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Yamagata Prefecture holds a variety of winter festival events to help people enjoy the harsh, snowy winters on the Sea of Japan side of the Tohoku region
We especially recommend the illumination event, where the piled up white snow is lit up under the starry sky, creating a fantastical atmosphere
In this article, we will introduce three winter festivals in Yamagata Prefecture where you can enjoy the cold nights
Zao Juhyo Festival 2025 (Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Yamagata City)
Juhyo and ropeway Source: Yamagata Prefecture Official Tourism Site "Travel to Yamagata"
Juhyo is a natural phenomenon that appears in the Zao mountain range in winter, and the sight of the trees covering the mountainside in rows has earned them the nicknames ice monsters " and " snow monsters
Jizo Sancho Station on the Zao Ropeway at Zao Ski Resort is a sight to behold, with its forest of large frost-covered trees.
Illuminated rime fields Source: Yamagata Prefecture Official Website "Yamagata Public Relations Photo Library"
Not only is the beauty of the frost-covered trees shining silvery white in the sunlight during the day, but the illuminated frost-covered trees at night are so fantastically beautiful that they have been selected as a Japanese Night View Heritage Site
This season will be held from Friday, December 27, 2024 to Monday, February 24, 2025 (national holiday) , from sunset to 9:00 p.m.
Feast of Snow and Fire (Torchlight Sliding and Winter HANABI)
Torches were used for torch skating about 30 years ago. Source: Yamagata Prefecture Official Website "Yamagata Public Relations Photo Library"
The "torch run" at Uenodai Slope, a specialty of Zao Onsen Ski Resort, is open to anyone who can ski without ski poles (first 1,000 people who apply in advance)
Everyone will be captivated by the moving lines of multicolored light created by skiers gliding down the slope while holding up LED lights instead of torches
Winter HANABI be held , lighting up the slopes at night.
Fireworks at the Zao Juhyo Festival Source: Yamagata Prefecture Official Website "Yamagata Public Relations Photo Library"
Other fun events planned for the day include:
A huge gathering of winter working vehicles!: Snow vehicles and snowmobiles are on display and can be viewed up close.
Winter "Zao Good Luck Tour" Stamp Rally : Touring the Power Spots of Zao Onsen Ski Resort
Jukki Snow Park : Play with the mascot "Jukki-kun of Ice Trees"
Zao Ice Festival <Information>
Name: Zao Ice Festival 2025
Event period: Friday, December 27, 2024 to Monday, February 24, 2025 (national holiday)
Location: Zao Onsen Ski Resort and other locations
For inquiries, please contact: Zao Onsen Tourist Information Center
Hijiori Fantasy Snow Corridor & Okura Snow Story (Hijiori Onsen, Okura Village, Mogami District)
Panoramic view of Hijiori Onsen town without snow. Source: Yamagata Prefecture official website "Yamagata Public Relations Photo Library"
Okura Village, located north of Mt. Gassan, is a member of the " Most Beautiful Villages in Japan " association, and is known for its beautiful nature and unspoiled Japanese scenery, as well as being one of Japan's snowiest areas.
