🏮 Hannya-e Yokote Kamakura

涅槃会横手かまくら

Yokote, Akita (横手市役所本庁舎前) · Every year on 15 February

Snow festival

154 days to go
Rooms around Yokote, Akita fill up while the festival is on.

Held every year on February 15 and 16 in Yokote, Akita Prefecture, the Yokote Snow Festival combines the kamakura (snow hut) event of the Little New Year with the bonden (a decorated pole offering). About 80 snow huts are built around the city, and local children offer amazake (sweet rice drink) and toasted mochi. The kamakura is said to have originated as a well-side snow pit for worshipping the water deity, later blended with children's snow play. On February 16, the Bonden Contest has each group compete with colorful bonden at least 5 m tall and weighing at least 30 kg, and on the 17th the Asahiokayama Shrine Bonden Offering Festival sees young men parade about 3 km to the shrine. The festival also includes a kamakura photo session, a mini-kamakura making experience, snow sculpture displays, and a local products fair.