
Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival

- 14
- 12
- 2017
Want a magical night of candlelights and cottages made out of snow? That’s just what you’ll experience when you visit Japan’s Akita Prefecture..and then some!
The Festival’s Roots
The Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival goes way, way back. The event began when Akita Prefecture, where rice is a major product, suffered the most devastating dry spell in Japanese history. Water was amiss. Crops were dying, and newly planted ones weren’t growing at all.
To put an end to the drought, locals built shrines made out of snow. These shrines are perfect for…
Honoring the water deity. Inside the full-size huts, you’ll see an altar of the water deity where visitors can pay their respects.
Praying for abundance, specifically a bountiful rice harvest for the year to follow.
Keeping the Tradition
As a way of keeping the tradition, the event lives on! Hundreds of life-size kamakura (snow huts) are built and strategically placed in different locations within the city.
Places to Visit
The festival begins at Yokote Station to the famous Yokote Castle, two kilometers from the Yokote River.
Thousands of smaller snow huts, which house lighted candles create an enchanting sight for both locals and tourists alike.
You can enjoy these mini, glowing huts if you make your way to the Yokote River and the Minami Elementary School.
The warm and radiant lights go so well with the cold weather that the event has always been a hit for couples…or just anyone, really.
The Yokote Castle is also a sight to behold. The majestic structure is four-storey high and affords festival goers an awesome view of Yokote’s illuminated grounds.
Getting from one place to another can get pretty exhausting but don’t worry, locals will happily serve you food! Free food makes the world a better place.
In case, getting served free food isn’t your thing, pay a visit to Hokkori Yokocho. You can find this place within the main venue of the festival, right next to the City Hall.
There’s a sea of food stalls that serve yakisoba noodles, traditional sake, and a myriad of Japanese desserts.
How to Get There
You can reach Yokote through Omagari and Kitakami Stations.
From Tokyo, it takes 3.5 hours to reach Omagari Station. Once you get off at Omagari, you’ll need to take another train going to Yokote Station, which takes around 20 minutes.
When taking the Kitakami route, you’ll only need to travel 80 minutes from Tokyo to Kitakami to Yokote.
Location Details
Name
Komyoji Jido Park
Address
10-18 Omidomachi Yokote-shi, Akita-ken 013-0026 Japan
Event Date
February 15, 2018
Hours & Fees
Hours - 9:00 to 17:00 | Fee - 100 Yen