Saketomi

This izakaya stands at the southern end of Kawabata, Akita City’s largest nightlife district, where many restaurants line the riverside. It offers a wide selection centered on local Akita sake and Akita oden, along with regional dishes, delicacies, and charcoal-grilled items.

Its Akita oden is known for a carefully crafted broth made with underground water from the Shirakami Mountains, natural salt from Oga, Rausu kelp, dried bonito flakes from Makurazaki, and Akita’s fish sauce, “shottsuru.” There is also a wide variety of oden you can only enjoy here, including the “Akita Kani-men” made with red snow crab, the house specialty “Kiritanpo Bukuro,” and homemade satsuma-age fish cakes. Along with Akita local sake, the owner also offers a rich selection of carefully chosen wines, perfect for pairing with the deeply flavored Akita oden broth.

Inside, there are counter seats and raised seating areas, creating the calm atmosphere of a hidden retreat for adults. Chatting with the staff in Akita dialect is part of the fun, and the place is always lively with both locals and visitors. Since it’s a popular spot, making a reservation is recommended.