Senshu Park, the site of the former Kubota Castle in Akita, Japan, is a favorite picnic spot during the spring cherry blossom festival.

A bronze statue of Yoshitaka Satake (1825-1884), the 12th feudal lord of Akita, is in Senshu Park at Akita, Japan.

Osumi Yagura, the former turret of Kubota Castle in Senshu Park at Akita, Japan, was built by the powerful Satake samurai clan in 1631 and reconstructed in 1989. In feudal times the tower served as a lookout and for weapons storage.

Akita dogs such as this example named "J-Hope" are much sought after as pets in Japan. President Vladimir Putin has an Akita gifted to him by Akita Prefecture in 2012.

A group of high-energy taiko or wadaiko drummers performs outside the cruise terminal in Akita, Japan.

The 143-meter-high Akita City Port Tower Selion (1994) in Akita, Japan, has an observation deck 100 meters above ground level. The udon soba vending machine is a special feature. A glass-enclosed indoor plant nursery is in an adjacent building.

The Akita Port Cruise Ship Terminal is a gateway to northwestern Japan. The Selion Tower with great views of Akita harbor is a short walk away.

A long line of wind turbine generators stretches north from the Mitsubishi UBE Cement Factory (right) at Akita on northern Honshu Island, Japan.

Shrimp and oysters are the specialty of Shimada Fisheries in the Omicho Market at Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.

Huge tuna are cut up and sold at the Omicho Market in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.