The building of “kamakura” is a deep tradition in Akita Prefecture’s city of Yokote. Over two days on February 15 and 16 each year, these snow hut domes pop up en masse around places like Yokote Station, Yokote Park, and more.

The tradition started as a way to enshrine the God of Water and is said to have up to 450 years of history.

Making a kamakura is simple! First, pile up about 3 meters of snow while stomping on it to pack it down.

Next, choose the entrance, and dig into the snow while keeping the walls smooth and round, with a thickness of around 50 cm, and leave a space to enshrine the God of Water.

While some may worry about it collapsing, as long as you’ve properly hardened the snow from the bottom up, you’ll be surprised at just how sturdy they can be.

The Yokote Snow Festival started in the 1950s, and consists of around 80 kamakura snow huts dotting the city.

They are mostly concentrated around Yokote Station and Kidogorobei Village, which is a space of relocated and restored Japanese homes from around 300 years ago, enveloping visitors in the atmosphere of old-world Akita Prefecture.

As well as appreciating kamakura from the outside, you can also go inside them. You’ll often spot locals hopping in to pray to the God of Water for family safety and a bountiful harvest.

Some will have children sitting inside, who will call out “haittetanse,” which means “please come inside” in the local Yokote dialect.

Step inside, pray to the God of Water, and enjoy the “amazake” fermented rice drink given to you. If there are people inside or nearby, make sure to confirm whether it’s okay to go in first.

To reach the Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival, head to JR Yokote Station. From Tokyo Station, take the Akita Shinkansen to Omagari Station, then the JR Ou Main Line to Yokote. Expect a smooth journey of 4 to 4.5 hours, costing 14,000-14,500 yen, including limited express fare.

For travel in the area, consider saving on rail costs with the JR East Tohoku Area Pass, exclusive to foreign travelers.

Highway bus services from Tokyo to Yokote run from Tokyo Station, Busta Shinjuku, and Yokohama Station, taking 8-9 hours and costing between 6,000-10,000 yen. From Akita Station, Yokote Station is a single train ride on the JR Ou Main Line.

During the festival, there's also a “Rapid Kamakura Matsuri-go” train service. In 2023, it ran thrice daily: Akita to Yokote around 2:00 pm, and back at 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm. The 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm trains require reservations, so plan ahead.

After leaving JR Yokote Station, follow the signs and head towards the festival venues. First, we suggest going to the Yokote City Hall Main Government Building, which can be reached by taxi or on foot.

While only written in Japanese, these yellow billboards will let you know you’re heading the right way.

If you end up walking, it’ll take about 10-15 minutes. Naturally, the snow is heavy during this time of year, so we strongly recommend wearing long boots. Even though we wore special extra-thick boots for our visit, we could feel the chill of the snow on our feet after walking around for a while, so please don’t underestimate the value of quality snowshoes!

If you find the cold a bit rough, you can also buy heat packs specifically designed for feet from a nearby convenience store or drugstore, which will help you enjoy the night without feeling cold if combined with thick socks.

Sneakers provide little protection from the snow and cold, so please opt for practicality over fashion when visiting Yokote!

While walking to the venue, you’ll pass by Yokote East, which houses a collection of restaurants and shops, and even has some kamakura and winter lights of its own.

The main venues of the Yokote Snow Festival are in front of the Yokote City Hall Main Government Building, Janosaki River Beach, Yokote Park, and the Yokote-Minami Elementary School.

Each spot is walkable, but the slippery ice makes using the loop bus a more sensible option. The bus is free to use, and comes every 5-10 minutes.

In 2023, balloon lights served as markers for the bus stops. There are no tickets, so simply wait under a light for a bus to arrive, and follow the instructions of the staff. Seating is free, but they advise passengers to sit from the back to make it easier for new passengers to get on.

Once the bus nears its next destination, the staff will hold up a placard with photos and guide passengers to the stop. This extra bit of help means that there’s virtually no chance of getting off at the wrong spot. The bus will stop at each bus stop, so you won’t need to press a button or call out to staff.

The most crowded bus stop is the one in front of the Yokote City Hall Main Government Building, which is near Yokote Station. As the Janosaki River Beach, which has mini kamakura, is just a 10-minute walk from here, it may be best just to walk this distance.

On the other hand, the shortcut to Yokote Park, the location of Yokote Castle and a popular lookout spot, is often closed to reduce congestion, so we advise opting for the bus here to ensure you won’t get lost.

In front of the Yokote City Hall Main Government Building are many larged-sized kamakura big enough to enter along the pedestrian path. If you want to snap a photo sitting inside a kamakura, there’s no better opportunity than here!

Kamakura are surprisingly insulated, and will block out noise to leave you with a peaceful silence. And while they may appear cold, they actually do an excellent job of stopping the wind, and are very warm and cozy. Just be sure to say thanks to the God of Water before exiting.

