This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
For a long time, Yokote Kamakura has been held on fixed dates for two days, February 15th and 16th, but from 2026 it will be changed to two days, the second Friday of February and the following Saturday. However, Yokote City has announced that this will only be for four years until 2029, and that from 2030 onwards, the date will be reconsidered after looking at the results over the past four years
The Bonten Competition and Asahiokayama Shrine Bonten Dedication Festival will continue to be held on February 16th and 17th every year
Yokote's Kamakura has been held as part of the Yokote Snow Festival. During the Yokote Snow Festival, in addition to the Kamakura, other events such as Mini Kamakura, Snow Art, Bonten (Bonden) Competition, and Asahiokayama Shrine Bonten Dedication Festival are also held, attracting many tourists. From 2026, Kamakura, Mini Kamakura, and Snow Art will be held on the second Friday and Saturday of each year, while the Bonten Competition and Asahiokayama Shrine Bonten Dedication Festival will continue to be held on February 16th and 17th each year
A little further away, in Omonogawacho, Yokote City, there are "kamakura" and "mini kamakura" set up at "Omonogawa Folk House Kido Gorobei Village." Viewing hours: 9:30-17:00
During the event, you can either walk from JR Yokote Station or take the free Kamakura venue shuttle bus that departs from the Civic Square in front of Yokote City Hall, which is a 10-minute walk away
If you are traveling by car, some roads within the city will be closed, so we recommend that you park your car in the temporary parking lot at Yokote Budokan (2-1-5 Jori, Yokote City), take the Yokote Budokan temporary parking lot bus that connects the temporary parking lot with the Civic Square in front of the City Hall main building, and then walk from there or take the free Kamakura venue shuttle bus
Yokote Kamakura Information
Event name: Yokote Kamakura
Cultural property designation: Yokote City designated intangible folk cultural property
Location: Various locations in Yokote City
Contact: Yokote City Tourism Association
Phone number: 0182-33-7111
Date: 2nd Friday to 2nd Saturday of February (2 days)
Public transportation: Get off at Yokote Station on the JR Ou Main Line. There is a free shuttle bus that connects to the main venue.
By car: Approximately 10 minutes from Yokote IC or Yokote Kita Smart IC on the Akita Expressway, then take the free shuttle bus from the designated parking lot.
Google Map
Omonogawa Folk House Kido Gorobei Village: Visit and experience snow huts during the day
Omonogawa Folk House Garden Kido Gorobei Village is a theme park made up of four relocated old houses, located about a 40-minute drive from Yokote Station. During the Yokote Kamakura Festival, kamakura are built within the park and an event called Kamakura in Kido Gorobei Village is held. During the Kamakura Festival, a tour bus (fees apply) runs from the center of Yokote City to Kido Gorobei Village. The trip takes about 40 minutes one way. The Kamakura and Mini Kamakura exhibits are open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Name: Omonogawa Private House Kido Gorobei Village
Address: 336 Numadate Takahata, Omonogawa-cho, Yokote City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 0182-23-8660
Business hours: 9:00-21:00 (Kamakura viewing hours: 9:00-17:00)
Admission fee: Free
For details about the Kamakura event, the free bus timetable, and the Kido Gorobei Village sightseeing bus fare and timetable, please contact the Yokote City Tourism Association
Google Map
Yokote Kamakura has undergone various changes to become what it is today
People relaxing in a snow room, painted by Sugae Masumi. From the original manuscript. Odate City Kurimori Memorial Library
It is said that the Kamakura festival began in Yokote around 450 years ago, but the exact date is unknown. However, there are several ancient events that served as the origins of the festival
A New Year's event that has continued since the Heian period is the custom of burning New Year's decorations (also known as "Dontoyaki") on January 15th, the day of Koshogatsu (the end of the New Year). The custom was passed down to the samurai of the Yokote domain, who also performed the ritual. On the other hand, because there was little good quality water in Yokote, farmers and merchants also held festivals to worship the god of water (Mizugamisama)
The water god is enshrined in the center of the back of the snow hut
Additionally, the Yokote region is a region with deep snow, and Edo period travel writer Sugae Masumi (1754-1829) left behind drawings of children digging holes in the snow to play in in the winter, and it is generally believed that these drawings eventually merged to form the Yokote Kamakura. This is why the water god is always enshrined inside the snow domes
The current dome shape is surprisingly new, dating back to 1959