Morning market in Hijiori Onsen town Source: Yamagata Prefecture official website "Yamagata Public Relations Photo Library"
Hijiori Onsen town is located on the eastern edge of the active Hijiori Caldera volcano and has long flourished as a hot spring resort. It is a rustic hot spring town lined with wooden hot spring inns
The Golden Hot Spring in the center of the caldera is a rare carbonated spring, and it is said that the famous poet Saito Mokichi was impressed by drinking this carbonated spring with sugar
Hijiori Fantasy Snow Corridor
Hijiori Fantasy Snow Corridor and Fireworks Source: Yunosato Hijiori Onsen Hijiori Vacation
Approximately 200 LED lights are installed along a 40m length of a snow wall over 3m high that forms on the opposite bank near Tenguhana Bridge in Hijiori Onsen, creating a fantastic night view
Source: Yamagata Prefecture Official Tourism Site "Travel to Yamagata"
Previously, candles were used, but as they were prone to being blown out by the wind, LED light bulbs will be used from 2024
The lights are lit every year from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Saturday nights during the harsh winter months, and in 2025 (Reiwa 7) they are scheduled to be lit on January 25th, February 1st, 8th, and 15th, with a special fireworks display starting at 7:45 PM on February 15th
"Okura-kun 25th Generation" and fireworks that appeared in 2019 (Heisei 31) Source: Yunosato Hijiori Onsen Hijiori Vacation
This is the last snow festival of the winter season in Yamagata Prefecture, and the Hijiori Ideyukan , and a reproduction of the Fantasy Snow Corridor which ends in February,
As of last year, there have been 30 generations of "Okura-kun," with some years reaching heights ranging from about 10m to nearly 30m. "Okura-kun 1," which appeared in 1995 (Heisei 7), was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records
The 2025 (Reiwa 7) event is scheduled to be held on Saturday, March 15th
If there's a heavy snowfall, head to Hijiori Onsen! "Dokayukiwari/Oyukiwari Campaign"
Heavy snowfall at Hijiori Onsen Source: Yamagata Prefecture Official Website "Yamagata Public Relations Photo Library"
This campaign will offer discounts on accommodation fees and day-trip hot spring bathing fees if heavy snow falls at Hijiori Onsen between Friday, December 13, 2024 and Sunday, March 2, 2025
If the 24-hour snowfall in Hijiori announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency reaches 40cm or more, you can get the " Dokayuki Discount ." If the snow depth exceeds 446cm by 3pm on the day before your planned stay, you will receive a 10,000 yen discount, as well as a 500 yen shopping voucher for the hot spring town, making it a great deal.
There will also be a quiz where you can guess the highest (deepest) snowfall in Hijiori Onsen, and if you guess correctly you will receive a 10,000 yen voucher for Hijiori Onsen
Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival (Yonezawa City Matsugasaki Park, Yonezawa Castle Ruins)
A row of snow lanterns creates a solemn atmosphere. Source: Yamagata Prefecture Official Website "Yamagata Public Relations Photo Library"
This solemn winter festival is held at Matsugasaki Park (the ruins of Yonezawa Castle), where Uesugi Shrine, dedicated to Uesugi Kenshin, is located, and where approximately 200 snow lanterns and 1,000 snow lanterns are lined up and lit with candles
Source: Yamagata Prefecture Official Website "Yamagata Public Relations Photo Library"
The dates for the 48th event in 2025 have not yet been announced, but since it is held over two days, the second Saturday and Sunday of February every year, it is expected to be held on Saturday, February 9th and Sunday, February 10th, with a pre-lighting ceremony taking place on Friday night as usual
On the first day, Saturday, a snow memorial tower is erected on the Hill of Repose near the shrine to commemorate those who died in the Pacific War and others, and Yonezawa residents can be seen quietly lighting a lantern to remember the souls of those who died in the war and those who dedicated their lives to Yonezawa
Snow lanterns are also lined up in the grounds of Uesugi Shrine. Source: Yamagata Prefecture Official Website "Yamagata Public Relations Photo Library"
This quiet and warm winter festival is filled with gratitude to our ancestors and prayers for their souls, and the orange lights that illuminate the pure white snow gently welcome visitors
A tent village product exhibition featuring Yonezawa gourmet food
A tent village product exhibition will be held in the festival square parking lot on the north side, where you can enjoy hot dishes such as local dishes like Yonezawa beef skewers, Yonezawa ramen, and tama konnyaku
There will also be many other stalls selling soup curry, Yonezawa beef minced cutlets, hamburgers, and even cafes, so you can warm up your cold body while enjoying hot food at the food and drink booths
All of these winter festivals are events to enjoy the winter nights, born from the idea of having fun in the cold and snow of winter
However, winter festivals in Tohoku, including the Uesugi Lantern Festival mentioned above, are shrinking in scale every year due to factors such as population decline, and there are concerns about their continued existence in the future
To support these winter festivals, why not get out of your warm kotatsu and enjoy the magical world of snow and ice that will melt in the spring?
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
![Mogami safflower](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/30121446_m-1-150x150.jpg.webp ""Mogami safflower" certified as a Japanese heritage and Japanese agricultural heritage [Yamagata Prefecture]")