Next to the Government Building is Komyoji Park, where you’ll find the Hokkori Yokocho stalls selling local food. This includes the beloved Akita specialty called “kiritanpo”, which is made of rice wrapped around a wooden stick and roasted, as well as Yokote yakisoba, known for its addition of fried egg.

Hokkori Yokocho also has a tent where you can enjoy your food while warming up. It opens from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM on the 15th, and 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM on the 16th, so you can visit in the morning to get your day off to a good start. Isn't that an inviting way to begin your adventure?

While you can take the loop bus from the Yokote City Hall Main Government Building to the next venue (Janosaki River Beach), we suggest walking while taking in the Yokote streetscape.

On the way, you’ll come across a row of adorable mini-kamakura in front of an old Japanese home.

Mini-kamakura are often seen by fences and alongside roads, and come in at about 30 centimeters tall. They are a more recent innovation that spawned from the difficulties of building full-sized kamakura by modern roads and such from the 1960s.

Continue about 10 minutes further, and you’ll reach the Janosaki Bridge, which crosses the Yokote River. The Yokote River cuts through the center of the city, and it hosts a sea of mini-kamakura along its Janosaki River Beach. They are lit up from around 5:00 PM, and their beautiful lights appear like a meteor shower.

Taking a photo from the bridge, the mini-kamakura appear like a river of light. Next, head down to inspect them up close by crossing the bridge and turning left down the hill leading to the Janosaki River Beach.

Being surrounded by mini-kamakura creates a surreal feeling of floating amongst the stars! While it's fine to walk up close to the candles, be careful not to slip and damage them.

There are a whopping 3,500 mini-kamakura spread out between the Janosaki River Beach and the walkway. From construction to lighting, they are all the work of dedicated volunteers, and seeing the efforts of locals striving to bring life to their city is sure to move your heart. If you’d like to contribute, donations can be made at the venue entrances.

Next up, make your way to Yokote Park, which is the most iconic festival venue. Photographers flock here to take pictures of kamakura backed by Yokote Castle, which is actually a lookout platform designed to resemble the original castle tower that once stood here. The bus stop and venue is connected by a gentle slope, so take care not to slip.

The illuminated castle tower and two kamakura combine to form incredible scenery. Naturally, the park can get quite crowded, so be prepared to wait a little for the chance to snap your picture.

Inside the kamakura are local children roasting up mochi while keeping warm (due to COVID-19, we were unable to enter these kamakura in 2023).

The road to the castle tower was also illuminated, creating an enchanting staircase of snow. It can be slippery, so take it a step at a time.

For 100 yen, you can enter the castle tower and bask in sweeping panoramas of the Yokote cityscape from the 4th-floor observation deck. Let yourself become hypnotized by the flickering kamakura shining out of the darkness amongst the falling snow.

The Yokote Snow Festival venues are open until 9:00 PM. Once it starts getting close to closing time, the bus will become even busier, so if you’re planning on heading to another area by train on the same night, then we suggest returning to the station sometime after 8:00 PM.

If you’re sticking around Yokote for the following day, be sure to visit the Kamakura Museum, where you can learn about the history and culture of kamakura. Even outside of the festival period, visitors can experience their allure through kamakura made of real snow exhibited year-round.

(The kamakura are unavailable between mid-August to mid-September, New Year’s holidays (12/29-1/3), and for a week from mid to late February.)

The Yokote Snow Festival has volunteer staff providing guidance to visitors. English-speaking staff are also available, so if you inquire with one of the staff, they should be able to fix you up with someone who can help.

The Yokote City Official Website is also available in multiple languages, so please check it out for the latest information before visiting.

The closest station to Yokote Station on the Akita Shinkansen is Omagari Station. Omagari is most famous as the location of the Omagari Fireworks, considered one of Japan’s Big 3 Fireworks Festivals. Fireworks are held in both summer and winter, making for a great addition to your itinerary to or from Yokote.

Kakunodate, known for its grand samurai residences and weeping cherry blossom trees, is also just 40 minutes away by train. Kakunodate likewise hosts its own “Hiburi Kamakura” festival on February 14.

Finally, we also recommend visiting Lake Tazawa, which is the deepest lake in Japan, accessible in just 1.5 hours by train. Both Kakunodate and Lake Tazawa can be reached by train from Omagari.

Since the Yokote Snow Festival is mainly held at night, we strongly recommend staying in the Yokote City area. Here are some highly rated local accommodations:

2023 saw another successful iteration of the Yokote Snow Festival, whose legacy continues to be passed down the generations. Each kamakura snow hut is painstakingly built by hand, and is filled with the thoughts and passions of the city’s residents. Stepping inside will allow you to feel the warmth of the local culture and deepen your appreciation of the fascinating Akita region.

The Yokote Snow Festival is held each year on February 15 and 16. There are also lots of other local events making the most of snow in the area, so for those wanting to fully enjoy Japan’s famous snowy winters, northern Tohoku is the place to be!

*The information in this article is current as of June 2023. Please check the official website for the latest information.