There are various shapes of snow rooms, from holes cut into the accumulated snow to square walls with some kind of roof, but the current round snow dome-shaped roofs like the Yokote Kamakura were first created in 1959 (Showa 34), and it wasn't until the 1970s that they began to be held in parks and other locations as they are today. Surprisingly, this was because cars were becoming more prevalent and snow domes needed to not interfere with traffic. In an era where cars were given priority, snow room construction fell into decline and "mini-kamakura" were built instead, but if it meant that the events could be held safely, then it may have been the right decision to gather them in several open spaces
In Yokote, snow rooms have come to be called "kamakura" without anyone realizing it, but in other parts of Akita Prefecture, "kamakura" can also refer to the event itself, and there are various ways to build snow rooms. There are also various legends surrounding the name "kamakura." These are introduced in "Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT" in the article "The Mystery of Kamakura: Are Akita Prefecture's Winter Traditions, the Kamakura, Related to the Kamakura Shogunate?" Please refer to it for reference
The "Snow Art" is a large snow sculpture that will be displayed in various places in Yokote City in conjunction with the "Kamakura" festival, and is over 2 meters in length, width, and height. It will be created by groups and companies that apply
Bonten, a traditional event held at the same time as Kamakura
Bonten are long poles with colorful cloth, paper, rice straw, decorative tassels, etc. attached to the end, and are offered to shrines with prayers for bountiful harvests, good health, safety in the region, etc. This traditional event is mainly passed down in the Tohoku region, and is particularly prevalent in Akita Prefecture, where it is also called Bonten, but in Yokote City it is called "Bonden."
The word "Bonten" is said to have its origin in the Indian Buddhist god "Brahma," and when Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the 6th century, it was worshipped as the highest god in Japan. It was during the late Heian period and the Kamakura period that Bonten evolved into its current form, a stick with an ornament on the end, and it was believed that Bonten (a god) resided at the end of the stick, and that by offering it, wishes would come true
Each group competes to create a large, gorgeous and magnificent "Bonten." Competitions are also held
The Bonten handed down in Yokote City are said to have a history of around 300 years, but the details are unknown. However, what makes Yokote's Bonten unique is that they are unparalleled in size, with poles over 4m long and the ornaments (head ornaments) attached to the end of the poles sometimes reaching nearly 2m. A Bonten must be carried by one person, so it is essential that it is made as gorgeous and gorgeous as possible, yet lightweight. This is where the craftsman's skill is put to the test
The Bonten are made by young people from each neighborhood and workplace, and the ones that are dedicated are dedicated at the annual festival of Asahiokayama Shrine, which is held on February 17th every year, but the day before that, they all gather in the city and a competition is held
The Bonten Dedication Festival at Asahiokayama Shrine, where Bonten statues are dedicated. The fierce battle between the groups to be the first to march is a thrilling experience
The Asahiokayama Shrine Bonten Dedication Festival is the annual grand festival of Asahiokayama Shrine, which has been held for around 300 years, every year on February 17th. Until 2025, the Kamakura Festival was held on February 15th and 16th, so the Bonten Dedication Festival was integrated as an event following that. However, even though the Kamakura Festival will be held on a trial basis from 2026 until 2029, the Asahiokayama Shrine Bonten Dedication Festival and the Bonten Competition, which is the eve of the festival, will remain held on their fixed date of February 17th
The festival begins with local people, mainly young men carrying Bonten statues, competing to be the first to rush through the shrine's gate. However, the gate is so narrow that not everyone can fit through, and they end up shoving and pushing. Even if they make it through the gate, a long, steep climb to the main hall awaits. The impressive sight of the group climbing up, taking turns holding the Bonten statues, is a sight to behold
Public transportation: Approximately 10 minutes from Yokote Station on the JR Ou Main Line
By car: Approximately 10 minutes from Yokote IC or Yokote Kita Smart IC on the Akita Expressway, then take the free shuttle bus from the designated parking lot.
Asahiokayama Shrine Bonten Dedication Festival Information
Event name: Asahiokayama Shrine Bonten Dedication Festival
My love of travel grew, and I used to write a travel magazine, and now I'm a travel writer for the web. During my research, I visited all 47 prefectures in Japan, mainly in the Tohoku region, but my fun part is soaking in hot springs and experiencing traditional Japanese culture such as old townscapes, lifestyles, and performing arts and crafts.
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