Yokote Kamakura: Snow Hut Festival Offering Coins to the Water Deity

"Yokote no Kamakura," held in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, is a traditional Little New Year event with a history of about 450 years. For a long time it was held on the fixed dates of February 15 and 16, but from 2026 (Reiwa 8) it has been changed to the second Friday and Saturday of February (a trial arrangement through February 2029). Water deities are enshrined inside the kamakura (snow huts), and children serve amazake and mochi — a winter tradition of the Michinoku region. The sight of soft lights glowing in a snow-covered town is fantastical, wrapped in a warmth that could be called Japan's original landscape.

History and Origins

This festival was born from the joining of two events that were originally separate. One was the sagicho held in "Uchimachi," the samurai quarter, praying for protection from misfortune and for the healthy growth of children. The other was the "water deity festival" of "Tomachi," the merchant quarter, in which water deities were enshrined beside wells. In this region where rice farming flourished, it carried a prayer for a blessing of good water. The two are said to have been joined around the thirtieth year of Meiji, taking the present form of the kamakura. The devotional spirit of enshrining the water deity is still handed down as the core of the event.

About 100 Kamakura Appearing Throughout the Town

During the festival, as many as about 100 kamakura 3 to 4 meters high appear at various places in Yokote City. Water deities are enshrined inside, and children call out "haitte tanse" ("please come in") to invite you in, serving amazake and mochi. Inside the kamakura it is surprisingly warm in the candlelight, and it is a heartwarming experience that lets you feel the hospitality of the people of snow country.

A Thousand Mini Kamakura

In front of Yokote City Hall and elsewhere, as many as about a thousand small "mini kamakura" line up, each lit with a candle. The countless lights spreading across the snow are like a starry sky on the ground. They are especially beautiful after dusk once the surroundings darken, and it is a perfect time for photography.

Yokote Yakisoba Is Also Worth Tasting

Yokote is also known as the birthplace of "Yokote yakisoba," a town of local gourmet. Thick boiled noodles with a sweetish sauce, topped with a fried egg and served with fukujinzuke pickles, is the Yokote style. Warming yourself with hot yakisoba between kamakura viewing is also recommended.

Advice and Access

Prepare thoroughly against the cold. Since you will walk on snowy roads, non-slip shoes are reassuring. The atmosphere is overwhelmingly better after 17:00 in the evening when the candles are lit. If children invite you, accept the amazake without hesitation. To reach the venue, alight at "Yokote Station" on the JR Ou Main Line (about 40 minutes from Akita Station), or drive about 10 minutes from "Yokote IC" on the Akita Expressway.

Practical Information

• Dates: From the 2026 edition, the dates have changed from the previously fixed "February 15 and 16" to the second Friday and Saturday of February (a four-year trial arrangement through February 2029). In 2026 these are Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14; in 2027, Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13; in 2028, Friday, February 11 and Saturday, February 12
• Kamakura lighting hours: 18:00-21:00
• Venues: In front of the Yokote City Hall main building, Yokote Park, Futaba-cho, and other locations around the city
• Clothing: Temperatures drop below freezing at night. Because you walk on snow, waterproof shoes and thick gloves and a hat are essential

*Details of parking, shuttle buses, traffic restrictions, food stalls, and toilets have not been published on the official website. Please check the official website of the Yokote City Tourism Association for the latest information before visiting.*

Practical Information: Seeing Kamakura Year-Round

• Yokote City Fureai Center Kamakura-kan: Open 9:00-17:00. Even outside the festival season, you can view a real kamakura in the exhibition room inside the building.
• Fees (Kamakura-kan): 100 yen for high school students and above; free for junior high school students and younger. This ticket is a common admission ticket for four facilities: the Gosannen Kassen Kanezawa Museum, the Kamakura-kan, the Ishizaka Yojiro Literary Memorial Museum, and the Yokote Park Observation Deck.
• Closed days (Kamakura-kan): December 29 - January 3 (with occasional temporary closures). Because of maintenance and rebuilding of the kamakura, there are usually periods of about one week each in mid-August to mid-September and mid- to late February when the kamakura exhibition room cannot be entered.
• Parking: The Kamakura-kan has general parking (address: 8-12 Chuo-cho, Yokote City).
• Inquiries: 0182-33-7111 (Yokote City Tourism Association (general incorporated association) / Yokote City Fureai Center Kamakura-kan)
• Official information: Yokote City official website facility guide "Yokote City Fureai Center Kamakura-kan," Yokote City Tourism Association (general incorporated association) official website

*The above is based on information published by each facility and local government. Hours and fees are subject to change, so please check official sources before visiting.*

📚 Sources

• Yokote City Tourism Association
• Yokote City official website