
Complete Guide to the Yokote Kamakura Festival 2025: Dates, Highlights, and More!
In the heart of Akita Prefecture, the city of Yokote celebrates winter in a uniquely beautiful way. Every February, over a hundred houses made from snow called kamakura dot the streets of the city. The Yokote Kamakura Festival brings this northern city to life as the locals invite passersby into these intimate snow domes to share warm amazake (sweet rice wine) and freshly made rice cakes.
Event
Yokote Kamakura Festival
Dates
February 15–16, annually
Location
Yokote, Akita Prefecture
Entrance fee
Free
How to get to the Yokote Kamakura Festival

Thanks to Japan’s robust and efficient public transportation system, getting to the Yokote Kamakura Festival is straightforward:
From Tokyo: Starting at Ueno Station or Tokyo Station, take the JR Akita Shinkansen to Omagari Station, then transfer to the Ou Line to Yokote Station. The entire trip should take a little over four hours.
From Sendai: Take the Akita Shinkansen from Sendai Station to Omagari Station, then transfer to the Ou Line to Yokote Station. This should take about 2.5 hours.
From Yokote Station, most festival locations are within walking distance or accessible via local buses and taxis.
Brief history and cultural significance

The Yokote Kamakura Festival has a history stretching back 450 years to the Edo period (1603–1867). The tradition began as a religious ceremony where snow holes were dug near the town's water supply to honor the water deity and pray for good harvests. Local children would play games in the snow, which evolved into the festivities of today, where children feast on amazake and rice cakes in the dome-shaped structures.
Kamakura snow houses

The festival’s centerpiece is the collection of about 60 large snow houses, each standing around two meters tall, scattered around the city. The primary concentration of these magical snow structures can be found within the park in front of the Yokote City Hall Main Government Office and near Yokote Castle. Inside each kamakura, a small altar is dedicated to the water deity, and locals invite visitors to enter, sit on snow platforms covered with bamboo mats, and enjoy amazake and snacks.
Mini kamakura illumination

In addition to the large kamakura, hundreds of miniature kamakura line the city’s streets and riverbanks. Each houses a single candle, illuminating a pathway through the snow and creating a mesmerizing spectacle as darkness falls. The rows of miniature kamakura are found at Yokote Minami Primary School and Janosaki River Beach.
Travel tips

Preparing for the Yokote Kamakura Festival requires some special consideration. First and foremost, dress appropriately for the weather. In February, temperatures in Yokote are well below freezing, so warm clothing, sturdy snow boots, and multiple layers are essential.
When visiting a kamakura, you’ll be expected to remove your shoes before entering, just as you would in a Japanese home. Inside, local children often act as hosts, offering visitors amazake and snacks like mochi rice cakes. It’s considered polite to accept these offerings and engage in conversation with your young hosts; this interaction is a cherished part of the festival experience.
While photography is generally welcome throughout the festival, it's courteous to ask permission before taking photos inside the kamakura, especially when the photos include the children and other guests. This small gesture of respect helps maintain the intimate and friendly atmosphere that makes the festival so special.
Where to stay: Yokote Plaza Hotel

Centered in the heart of the action, Yokote Plaza Hotel provides unbeatable access to the festival’s main attractions. The hotel is right across the street from Yokote Station and a 20-minute walk from the areas where the main festival activities take place.
Each room features plush bedding specially selected for Akita’s cold winters, large windows that flood the space with natural sunlight and offer sweeping views of the snow-covered city, desks to work on, and all the amenities you’ve come to expect, such as high-speed Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs.
Some accommodation plans include access to the hotel’s celebrated breakfast buffet, showcasing western favorites and local Akita specialties. Guests can use the spacious public bath on the seventh floor of the nearby Hotel Plaza Annex Yokota, which becomes a sanctuary after a day in the cold, offering a serene space to warm up and rejuvenate while overlooking the city.