They call them akiya, literally “empty houses.” Across the countryside, thousands of old, traditional houses stand ownerless, abandoned when their owners pass away and children move to the cities. These houses symbolize how rural Japan is being left behind as the frenetic cities lead the country toward the future. The people behind Akiusha decided to give one traditional house a new life as an elegant and delicious restaurant in the hot springs area of Akiu. They state, “With Akiusha at its core, it is our mission to revive and discover the dormant charms of Tohoku.”

The exterior of the restaurant is a testimony to Akiu’s past, with its 160-year-old main structure and roof carefully preserved. The interiors, however, are contemporary and elegant, a nice fusion of traditional and new. The food is centered around the use of organic, local vegetables from nearby farms. The menu offers dishes like bagna cauda, pot-au-feu and pork cutlet alongside a varied selection of desserts.