Akita

Important Notice

On Tuesday 24 March 2020, the International Olympic Committee and The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games announced the postponement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Consequently, the launch of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay (OTR) that was scheduled to start on Thursday 26 March was put on hold while discussions took place to deal with the new developments.

A new schedule for the OTR will be decided in accordance with the decision made on the specific dates of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games. We will make every effort to prepare for a new grand start of the OTR for everyone to take part in and celebrate.

We will be releasing updates about the OTR as soon as new information becomes available.

(As of 26 March 2020)

The following information was compiled and released before the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games was announced on 24 March 2020.

Places of interest in Akita

The Akita leg of the Torch Relay begins in the southern city of Yuzawa and will make its way to Akita City’s “Nigiwai Hiroba” Square in Area Nakaichi where a celebration will take place at the end of the first day. On the second day, the Torch Relay will leave the city of Katagami, travelling across the northern part of the prefecture and arriving at the Hanawa Ski Area in the city of Kazuno for a celebration.

Some of the sites the torch will visit on its journey across Akita include: Akagami Shrine Gosha-Dou in the city of Oga, famed for the namahage folkloric demon legend; Semboku’s Kakunodate samurai manors that offer the ambience of a traditional castle town; and Boat Plaza Aquapal in Yurihonjo City, where visitors can enjoy a boat or canoe ride against the backdrop of Mt. Chokaisan.