PORT OF JAPAN

Home / Akita / Guided days

2 hrneeds a 9h call5.0★ · 6 reviewsFree cancellation 24h aheadSmall group

Walking Tour of Wealthy Merchant's Storehouses in Akita

A two-hour guided walk through the merchant houses of Masuda, a preserved country town where storehouses were built inside the homes.

Check dates & prices →Why it is on this site ↓
Walking Tour of Wealthy Merchant's Storehouses in Akita1 / 4

Photo: tour operator, via Viator

Duration
2 hr
From pickup or the meeting point and back
Your call needs
9+ hours
Incl. getting ashore and the hour before all-aboard
Price
From US$42 per person
Free cancellation 24h ahead · as of 26 Sep 2026
Group
Small group · up to 6
Masuda Kuranoeki-mae bus stop, or JR Jumonji Station by arrangement
Why it is on this site
  • You enter two or three merchant mansions to see their indoor storehouses with plaster and lacquer decoration, and the entry fees for up to three are included.
  • Masuda is a national preservation district for traditional buildings, designated in 2013, and still lived in.
  • The guide can meet you at JR Jumonji station to help with the bus or taxi transfer if you ask ahead; it holds a 5.0 rating across 6 reviews.
Best for

Travelers interested in traditional architecture who have a long call and are comfortable with a train journey across the prefecture.

Think twice if

Despite being listed for Akita, this is not in Akita city: Masuda is in the south of the prefecture, reached by train to JR Jumonji station and then a bus (500 yen return) or a taxi, paid in cash. The travel takes far longer than the two-hour walk, and 6 reviews is a thin record.

What the operator lists

The day, stop by stop

  1. seen in passingPlease come to Masuda-kuranoeki(増田蔵の駅) bus stop through transferring JR Jumonji station by yourself. You will get on a bus or taxi from JR Jumonji station(JR十文字駅) to Masuda-kuranoeki bus stop depending on your arrival time so please bring some cash for fare.
  2. Masuda Storehouses · 2 hrExplore Masuda town in Akita on a 2-hour walking tour of visiting several mansions that have storehouse built by wealthy merchants as a symbol of financial power more than 100 years ago. ・See the townscape of wealthy merchant's town in countryside.
Included
  • Entrance fee up to 3 mansions

Guide languages: English. Cancellation: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. Run by AKITA Geo Tour Co., Ltd..

Where it takes you

What you will see

Our own guides to the stops — so you know what you are booking before you book it.

~6.5h incl. trains

Masuda’s merchant storehouses

Two guided hours among the storehouses that Masuda’s merchants built inside their own houses — still lived in, and rare even in Japan.

Our guide to it →
Book it

Check dates and book

Booked through Viator (a Tripadvisor company). There is rarely a tour desk at the pier, so book before you sail.

Walking Tour of Wealthy Merchant's Storehouses in Akita5.0★ · 6 reviews · Small group · up to 6From US$42 per personCheck dates →

We may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It never decides what we recommend — the “think twice” note above is there on purpose.

Quick answers

Before you book

Is the Walking Tour of Wealthy Merchant's Storehouses in Akita worth it from the Akita cruise port?

A two-hour guided walk through the merchant houses of Masuda, a preserved country town where storehouses were built inside the homes. Best for: Travelers interested in traditional architecture who have a long call and are comfortable with a train journey across the prefecture.

How long a port call do I need for this tour?

About 9 hours. The tour runs 2 hr; add half an hour to get off the ship and keep the hour before all-aboard free. Allow about 2 hours each way from the ship by bus, local train and bus, and check train times before you go: they are not frequent.

Can I cancel if my ship skips the port?

The operator's policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. The operator may cancel for bad weather, with a refund.

What should I know before booking?

Despite being listed for Akita, this is not in Akita city: Masuda is in the south of the prefecture, reached by train to JR Jumonji station and then a bus (500 yen return) or a taxi, paid in cash. The travel takes far longer than the two-hour walk, and 6 reviews is a thin record.

From the same berth

Other guided days in Akita

All of them →
5.0★ · 6 reviews

Full Day Tour to Akita, Samurai Town and Lake Tazawa with Guide

A private full day from Akita Station to Lake Tazawa and the samurai houses of Kakunodate, with a local guide who drives.

Why it is here →5.0★ · 4 reviews

3 Hour Cycling Tour in Kakunodate

A three-hour private bicycle ride through the countryside and samurai streets around Kakunodate, starting with a local one-car train.

Why it is here →5.0★ · 3 reviews

Sword Martial Art Experience in Kakunodate

A two-and-a-half-hour private iaido lesson in a Kakunodate dojo facing the samurai street, ending with a test cut on a cardboard figure.

Why it is here →