Inukko Festival
犬っこまつり
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Historical background
Historical background
Inukko festival is a folk event that has continued for around 400 years in Yuzawa region. There used to be thieves called “hakuto” coming to houses in broad daylight. The lord in Yuzawa city beat them and made people create dogs, cranes, and turtles using rice flour, place them at the entrance and windows of houses, and pray for not seeing such villains again. This tradition has been carried on and now people place dogs made by Shinko zaiku (craft using high quality powder of non-glutinous rice), rice cake, and amazake (fermented rice drink) in the hall of the shrine made by snow. Inukko festival is a representative event of Yuzawa city in the winter.
© Yuzawa City Tourism and Products Association, All Rights Reserved.
© Yuzawa City Tourism and Products Association, All Rights Reserved.
Characteristics
Characteristics
In recent years, there is an event for people visiting with pet dogs called “Aiken Kigan Sai” (festival to pray for pet dogs) at the snow shrine called “Inukko Jinja”, where many dogs gather. The shrine and its hall are illuminated in silently falling snow, and the festival takes us to a winter fantasy. The festival is held on Saturday and Sunday in the middle of February. They have various events around Yuzawa-shi Sogo Taiikukan (Yuzawa city general gymnasium) as a main venue and the major shopping districts in the city. You can come and enjoy the festival with your family and pet dogs.
Events in the festival
In Yanagimachi Shotengai (Yanagimachi shopping district), there is a candle night called “Sen no Yuki Akari” (a thousand snow lights), using around 1,000 candles. The candles have writings and drawings of children’s hope and future endeavors, and in the evening we can see the beautiful layers of circles created with the candles lighting up. The countless lights in the dark night are mystical. Visitors can also write messages on candles on the day of the festival.
You can find the snow shrine at the main venue and the snow halls of varying size at the open spaces and along the road. Candles are lit up in the halls at night, which brings us nostalgic feelings. On the second day of the festival, “Aiken Kigan Sai” is held at the shrine splendidly. Around 500 dogs got together in 2020, and the owners wish for their dogs’ longevity and health. There is a personal prayer called “Kobetsu Inukko Kigan” (individual praying for dogs) (extra fee is needed). You can get personal praying, an amulet, a charm, sacred sake, etc.
On the night of the first day, you can see the drum performance at the main venue and the winter fireworks. It is wonderful to see the fireworks illuminating above the white snow dogs and halls. During the Inukko festival, there are various events unique to Yuzawa city, such as folk arts performing, rice cake pounding event, Kawatsura lacquerware exhibition, and local craft selling.
To know more!
To know more!
Inukko festival in 2023
Akita dogs in the festival (you can see Akita dog a lot there)
Inukko festival in 2023 (Japanese only)
”Aiken Kigan Sai” (festival to pray for pet dogs) in 2020 (Japanese only)
How to access
Yuzawa Bunka Kaikan (main venue for the festival)
Take a Ou line from Akita station to Yuzawa station for 1h 40min. Take a shuttle bus for free from Yuzawa station to Yuzawa Bunka Kaikan. There are shuttle buses you can ride with your dog every 15 minutes.
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