Yokote Kamakura Festival 2023 - Akita, Japan
The Yokote Kamakura Festival is a winter tradition with a history spanning roughly 450 years and is one of the signature events of the Yokote Snow Festival. Each year, igloo-like snow huts known as kamakura are built throughout the city of Yokote. Inside every kamakura is a small snow altar dedicated to the water deity, as the festival is primarily a celebration of water gods and a prayer for an abundance of clean water in the coming year. While deeply rooted in tradition, the festival also feels intimate and welcoming, blending spiritual customs with a strong sense of community.
I can’t quite remember how I first learned about the Yokote Kamakura Festival, but once I did, I knew I wanted to experience it in person. One of the things that makes this festival especially unique is its timing—it begins at 6:00 PM rather than in the morning. I travelled from Akita to Yokote Station by local train, a journey that took about an hour and twenty minutes. I made sure to leave early enough to arrive before the festivities began. When I reached Yokote Station, the atmosphere was already lively, with decorative lights illuminating the station. As soon as I stepped outside, I spotted smaller kamakura lining the streets, signalling that the festival had begun.
The festival area stretches across a wide section of the city, from Yokote Station all the way to Yokote Castle. I followed the flow of people along the streets, passing food stalls, snow sculptures, and countless kamakura along the way. The mood was cheerful and relaxed, with visitors slowly making their way toward the castle grounds. Along the Yokote River, tiny kamakura with softly glowing candles were placed along the riverbank. The warm candlelight against the snow created a beautifully atmospheric scene. There were also designated areas where children were sliding and playing in the snow, adding to the lively, family-friendly feel of the evening.
As I climbed the slippery slopes leading up to Yokote Castle, I stopped midway to look back down at the river below, now fully illuminated by rows of candle-lit kamakura. At the castle grounds, a booth was offering hot amazake—a sweet, non-alcoholic or very low-alcohol drink made from fermented rice. Nearby, a coal fire pit had been set up, making it an ideal place to warm up and take a short break. The castle itself was beautifully lit, standing out with a warm glow among the surrounding snow. Although the castle is normally closed at night, the festival includes special evening opening hours, allowing visitors to enter and head up to the observation deck for a panoramic view over Yokote and the softly glowing festival below.
Many of the kamakura around the castle were occupied by locals enjoying hot pot, rice cakes, and cups of amazake. They were cheerful and welcoming, happily posing for photos when they noticed visitors nearby. I also noticed festival staff moving through the area, relighting candles that had gone out using long sticks—a small but fascinating detail that highlighted the care taken to maintain the atmosphere throughout the night. After spending some time at the castle, I slowly made my way back down the slippery slopes toward Yokote Station.
As the festival began to wind down, I joined the steady stream of visitors heading back toward the station. With so many people leaving at once, the area became quite crowded, and I worried briefly about missing my train. Fortunately, JR had planned ahead, running additional trains to manage the increased traffic. I managed to find a seat for the ride back to Akita, feeling tired but content. It was a memorable and uniquely atmospheric winter experience—one that stood out from any other festival I visited.
History & Background
The Yokote Kamakura Festival (横手の雪まつり かまくら) dates back to the Edo period and has been celebrated for over four centuries. Traditionally, kamakura were built by local communities as a way to honour the water deity and give thanks for clean water, which was essential for agriculture and daily life. Children would invite passersby into the kamakura, offering them rice cakes or amazake while encouraging them to pray at the altar inside.
Over time, the festival evolved from a neighbourhood-based ritual into a city-wide event, while still preserving its spiritual roots. Today, Yokote Kamakura Festival is one of Akita Prefecture’s most distinctive winter traditions, known for its candle-lit landscapes, community involvement, and the peaceful atmosphere created by hundreds of glowing snow huts across the city.
Getting There
Yokote is accessible by train from Akita Station via local JR services, with the journey taking approximately one hour and twenty minutes. From Yokote Station, the festival area is easily explored on foot, with kamakura and decorations lining the streets leading toward Yokote Castle. Additional trains are typically scheduled during the festival to accommodate increased visitor numbers in the evening.
Route Overview
Distance: 5.63 km out & back (Yokote Station)
Total elevation gain: 55 m
Duration: 1 hr 25 min (with breaks 1 hr 30 min)
Difficulty: Easy
Festival Info: The Yokote Kamakura Festival is one of the main highlights of the Yokote Snow Festival, which also includes the dynamic Bonden Festival held earlier in February. For dates, locations, and the latest updates, visit the official Yokote Snow Festival website.
Cost Breakdown
Train: Akita Station → Yokote Station — ¥1,340
Food: ¥1,020
