Akita Prefecture (Japanese: 秋田県) is a prefecture of Japan in the Tohoku Region, in northern Honshu. It covers 11,612 sq km and has a population of 1.1 million people. The prefectural capital is the city of Akita.
Akita Prefecture faces the Sea of Japan to the west. It borders Aomori Prefecture to the north, Iwate Prefecture to the east, Miyagi Prefecture to the southeast, and Yamagata Prefecture to the south. It traces its history to AD 658, when Abe no Hirafu conquered the local Ezo tribes in what is today the cities of Akita and Noshiro. A fort was established on the Mogami River and a Japanese settlement started there.
By Train
The Akita Shinkansen bullet train connects Tokyo Station with Akita Station. The journey takes 4 hours and costs ¥16,800 each way. All seats must be reserved, but make sure you are in the right coach, because the Komachi train is coupled to the Aomori-bound Hayate trains, and they split into two at Morioka Station.
By Bus
The JR Tohoku Bus operates the Dream Akita/Yokohama Express buses between Tokyo (you can also take it from Yokohama) and Akita, leaving Tokyo at 9:50 pm and arriving in Akita at 6:35 am. The fare is ¥9,100.