[Yamagata Prefecture] Enjoy winter in Yamagata! 3 recommended winter festivals!
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Various winter festival events are held in Yamagata Prefecture to help you enjoy the harsh, snowy winters of the Sea of Japan side of the Tohoku region.
Particularly recommended is the illumination event, where the fallen white snow is lit up under the starry sky, creating a magical atmosphere.
In this article, we will introduce three winter festivals in Yamagata Prefecture that you can enjoy on cold nights.
Zao Juhyo Festival 2025 (Yamagata City Zao Onsen Ski Resort)
Frost-covered trees are a natural phenomenon that appears in the Zao Mountains in winter, and the sight of them covering the mountainside is called ice monster " or " snow monster
Jizo Sancho Station of the Zao Ropeway at Zao Ski Resort is a sight to behold, with a forest of large-grown frost trees.
In addition to the beauty of the frost-covered trees that shine silver in the sunlight during the day, the field of frost-covered trees illuminated at night is so fantastically beautiful that it has been selected as one of Japan's night view heritage sites.
This season will be held from sunset to 9:00 pm from Friday, December 27, 2024 to Monday, February 24, 2025 (holiday)
Feast of Snow and Fire (Torch Run and Winter HANABI)
Anyone who can ski without ski poles can participate in the ``torch run'' on the Kamidai slope, a specialty of Zao Onsen Ski Resort (first 1,000 people can apply in advance).
Everyone will be captivated by the movement of multicolored lines of light created by skiers skiing while holding up LED lights that replace torches.
Additionally, on the days when the torch ski run is held, there will also be a `` Winter HANABI '' launch, which will brighten up the slopes at night.
In addition, the following fun events are planned during the day.
- A big collection of winter working cars! : Snowmobiles and snowmobiles are on display and can be viewed up close.
- Winter “Zao Good Luck Tour” Stamp Rally : Visiting power spots at Zao Onsen Ski Resort
- Jukki Snow Park : You can play with the mascot character "Juhyo no Jukki-kun"
Zao Juhyo Festival＜Information＞
- Name: Zao Juhyo Festival 2025
- Event period: December 27, 2024 (Friday) to February 24, 2025 (Monday/holiday)
- Venue: Zao Onsen Ski Resort, etc.
- Contact: Zao Onsen Tourist Information Center
- Phone number: 023-694-9328
- URL: Yamagata City Tourism Association Official Website
GOOGLE MAP
Hijiori Fantasy Snow Corridor & Okura Snow Story (Hijiori Onsen, Okura Village, Mogami District)
Okura Village, located to the north of Mt. Gassan, has such beautiful natural scenery that it is a member of the `` Japan's Most Beautiful Villages '' association, and is also known as one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan.
Hijiori Onsen Town is located at the eastern end of the Hijiori Caldera, an active volcano, and has flourished as a hot spring resort since ancient times.It is a charming hot spring town lined with wooden hot spring inns.
Golden Onsen in the center of the caldera is a rare carbonated spring, and it is said that the famous poet Mokichi Saito was impressed by a drink made by adding sugar to this carbonated spring.
Hijiori Fantasy Snow Corridor
Approximately 200 LED light bulbs are installed over a 40m length on the snow wall over 3m high on the opposite bank near Tenguhanabashi Bridge in Hijiori Onsen, allowing you to enjoy a fantastic night view.
They used to use candles, but since they were easily extinguished by the wind, they have decided to use LED light bulbs from 2024.
It is lit from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM every Saturday night during the midwinter period, and in 2025 (Reiwa 7), it is scheduled to be lit on January 25th, February 1st, 8th, and 15th, and February 15th. On Sunday, there will be a special fireworks display starting at 7:45 p.m.
Okura Snow Story
This is the last snow festival of the winter season in Yamagata Prefecture, and - kun'' appears in the parking lot of ``Hijiori Ideyukan'', and there is a fireworks display at night, and the festival ends in February. the ``Fantasy Snow Corridor '' that will be reenacted only on this day.
As of last year, there have been 30 generations of Okura-kun, and in some years the height has ranged from about 10m to almost 30m, and the first Okura-kun, who appeared in 1995 (Heisei 7), was included in the Guinness Book of Records. .
