Akita Castle

Akita Castle is an excavated fortification in Akita with foundations and reconstructed buildings from early medieval Japan. The site displays a rectangular arrangement within multiple defensive walls that contained government offices and residential structures.

The settlement was founded in 733 during the Nara period to control the northern territories and manage regional affairs. This early administrative outpost became significant for expanding state authority into areas far from the capital.

The name reflects the site's role as an administrative center where officials once managed the region's affairs. You can observe how the layout of buildings reveals the hierarchy and daily operations of governance from more than a thousand years ago.

The archaeological park is open daily without entrance fees, allowing you to walk freely among the ruins and reconstructed areas. Parking and basic facilities are available on-site for convenient visits.

Archaeologists uncovered wooden tablets and inscribed pottery during excavations that reveal how administrative work was conducted in the 8th century. These direct records on wood and clay provide a rare window into the daily paperwork and governance practices of that era.

Location: Akita

Inception: 733

Part of: Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles

Website: https://city.akita.lg.jp/kanko/kanrenshisetsu/1003616/1002306.html

GPS coordinates: 39.74034,140.07919

Latest update: December 20, 2025 15:16