Soak up the local culture and gain a unique insight into Akita's customs and traditions. The itinerary begins with a visit to the Akita City Folklore Museum, which showcases the works of two renowned local artisans, wood-block printer Katsuhira Tokushi, known for his bold color choices, and metal worker Sekiya Shiro, acclaimed for his graceful sculptures of bronze, silver and gold. Then it's on to the Akita Public Market, a lively indoor shopping venue filled with colorful stalls. You can grab local delicacies to eat while you walk and hunt for souvenirs. Refreshed, continue on to the Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Center whose exhibits focus on Akita's cultural arts, particularly the Kanto lanterns used in the Akita Kanto Festival. Adjacent to the Heritage Center sits the Old Kaneko Family Home, built at the latter end of the Edo period in the 1880s.