Photo: 掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0Port Tower Selion is the landmark of Akita port, a 100 m tower that is the heart of the 'Akita Port' roadside station. Akita City describes a free observation deck from which you can see from the Oga Peninsula to Mt Chokai, with a sky lounge for light meals and, on the ground floor, shops selling local products.
For a cruise passenger the point is simple. It is a short walk from the berth, costs nothing, and gives you the lay of the land: the port below, the coast, the city on the horizon. It is the one stop of the day that cannot go wrong on timing, which matters in a port where the bus to the city runs infrequently.
The catch: it is a lookout, not a destination. Allow half an hour, and decide on the way back whether you want the longer trip into town. On a hazy or rainy day the view is the whole of the point and it will not be there.
Five things the plaques won't tell you
- There is no entry fee for the observation deck, and the building is open from 9:00 to 21:00 daily.
- The city says shop hours are on the tower's own website, so check the lounge hours there if you want a meal.
- On clear days the city lists the view as running from the Oga Peninsula to Mt Chokai.
- The tower is next to a roadside station, so the ground floor sells regional goods you can carry on board.
- If you plan to go into town afterwards, check the Selion bus stop for the next departure before you go up.
It is the one stop of the day that cannot go wrong on timing, which matters in a port where the bus to the city runs infrequently.
Guided days from Akita
Booked before you sail — there is no tour desk at the pier. Booking through these links supports the site.
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Open the guide →Questions people ask here
Is Port Tower Selion free?
Yes. Akita City lists the 100 m observation deck as free, and the tower is open daily from 9:00 to 21:00.
How far is Port Tower Selion from the Akita cruise berth?
About a 10-minute walk, according to this site's transport board. It is also the Selion bus stop, where the bus to Akita Station leaves.
What can you see from the tower?
Akita City says the view runs from the Oga Peninsula to Mt Chokai on a clear day.