Fujisato, Akita

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[edit] Fujisato

**Fujisato Town**
**藤里町**
Fujisato Town's location in Akita prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Akita prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	281.98 km² (108.87 sq mi)
Population (as of 2006)
Total	4,242
Density	15.04 /km² (39 /sq mi)
Symbols
Tree	Beech
Flower	Wisteria
Bird	Black Woodpecker
Symbol of Fujisato Town
Fujisato Town Government Office
Address	〒018-3201 Yamamoto-gun, Fujisato-machi Fujigoto-ji, Fujigoto 8
Phone number	0185-79-2111
Official website: Fujisato Town

Fujisato (藤里町, Fujisato-machi^?) is a town located in Yamamoto District, Akita, Japan.

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 4,448 and a density of 15.77 persons per km². The total area is 281.98 km².

Fujisato can be reached from Route 7 by taking the Shirakami off-ramp North, towards Fujisato. It takes approximately 15 minutes, in good weather, to reach the town from Route 7　on the 317. During winter, and taking into consideration the overwhelming amount of elderly drivers, it can take much longer than that to merely reach the town. Estimated drive times to nearby municipalities are as follows: Futatsui (15-20 minutes), Takanosu (30 minutes), Noshiro (30-45 minutes), Odate (1 hour), and Akita City (2 hours).

The town itself is nestled in a small valley at the base of the Shirakami Mountains. The hillsides are brimming with lush green in the summer, amazing orange in the autumn, and covered in white snow during the winter. Due to its location in the middle of the mountains, the temperature in Fujisato can get remarkably cold at night, with snowfall tending to be somewhat greater than that in neighboring municipalities.

Places to eat in Fujisato are all located in the center of town. There are two ramen shops (Omo-ya and Torebian), one sushi bar, and a mess hall located inside City Hall called Tashiro.

There is a small ski lift in Fujisato, located on the 317, about 10 minutes drive north of the center of town. The quality of powder is not quite comparable to that of other local resorts such as Ani or Akita-hachimantai, however, it is adequate for beginner residents of Fujisato.

Fujisato is also home to its own Onsen, Yutoria. Their bath features a spout which comes out of the ceiling and pours hot spring water directly downward into the bath.

Getting to the Shirakami Mountains proper is actually quite the task, and should not be attempted in a vehicle without four-wheel drive. The roads leading up the mountain are not paved and are heavily rutted, so it may be best to take pictures from town or go up with a tour group.