The Yokote Snow Festival is a snow festival that represents winter in the northern Tohoku region. There are two events at the Snow Festival. One is Bonden (Braham-Deva), a dedication event to a shrine. Another one is Kamakura event to appreciate Kamakura (snow igloo) made from snow. The Kamakura event is especially famous as one of the Michinoku Five Great Snow Festivals. You will be fascinated by the unique scenery of the snow country.
About the Yokote Snow Festival
The Yokote Snow Festival is held in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture. The period is three days from 15th to 17th February every year. You should definitely check out the Kamakura event on the 15th and 16th. It is an ethnic event in which Mizukami is enshrined in the snow room, and children play by drinking sweet sake and baking mochi. It has a history of about 450 years and is famous as a winter feature.
During the event period, about 100 large and small kamakura are created at six venues in the city, creating a fantastic landscape.
Things to do at the Yokote Snow Festival
The feature of the Yokote Snow Festival is that you can experience entering Kamakura. There are four places, Doro Koen Park that in front of Yokote City Hall, Haguro-cho Samurai House Street, Futaba-cho Kamakura Street, and Yokote Park .
Inside the kamakura, local children serve sweet zake and rice cakes baked in a brazier.
In addition, there are countless mini-kamakura at the two venues in Yokote Minami Elementary School and Janosaki Kawara. At night, candles are lit on the mini-kamakura, and you can enjoy the beautiful night view created by the contrast between clear snow and light.
How to Get to Enjoy Yokote Snow Festival
If you go to experience the Yokote Snow Festival, aim for JR Yokote Station. From JR Tokyo Station, it takes about 3 hours 30 minutes to JR Omagari Station by Akita Shinkansen. Transfer from JR Omagari Station to the Ou Main Line and arrive at Yokote Station in about 20 minutes.
The main venue for Kamakura events, Doro Koen Park that in front of Yokote City Hall is about a 10-minute walk from Yokote Station. Since the Kamakura venues are scattered throughout the city, it is a good idea to use the free bus that goes around the venues.
Spot information
- Spot name: Yokote Snow Festival
- Street address: Yokote, Yokote-shi, Akita Prefecture 013-0023
- Access: Tokyo Station → [JR Akita Shinkansen] approximately 3 hours 30 minutes → Omagari Station → [JR Ou Main Line] approximately 20 minutes → Yokote Station ... approximately 10 minutes on foot
- Wi-Fi: Available (Available at Doro Koen Park that in front of Yokote City Hall )
- Language: English, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Thai
- Credit cards: No credit cards accepted
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