In 2025 (Reiwa 7), it is scheduled to be held on March 15th (Saturday).
When it snows heavily, let's go to Hijiori Onsen! “Doka Yukiwari/Big Snowwari Campaign”
From December 13, 2024 (Friday) to March 2, 2025 (Sunday), if heavy snow falls in Hijiori Onsen, accommodation fees and day trip hot spring bathing fees will be discounted.
Hijiori, as announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency, exceeds 40 cm , you will receive a discount of 10,000 yen if the snow depth exceeds 446 cm by 3:00 pm two days before your scheduled stay. Also, you can get a shopping ticket (500 yen worth) at the hot spring town, which is a great deal.
There is also a quiz where you can guess the highest (deepest) snowfall at Hijiori Onsen, and if you guess correctly, you will receive a 10,000 yen voucher for Hijiori Onsenkyo.
You can also apply online from December 13th, so why not try predicting the amount of snowfall in Okura Village this year?
Hijiori Fantasy Snow Corridor & Okura Snow Story <Information>
- Name: Hijiori Fantasy Snow Corridor
- Dates: Saturdays of January 25th, February 1st, 8th, and 15th, 2025 (Reiwa 7)
- Lighting time: 19:00-20:00
- Venue: Hijiori Onsen Tenguhanabashi area
- Contact: Okura Village Tourism Association (inside Hijiori Ideyu Hall)
- Phone number: 0233-34-6106
- Name: 29th Okura Snow Story
- Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025 (Reiwa 7)
- Venue: Hijiori Deyukan square
- Contact: Hijiori Deyu Hall
- Phone number: 0233-34-6106
- URL: Okura Village Tourism Association official website
- URL: Yunosato Hijiori Onsen Hijiori Vacation Official Website
GOOGLE MAP
Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival (Yonezawa City Matsugasaki Park/Yonezawa Castle Ruins)
A solemn winter festival where about 200 snow lanterns and about 1,000 snow lanterns are lined up and lit with candles at Matsugasaki Park (Yonezawa Castle ruins), where Uesugi Shrine, which enshrines Uesugi Kenshin, is located. is.
The dates for the 48th event in 2025 have not yet been announced, but it is held on the second Saturday and Sunday of February every year, so it will be held on Saturday, February 9th and Sunday, February 10th. It is expected that the pre-lighting will be held on Friday night as usual.
On the first day, Saturday, a snowy requiem tower was erected on Requiem Hill near the shrine to commemorate the spirits of those who died in the Pacific War, and Yonezawa citizens quietly lit up the tower to remember the spirits of their predecessors and war dead who served Yonezawa. I can see you doing it.
It is a quiet and warm winter festival where the orange lights illuminating the pure white snow, which symbolize gratitude and prayers for the souls of our ancestors, gently welcome visitors.
Tent village product exhibition where Yonezawa gourmet food gathers
A tent village product exhibition will be held in the festival plaza parking lot on the north side, where you can enjoy hot dishes such as Yonezawa beef skewers, Yonezawa ramen, and local dishes such as tama konnyaku.
In addition, there are soup curry, Yonezawa beef minced meat cutlets, hamburgers, and many cafes, so please warm up your cold body while enjoying hot food at the food and beverage booths.
Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival <Information>
- Name: Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival
- Event period: Two days, the second Saturday and Sunday of February every year (scheduled for February 9th and 10th in 2025)
- Venue: Matsugamisaki Park (Uesugi Shrine grounds)
- Contact: Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival Executive Committee (within Yonezawa Tourism and Convention Association)
- Phone number: 0238-22-9607
- URL: Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture (Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival) Official Website
GOOGLE MAP
summary
All of these winter festivals are events that allow you to enjoy the winter nights, with the idea of enjoying the cold and snow of winter instead.
However, the scale of Tohoku's winter festivals, including the Uesugi Lantern Festival introduced above, is shrinking year by year due to population decline and other reasons, and there are concerns about their continuation into the future.
To support these winter festivals, why not get out of your warm kotatsu and enjoy the fantastical world created by the snow and ice that melts in spring?
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