Akita Prefecture is located on the north-western side of Honshu. The almost rectangular prefecture has a coastal plain and two parallel mountains ridges separated by a basin, all running north to south. The higher Dewa Mountains run through the center and the Ōu Mountains along the eastern border. The plains are important agriculture regions, the name Akita means autumn rice paddy. The prefecture is famous for rice farming and its sake breweries.
The prefecture is rich in mineral and petroleum resources, traditionally this was the most prosperous mining area in Japan. There are coal seams, hydrothermal ore gangues, and the oil fields of the coastal plains. Akita University in the capital has a famous faculty for mining which is named Faculty of International Resources today. It has a big Mining Museum.