Once we arrived at Akita Station, it was time for our final meal of the trip. I knew I wanted to wrap things up with sushi! So, we treated ourselves to some delicious sushi right there at Akita Station.
Basic Shop Information
It’s directly connected to the station (on the 3rd floor of Akita Station Building Topico/ALS), making it very convenient while waiting for a train and very family-friendly as well. We arrived around 11:50 AM and were able to get a table after a short wait.
Actually, the Hotel Metropolitan Akita, where we stayed on our first night, is also directly connected. This means you can get to the restaurant without getting wet from any rain or snow!
What We Ordered
There were so many options on the menu that it was hard to choose, but we decided to go with these lunch sets.
Akita Port’s “Tairyo” (Large Catch) Nigiri Lunch
This set features all the most popular toppings and is very filling. The Anago (conger eel) in the center had just as much impact as it did in the photos!
Akita’s Feast Selection Lunch
This set is a perfect way to experience the unique flavors of Akita all at once. It includes:
- Hatahata: Akita’s iconic sandfish.
- Iburigakko: Traditional smoked radish pickles.
- Kibasa: A sticky, nutrient-rich seaweed.
- Tonburi: Known as “land caviar” for its delightful popping texture.
It’s a must-try for anyone who wants to taste the authentic “Bounty of Akita” before heading home!
Every dish features incredibly fresh seafood caught at Akita Port. The slices of fish are cut very thick and large—much bigger than what you’d find at a typical sushi chain! Each piece is so satisfying that you can truly taste the quality of the local catch in every bite.
If you prefer ordering individual plates, they have a great selection of à la carte sushi!
Highly Recommended
- The Negitoro Gunkan (minced fatty tuna with green onions)
- The Aburi Shime-saba (seared marinated mackerel).
Non-Raw Options
For those who don’t eat raw fish or for small children, they offer:
- Tamago: Sweet egg omelet
- Inari: Sweet fried tofu skin stuffed with rice
- Various Rolls: Cucumber (Kappa), Dried gourd (Kanpyo), Plum & Shiso, and fermented soybeans (Natto).
A Little Accident and Wonderful Service
A mishap occurred right after the food was served.
I accidentally spilled the miso soup while trying to move it away from my younger son… (The bowls are shaped like a “V” and are a bit unstable, so please be careful if you visit!)
As I was frantically trying to clean it up, the staff immediately rushed over with plenty of hot towels and helped me. I am so grateful for their kind and gracious response, even though they were very busy.
Tasting Akita!
Pulling ourselves together, it was time to eat!
The sushi here is made with Akita-grown rice and traditional “Akazu” (red vinegar). No wonder the rice (shari) was so incredibly delicious!
Adults might sometimes be influenced by the “premium” information we’re given, but the real proof was my younger son—who usually only eats the toppings—devouring the rice along with the fish. That spoke volumes about how good it was.
Personally, I found the tuna to be exceptionally tasty. I later found out that Akita is actually a hidden gem for tuna, with fresh catches often sold directly at local “Michi-no-Eki” (roadside stations).
They also provided free tea service. Sushi can make you surprisingly thirsty, so I really appreciated having it!
What my kids eat.
The children enjoyed miso soup, Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), salmon, tuna, and Anago (eel).
Since they served the wasabi on the side, the kids were able to pick and choose exactly what they wanted to eat without any trouble.
My eldest son loves salmon, but he even started “stealing” my tuna—which he usually doesn’t eat much of! As for my younger son, it was rare to see him so focused on the rice; he kept eating the “shari” (sushi rice) over and over again.
Luggage & Stroller Information
You can leave your large luggage near the entrance of the restaurant. As for strollers, the indoor space is a bit tight, so I recommend parking yours in the designated luggage area at the entrance before heading to your seat. This will make your dining experience much smoother!
Snacks for the Shinkansen: Rice Balls!
By the time we entered “Akita no Megumi Sushidokoro,” we only had about an hour left until our Shinkansen departure.
Since we were facing a long train ride of over four hours, my husband went off on a separate mission to stock up on food for the journey. Yes, that was at the exact moment I was frantically dealing with the spilled miso soup! (lol)
“Ichimonji” Onigiri!
Just one floor below us in the same building, there’s an onigiri shop called Ichimonji. My husband noticed it the moment we arrived in Akita. He mentioned that since most items were already sold out by evening and they proudly displayed “Akita-grown rice,” he had a feeling their rice balls must be incredibly delicious.
They had such a huge variety that we ended up buying a ton (lol).
The rice itself was amazing, and they had popular options like grilled onigiri with cheese, chicken tempura with tartar sauce, and classic cod roe.
Souvenirs and drinks.
On the second floor, there was also a Jupiter, where we stocked up on bottled drinks and snacks. Between those and some Morokoshi (traditional pressed grain sweets) from the souvenir shop, the ride home on the Komachi bullet train was perfectly comfortable.
Heading to Tokyo on the Komachi.
Despite a few unexpected hiccups, the delicious sushi and the warm hospitality of the staff made for the perfect finale to our Akita trip. If you ever find yourself at Akita Station looking for amazing seafood, you should definitely stop by. The wonderful onigiri also served as a lovely souvenir, letting us savor the taste of Akita one last time on our journey home.
At the very edge of the Akita Station platform, there were two Komachi trains lined up!
Seeing two of them together like this is something you don’t get to see in Tokyo, so it felt like a very rare treat!
Departing at 1:00 PM! Time to say goodbye to the snow.
It made me so happy to see you taking in the beautiful scenery.
Here is the scene of them eating the “Awayuki Fuwari” we bought as a souvenir.
I chose the “Burnt Shottsuru” flavor, which is a famous specialty of Akita. These are deep-fried rice crackers made from Akita-grown rice, carefully handcrafted and fried by skilled artisans.
They melt in your mouth almost like “baby rice crackers,” and they were a huge hit with the kids!
Mount Fuji with the setting sun.
On the section just before Omiya, there is a spot where you can see Mt. Fuji beautifully. You can see it on the left side on the way there, and on the right side on the way back.
In closing,
Although this trip was decided at the last minute, we were able to enjoy every single moment of it.
Akita’s food is incredible, and the people are so warm-hearted! Even though we stayed for three nights during the off-season, I felt like it still wasn’t enough (lol).
I hope this and my other articles will be helpful for your future travels.
Thank you so much for reading until the end!
