Farm Stays

Explore local countryside life in Akita Prefecture with a farm stay! During the lodging experience, you can make kiritanpo (a specialty of Akita made by mashing rice and grilling it on Akita cedar skewers), as well as savor delicious miso-dipped tampo and kiritanpo nabe (hot pot) to stay warm in Akita’s climate. You can also enjoy hands-on experiences tailored to the seasons, such as apple and pear farming, flower and fruit picking in the spring, and harvesting in the fall. Odate City is the home of kiritanpo, and its history and traditions still thrive. The Agency for Cultural Affairs recognized kiritanpo as a "100-year food" in 2021. Enjoy the scenery and delicacies of Akita, and feel the local culture close at hand!

Q1: How does this attraction bring tourists and locals together?

A: Travelers and local farmers work together to cook dinner and breakfast, and enjoy dishes made with local ingredients so guests can familiarize themselves with the region’s charms and culture. While sitting around the dinner table, farmers share information about the origin of kiritanpo and Hinai chicken, as well as local festivals in Odate, which further deepens the exchange between travelers and local residents. The farmers’ inns have information boards with foreign-language signs to break down language barriers and facilitate smooth exchanges with travelers from various countries!

Q2: What kind of impressions have you got from visitors?

A: Many of our guests have commented on the joys and hardships they experienced while trying to make kiritanpo dinners and how much fun they had together. We are more than happy to have received numerous thank you emails from our guests, who said that the interactions that we had with the locals during their stay felt like being part of a family!

Q3: Any message for visitors planning to see Expo 2025?

A: While there is a long distance from Osaka to Odate, Akita, we hope that you will take the opportunity during your visit to the Kansai Expo to experience authentic kiritanpo. You will be able to fully enjoy traditional Japanese culture while tasting kiritanpo made with local ingredients in a beautiful environment surrounded by nature!