A kamakura is a shelter made from snow, similar to an igloo.
However, according to local Yokote tradition,
kamakura aren’t just shelters for people,
they are where our local spirits, or kami, dwell.
How well do you know about this local tradition in Yokote?
First of all, Yokote is located in Akita prefecture,
which is way up north in Japan’s Tōhoku region.
Yokote is a place where, since long ago,
traditional cultures have thrived along
with the snowy winter conditions of this “snow country.”
Here in Yokote,
the Kamakura festival is held every year in mid-February.
This event is a folk tradition that has been carried out for 450 years!
This event gives spectators a true sense of what life is
like in Japan’s “snow country.”
A small shrine for the kami is set-up in each of
the snow shelters (kamakura) in honor of the Shintō Water Deity.
Then, local children sit inside the kamakura with their friends
anddrink amazake (a type of sweet, rice drink),
eat mochi (a sweet snack made from rice),and play.
Yokote is the only place in the world with a folk tradition such as this!
If you’re visiting Japan during winter,
how about checking out this event in Yokote, Akita!