Akita Prefecture Local Quiz! A fun workbook for elementary school students that adults can enjoy too

Godzilla Rock

It’s a large, Godzilla-shaped rock located at Shiosezaki on the Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture, appearing as if it’s roaring out toward the sea. Especially at dusk, its silhouette looks incredibly cool. Formed by nature into this curious shape, it has become a popular tourist spot that attracts many visitors.

Basketball

Noshiro Science and Technology High School in Noshiro City is a very strong basketball school. It has won the national tournament many times and has produced many outstanding players. Because of this, there are lots of basketball hoops around the city, and children can enjoy playing basketball with energy. With basketball being so popular, the entire town is filled with a sporty atmosphere.

Samurai residence

In Kakunodate, many samurai residences from the Edo period, called bukeyashiki, still remain. The houses, surrounded by black wooden fences, let you feel the atmosphere of the past. In spring, graceful weeping cherry trees bloom beautifully in the gardens and along the streets, and the contrast between the pink blossoms and the black fences is stunning. It’s a popular spot where many tourists come to enjoy both history and nature.

castle

Chiaki Park is a park created by developing the site where Kubota Castle, the residence of the Satake clan who ruled the Akita domain in the Edo period, once stood. The castle ruins and stone walls remain to this day, letting you feel the history as you stroll. In spring, the cherry blossoms bloom beautifully. With plenty of play areas and nature, it’s a popular Akita spot where you can enjoy both history and the outdoors.

Because the grandma will serve it with a spatula

This is a popular ice cream in Akita Prefecture. Its name comes from the fact that the vendor, often an elderly woman, scoops and serves it using a special spatula. Sometimes she shapes the ice cream with the spatula into a beautiful rose, making it fun to look at as well. In summer, it’s sold along the roadside and is loved by locals and tourists alike.

Don't catch a cold

There is a legend that says, “If you eat candy on Amecco City Day, you won’t catch a cold.” It’s a festival held every year in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, and it’s said that eating the candies sold on this day will keep you healthy. It’s also said that on this day, deities come down from the nearby mountains to buy candy. It’s a fun winter event that has long been cherished by the local community.

cherry blossom

Because the name includes the character for “kaba,” it’s easy to mistake it for white birch, but in fact it uses cherry bark. This bark is highly effective at keeping out moisture and is often used to preserve tea leaves. In Japan, cherry bark has long been used to store various items. It’s a very practical material that makes the most of nature’s properties.