Soetsu Yanagi, a promoter of handicrafts, says that their beauty lies in the fact that they are practical as well as being nice to look at. Akita's handicrafts truly exemplify this belief because of their decorative beauty. The more they are used, the more beautiful they become.

Akita's traditional crafts include a variety of goods that have long been used by people in their daily lives. Kaba-zaiku (crafts made from the bark of cherry tree), Kawatsura Lacquerware with history from the medieval times, Odate Magewappa (bent-wood works), and Akita Sugi-Oke-Taru (cedar kegs and buckets), are designated as traditional handicraft by the Japanese government. Akita Ginsen-zaiku (silver jewelry made of 0.2 millimeters wide pure silver), lacquerware, pottery, textiles and woodwork are also notable.