Kosaka offers a range of reasons to choose it as a travel destination: railbike rides are among the attractions at Kosaka Railway Rail Park, Nanataki is a seven-tiered waterfall, and Kourakukan is a historic building. Other highlights include a 42.5-kilometer scenic road, a mountain with regional recognition, and a winery with an attached shop and tastings. To help plan your trip, first choose your focus: a railway experience, a guided cultural visit, nature or wine. This lets you take the relevant visiting conditions into account before looking for hotels in Kosaka.

Railbikes, Scenic Road and Waterfall

Kosaka Railway Rail Park uses the tracks and facilities of the former Kosaka Railway; its offerings include railbike rides. The former railway infrastructure is therefore part of the park concept, not just a part of the area's history. If you would like to include an activity in your travel plans, the railbike experience offers a different focus from a guided cultural visit.

The Jukai Line is a 42.5-kilometer scenic road from Ōdate via central Kosaka and Nanataki to Hakka Pass. It is open year-round, although weather and road conditions may affect the drive. For planning purposes, its route can be considered separately from the individual attractions: it passes through several named locations, while a visit to Nanataki centers on a specific natural attraction. Take the weather and road conditions into account if you include the road in your travel plans.

Nanataki is a waterfall about 60 meters high, with seven tiers. A walking path and a bridge lead to its base, so you can approach it for a closer look. The waterfall thus combines a precisely described landscape feature with a route to a viewing destination. Take care if the ground is wet or uneven.

Cultural History and Mountain Scenery

Kourakukan was completed in 1910 and designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2002. Visits are by guided tour at specific times; visits are not possible while performances are in progress. A notice from the operator dated April 25, 2026, states these conditions. Check the tour times again before your visit and take into account whether performances are scheduled. This will help you plan a visit to Kourakukan around the designated tour times.

At 1,034 meters, Shirojisan (白地山) is the highest mountain in Kosaka and is among the 100 Famous Mountains of the Tōhoku region. This offers two distinct points of reference when choosing nature attractions: Nanataki is a waterfall with a walking path and bridge, while Shirojisan is distinguished by its height and regional mountain classification. These details give you two specific points to consider when deciding which landscape themes you want to shape your stay.

Wine and Local Products

Kosaka Nanataki Winery focuses on wine made from local mountain grapes, Yamabudō, and develops it as a distinctive Japanese wine. The winery has an adjoining shop, Cellar Door Nanataki. Wine tastings are offered there, and the shop carries much of the product made at the winery. If wine is one of your travel interests, this visit offers a distinct focus alongside railways, culture and scenery. Confirm the shop's opening days before your visit.

Plan Visits Around Their Conditions

Planning requirements vary by destination: tour times and ongoing performances are key for Kourakukan, you should check the opening days of Cellar Door Nanataki, and weather and road conditions may affect your drive on the Jukai Line. These differences help you prepare for visits in the right order rather than making the same assumptions for every destination. Choose the attractions you actually plan to visit and take the relevant conditions into account.

Discover more destinations: Fujisato, Akita, Yokote, Yuzawa, Daisen, Yurihonjō, Uwamuki, Kazuno.

For the broader travel overview: Akita Prefecture.