Daisen: Cultural Heritage, Ceramics and Brewing Culture

In Daisen City, garden and architectural culture, fireworks traditions, ceramics and breweries offer a wide range of points of interest.

Ikeda Garden: Landscape and Architecture

The garden of the former Ikeda family is located in Daisen City. It was the first garden in Akita Prefecture to be designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty. Its distinctive features include a large snow-viewing lantern four meters tall and a Western-style residence. Seasonal plants create different views throughout the year. The garden thus combines recognition for its landscape with a changing horticultural character. The Western-style residence of the former estate has its own cultural and historical designation: it is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The two designations therefore apply to different things—the garden and the residence. If you are interested in architecture, the house adds another perspective on the garden grounds; those who focus on landscape design can appreciate the seasonal plants as a distinct feature.

Historic Sites and Fireworks History

A general information center is located in Daisen City, beside the Hottanosaku site. An animation there tells the history of the site, and exhibits of excavated artifacts are also on display. The information center brings together the site's history and the artifacts on show. The Hanabi Am Fireworks Tradition Museum in Daisen City has a different focus: it conveys the history and appeal of the fireworks culture associated with the Ōmagari fireworks festival and preserves numerous related materials as valuable cultural properties. Hottanosaku focuses on the history and finds of a specific site, while Hanabi Am centers on fireworks traditions and the materials passed down with them. These topics offer different points of interest for culture enthusiasts.

Ceramics and Breweries

The Naraoka Pottery Gallery in Daisen City offers pottery classes where you can make ceramics. Reservations are required; check before your trip whether a class is available on your chosen date. Naraoka-yaki is known for the blue color of its namari glaze. The craft experience therefore offers both the chance to try making pottery and an opportunity to discover a distinctive feature of the ceramics.

The visitor area at Fukunotomo Brewery in Daisen City includes a gallery, a café, a tasting and sales shop, and a freely accessible tap for brewing water. The café serves a signature coffee blend made with brewing water and daiginjō ice cream. The offerings cater to different interests: the gallery and tasting and sales shop combine an opportunity to learn with shopping, while the café and tap add specific drinks to the experience. The brewery experience thus ranges from the gallery and shop to the café's special products and freely accessible brewing water.

Discover more destinations: Yurihonjō, Yokote, Noshiro, Oga, Semboku, Akita, Kazuno, Yuzawa.

For the broader travel overview: Akita Prefecture.