5 Photogenic Foods & Souvenirs in Akita: Instagrammable Sweets and Street Snacks

When you think of Akita, think of a treasure trove of fine food. There's more than kiritanpo, photogenic gourmet keeps appearing. Here is a careful selection of Akita's photogenic foods that fulfill "want to shoot it, want to eat it, want to take it home."

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1. Hinai-jidori Golden Soup, Kiritanpo Hot Pot / Local cuisine restaurants in Akita City

Kiritanpo hot pot, with its clear golden soup spreading across an earthenware pot, has an exquisite photogenic look of steam and color. The top-down view layering white kiritanpo, vivid Japanese parsley, and thick Hinai-jidori chicken is a shot you'll want to save.

• Photo tip: Use an overhead shot from directly above to make use of the ingredient arrangement. Including a bit of the pot's rim adds depth.
• Best time: Aim for a window seat where daytime natural light streams in.
• Access: Specialty restaurants cluster within a 10-15 minute walk of JR Akita Station.

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2. Soft Serve on the Samurai Residence Street of Kakunodate / Miso-tanpo & Matcha soft serve

The soft serve you enjoy in front of the black plank fences of Kakunodate, famous for its weeping cherry trees, is a superb photo spot for its contrast with the background. The combination of deep-green matcha soft serve and the black fence is overwhelming Japanese beauty.

• Photo tip: Hold the soft serve against the black fence. In cherry season you can also aim for a collaboration with the petals.
• Best season: Spring cherry season (late April) or the autumn foliage period.
• Access: About a 15-minute walk from JR Kakunodate Station.

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3. Akita's Famous Sweet "Morokoshi" / Colorful dry sweets at a long-established Japanese confectionery

Morokoshi, a traditional sweet made only from azuki bean flour and sugar, is talked about for its delicate look shaped into pastel-colored flowers and animals. Lining them up to shoot increases the artistic feel all at once.

• Photo tip: Arrange several on a white plate or wooden tray and shoot from directly above. Set the Japanese mood with tea alongside.
• Best time: Bright daytime natural light for vivid colors.
• Access: Available at long-established shops such as "Shorindo" in the Kawabata area of Akita City.

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4. Seafood Bowl of the Oga Peninsula / Fresh seafood eaten in the land of Namahage

A seafood bowl piled with fish raised by the rough waves of the Sea of Japan is a dish like a jewelry box. Vivid salmon, salmon roe, and white fish glitter atop white rice.

• Photo tip: Emphasize the dimension of the ingredients from a slightly high angle. A seat with an ocean view through the window makes a great background too.
• Best season: Summer to autumn, the best timing when seasonal fish are in.
• Access: About 20 minutes by bus or rental car from JR Oga Station.

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5. Akita's "Butter Mochi" / Photogenic souvenir with a chewy texture

Butter mochi, which has gone viral on social media in recent years, has a distinctive photogenic look with its white chewy texture showing through the translucent package. Taking it out of the bag and photographing the cross-section is the trend.

• Photo tip: Break it in half and shoot the cross-section up close. Placing it on a wood-grain table or kraft paper raises the stylish feel.
• Best time: Any time of day is fine. It's plenty photogenic indoors too.
• Access: Widely available at "Topico" inside Akita Station and at roadside stations.

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Akita's gourmet scene is full of things you can enjoy twice, delicious to eat and photogenic to shoot. On your next trip, enjoy a delicious, photogenic journey in Akita.