Yokote Kamakura Festival

Be served with amazake and rice cakes in a lit-up snow shelter

The Yokote Kamakura Festival is one of the Michinoku Godai Snow Festivals (five major snow festivals of Michinoku). Yokote is one of the areas in Japan’s snow country with the heaviest snowfalls. The Kamakura Festival, held on 15 and 16 February every year, is dedicated to the water deity. During this folk festival, altars are built in snow chambers where children play, drink amazake (sweet fermented rice drink) and grill rice cakes. The festival has a history of about 450 years. 


The Kamakura Festival was originally an event in which money was offered to the water deity enshrined in the altar, and was held to pray for the well-being of families, prosperity of businesses, and good harvests. However, as times changed, it gradually developed to become a tourist attraction and took on its current format. Inside the 100 or so kamakura snow-huts that are erected in the city, children feast on amazake and rice cakes.  


The beauty of the kamakura snow-huts as their silhouettes stand out in relief against the dark night, is magical. We recommend taking a walk through the kamakura venues, starting from the park in front of Yokote City Hall Main Government Office, where the most kamakura are erected, followed by Yokoteminami Elementary School and Janosaki-kawara where numerous mini kamakura can be found, then on to the kamakura built along the old samurai residences, and the kamakura at the illuminated Yokote Castle. 

General Information

Address
秋田県横手市横手地域内
Directions
●10 minutes walk from Yokote Station on the JR Ou Main Line
●Free Kamakura venue loop-line bus service available (about 17:40 to 21:00)
Car Park
Temporary parking lots and free shuttle buses are available
Official Website
Visit this website
Date
February 15 and 16 every year
Venue
Within the Yokote district of Yokote City, Akita Prefecture

Contact

Contact
(1) Cultural Property Protection Section, Education and General Affairs Department, Yokote City
(2) Tourism and Hospitality Section, Commerce and Tourism Department, Yokote City
Telephone Number
①0182-32-2403
②0182-32-2118

You might also be
interested in…

Ginzan Onsen
View Details
Kakunodate Bukeyashiki (Samurai Residences)
View Details
Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu
View Details
Geibikei Gorge
View Details
"Empty-handed"Hakkouda Juhyō Snowshoe Tour
View Details
Hachimantai Dragon Eye (Kagami-Numa Lake)
View Details
Shikamura Terraced Rice Fields
View Details
Yamagata 1-day Pass
View Details
[Tsuruta, Aomori] Tsuru no Mai Bridge
View Details
Aizu Erosoku Festival (Aizu Painted Candle Festival)
View Details
Mt. Haguro
View Details
Hyoko Lake
View Details
Matsukawa Onsen
View Details
Inukko Festival
View Details
Akita City Central Business District Scheduled Bus Pass "G…
View Details
Aoike (Blue Pond)
View Details
Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival Festival
View Details
Noshiro Tanabata Festival “Tenku-no-Fuyajou” (Noshiro, Aki…
View Details
[Zao Onsen] Zao's Juhyo/Snow Monster(Zao's Rime/Frost Cov…
View Details