Discover the Hidden Magic of Japan’s Yokote Kamakura Festival

Winter is just around the corner!✨⛄️

I’m sure many of you have already booked tickets and made travel plans.😊

But how about next year?💓

Today, I’d like to introduce a unique snow festival in Japan that goes beyond the typical ones: the Yokote Kamakura Festival.😌

A kamakura is a dome-shaped snow shelter that Japanese children often make and play in during winter.❄️

The Yokote Kamakura Festival is a traditional event held in Yokote during the Koshogatsu (Little New Year) celebration, dedicated to the water deity. With a history of about 450 years, this festival offers a unique experience where kamakura are not just for viewing.

Visitors enter the kamakura to pray to the water deity enshrined inside, seeking family safety, business prosperity, and bountiful harvests.😌

On February 15th and 16th, around 100 kamakura are lit up, creating a magical and enchanting atmosphere. ✨

During the festival, local children warmly invite visitors into the kamakura, saying, “Hai tte tanse” (Please come in) and “Ogan de tanse” (Please pray to the water deity).  Inside, they serve amazake (sweet sake) and rice cakes as part of their heartfelt hospitality.

This heartwarming festival is sure to leave you with a sense of joy and comfort! It’s truly a hidden gem for foreign visitors.☺️

Tomoka