Akita (秋田市, Akita-shi^?) is the capital city of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan.

As of June 11, 2005, with the merger of the former Kawabe District (including the former towns of Kawabe and Yūwa), the city has an estimated population of 323,310 and density of 356.98 inhabitants per square kilometre (924.6 /sq mi). The total area is 905.67 square kilometres (349.68 sq mi).

While the modern city was officially founded on April 1, 1889, Akita has been one of the most important cities in the Tohoku region since the medieval period. The Ashina and Satake daimyo clans established their capital in present-day Akita.

Historically, Akita has seen changes throughout at least four historical Japanese periods; Edo, Meiji, Showa and Heisei. The beginnings of Akita were in the Edo period. A settlement, known as Kubota Castle Town, was formed which would later become the center of Akita. Construction is dated to 1604.

Progress in the Meiji era included the renaming of the "Taihei" School (太平学校) to "Akita Normal" School (師範学校) on April 12 of 1878. In July, the school system was divided into 2 systems, the Kitaakita and Minamiakita districts. A year later, on April 1, 1889, Akita was officially established. In July the city hall of Akita is located inside the former Minamiakita District office. Transportation by horsecar began in July from Shindaikumachi to Tsuchizaki. This later became the Akita City Rail service. In May the first bank opened.