowed in Momoyake until the last 2 km, so one can easily walk in on snowshoes. — Address: Momoyake, Chokai — Directions: follow road signs from Yashima or Kawauchi — Phone: +81 184 57-2207
• • Iwaki Local History Museum — This reconstructed village has some museum buildings with old clothes, weapons, scrolls, and, oddly, biology research. There are also some reconstructed buildings, as well as old looms and blacksmith tools. Next to the reconstructed village there's a large tower, surrounded by a small moat. There's a restaurant and gift shop on the first floor, and the top floor has nice views of Kameda. No English is spoken, but the ticket window has an English language handout that describes each of the buildings. If the employees have time, they can demonstrate how some of the tools are used. — Address: Tamachi 41, Kamedamachi, Kameda, Iwaki — Directions: from Honjo, go several kilometers north, and then turn east towards Kameda; there's a large tower that's visible from afar — Price: ¥400 for adults — Phone: +81 184 72-2048
• • One Thousand Jizō — See a thousand small statues on a path by the road. — Directions: from the Ouchi Rest Area, take Highway 107 east a few hundred meters, then turn north on Highway 69 and follow it for several kilometers; there are two parking lots and a small shop at the road, and the statues are just up the hill

Akita Prefecture is famous for kiritanpo, a sort of grilled rice cake. In October and November, the local hatahata fish is quite popular. Though unfortunately these foods are only served at a few restaurants around town, they can be purchased at many gift shops. Yurihonjo itself is known for several brands of sake (Japanese rice wine), such as Dewanofuji (出羽の富士) and Tenju SHUZO (天寿酒造). Sake is served at bars and sold at many convenience and grocery stores.

In Honjo, there are many small snack bars. The outlying communities have fewer bars. There are no real dance clubs in Yurihonjo — try Akita for dancing.

The best shopping in Yurihonjo is in Honjo itself. If Honjo doesn't have what you want, go to Akita. If you're shopping in one of the outlying areas, there are often interesting gifts at the rest area shops.

Business hotels are best found in Honjo. Ryokans can be found throughout Yurihonjo, though for a ryokan you'll want to have reservations or arrive early in the day. In a pinch, a car traveler could sleep in the car at any of the rest areas — this is quite common in northern Japan. If you're thinking of sleeping in your car after a night of drinking, please make sure you're completely alcohol-free in the morning, because the police may see your car in the evening and watch for it in the morning. Additionally, there are a few love hotels that could be used, but regular hotels are comparable in price, so it's not a great option.

Depending where you're going, a car is probably your best bet.

In Honjo, biking and walking are feasible. There are a few buses each day connecting outlying towns. Iwaki, Nishime, Yuri, and Yashima can be reached by train from Honjo. Taxis and daiko are available, but they're very expensive for outlying areas. Traveling by car is convenient, and parking is rarely a problem.

Yurihonjo was formed by a merger of several towns, yet those towns are still largely oriented around themselves. And since Yurihonjo is very large, in terms of area, people living in the SE may know nothing about people living in the NW, for example. Honjo (本荘) is in the west of Yurihonjo. To the south of Honjo is Nishime (西目). To the north of Honjo are Matsugasaki (松ヶ崎), Kameda (亀田), and Iwaki (岩城). Ouchi (大内) is NE of Honjo. Higashi Yuri (東由利) is east of Honjo. In the SE are Yuri (由利), Yashima (矢島), and Chokai (鳥海). Chokai is composed of three villages, Kawauchi (川内), Hitane, (直根), and Jinego (笹子).