Tohoku · AkitaSnow
A 450-year-old Akita tradition fills a snowbound town with candlelit igloos where children invite you in for warm rice cakes and sweet sake.
Overview
During the Yokote Kamakura Festival, dozens of large snow huts called kamakura appear across the city, each with a small altar to the water deity. In the evenings children welcome visitors inside, offering grilled mochi and amazake in exchange for a simple prayer. Along the river, hundreds of miniature candle-lit kamakura create a glowing sea of light, giving the festival a uniquely gentle, community feel.
When & Where
The main festival is held on February 13 and 14, 2026, with the kamakura best experienced from about 18:00 to 21:00. Sites are spread across the city, including Yokote Castle hill, the Yokote River banks, Minami Elementary School and Komyoji Park. Nearest station: JR Yokote Station.
Getting There
From Tokyo, ride the Akita Shinkansen to Omagari, then change to a JR Ou Line local for the roughly 20-minute hop to Yokote. Good walkers can cover much of the festival on foot from the station, and a free loop bus links the main sites during festival evenings.
What to Expect
- Large kamakura snow huts with interior water-deity altars
- Children serving mochi and amazake inside the huts
- Hundreds of tiny candle-lit kamakura along the Yokote River
- Snow sculptures and food stalls near Kamakurakan Hall
- A special night opening of Yokote Castle’s observation deck
Tickets & Access
Viewing the kamakura around the city is free. The Kamakurakan Hall, which preserves snow huts year-round in a freezer room, charges a small admission.
Tips for Visitors
Accept an invitation into a kamakura; it is the heart of the experience and warms you up fast. Temperatures are bitter after dark, so wear heavy layers, and start along the riverbank at dusk when the mini kamakura are first lit.
Access and Map
| Dates | February 13 and 14, 2026 (evenings, about 18:00 to 21:00) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Multiple sites across Yokote City, Akita |
| Nearest station | JR Yokote Station |
| Access | Akita Shinkansen to Omagari, then JR Ou Line local to Yokote (~20 min) |
| Admission | Free (Kamakurakan Hall charges a small fee) |
| Official site | Yokote Kamakura Festival Official Site |
Source: Yokote Kamakura Festival Official Site
Image: Photo: Rarisan / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en)
