News and Events

64 Akita International University Students Visit Sites around Akita Prefecture

June 1, 2010

On Saturday, May 22, Akita International University’s department of Student Affairs organized a bus trip to scenic spots in Akita. 52 exchange students and 12 degree-seeking students toured such famous sites as Dakigaeri Gorge, Lake Tazawa, and the Kakunodate Samurai Manors.

The weather could not have been better. At Dakigaeri Gorge, the first stop, students enjoyed hiking, wading, and taking pictures at this breathtaking natural treasure.

From there, they headed to Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan (423m), for lunch by the waterside. The gold statue in the picture below is an image of Tatsuko, a mythological woman who is said to have been transformed into a dragon and guard the lake to this day.

Finally, they visited the historic town of Kakunodate, famous for its old samurai quarter. Some of the samurai manors here have been turned into museums, but others still function as homes for descendants of the samurai families.

Akita International University organizes a number of these bus trips every semester. Other destinations include Mt. Chokai, Oga Peninsula, and Oyasu Gorge. International exchange students usually can participate in the trips free of charge.

For a photo album of the trip, please visit the link below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/akitainternationaluniversity/

More information on tourist attractions throughout Akita can be found on the prefectural tourism web site:

http://www.pref.akita.jp/koho/foreign/en/index.html

For information on applying to study at Akita International University, please visit our “Prospective Students” page.

http://www.aiu.ac.jp/en/prospective/index.html

Page top