Yokote Kamakura

横手かまくら

Historical Background

Yokote's Kamakura has a history of about 450 years.

During the feudal era, a square snow wall was built in Uchimachi, where samurai families lived, and a kadomatsu tree and sacred rope were placed inside, with holy wine and rice cakes then burned to pray for the safe growth of the children and to ward off misfortune. On the other hand, in Tomachi, where merchants lived, they made snow holes by the wells in the town and enshrined the god of water (oshizu no kami-san) to pray for good water. At that time, children also played in the snow by making holes and playing in them. It is said that these customs are the origin of Kamakura.

Until around the end of the Taisho period (1912-1926), Kamakura were not made by individual houses but by each town.

In 1936, German architect Bruno Taut saw the Kamakura and described his impressions in his book "Rediscovering the Beauty of Japan. "I had never seen or expected anything so beautiful. This is the crown jewel of my trip. This magnificent Kamakura, this snow chamber of children! ..." "The children offered me a cup of amazake (sweet sake). The adults are supposed to give the children a penny. Here is another beautiful Japan."

Around 1935, Kamakura was built but was stopped due to the danger of falling. Instead, the ceilings were covered with straw mats, and the entrances were covered with other materials.

Since 1952, the Kamakura festival has been held on February 15. After that, it was decided to keep the festival with "Bonden" as the "Snow Festival.” In 1959, a model Kamakura was built, which led to the Kamakura as we know it today.

Around 1962, the shape of the Kamakura gradually became more vertical as the amount of automobile traffic increased. 1969, automobile traffic rose, and Kamakura was no longer built on regulated roads. The number of Kamakura gradually decreased from that time. Due to this, around 1971, the "mini kamakura" movement began, and mini kamakuras were built all over the city. Around this time, a "Kamakura street" was established to bring together all the Kamakura scattered throughout the city and promote tourism.

Characteristics

The Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival is one of the five major Michinoku snow festivals.

Kamakura is the traditional event of the Lunar New Year in Yokote to enshrine the god of water, Suijin-sama. It is famous as a traditional winter event in the Tohoku region held on the night of February 15th and 16th every year. Kamakura looks like a small igloo. Children go into Kamakura and serve amazake, a sweet non-alcoholic drink made from rice, and rice cake, saying the phrase, “Haitte-tanse (Please come in), Ogande-tanse (Pray for the god of water).” You can go inside Kamakura and eat them and talk to each other.

During the event, there are about 80 Kamakura built-in Yokote city. There are various artworks such as the most significant number of Kamakura in front of the Yokote City Office, many mini Kamakura at Yokote Minami Elementary School and Janosaki Kawahara, Kamakura built along samurai residences, and Yokote Castle and Kamakura lit up with lights.

How to make it?

Since the "model Kamakura" was made in 1959, the Kamakura has taken on its present form. The Yokote City Tourism Association provides the following guidance on how to make Kamakura.

Pile up snow
1. Draw a circle with a diameter of about 3.5m and pile snow inside, stacking the snow to a height of about 3m while stepping on it.
Drilling holes
1. Mark a 1.3m long and 0.7m wide at the front entrance area and start digging a hole. Leave 50 cm of wall width and dig up a large hole in the interior.
Finishing
1. Smoothly round off the areas that will become the inner and outer walls. Finally, build a Shinto shelf on the front of the interior.

To know more!

Introducing the general information about the Kamakura festival. (English audio)

Introducing what the actual Kamakura looks like

Explaining the characteristics of the Yokote Kamakura Festival

Showing Yokote Kamakura Festival in the past

Introducing how to make Kamakura

Current activities

Yokote Kamakura festival

- Every February 15-16th
- Kamakura are built several area in Yokote area
- There is a bus to go around the Kamakura site during the festival

How to get there

In front of Yokote City Hall Main Building, Old Katano House, Yokote Park, Futaba-cho (Free shuttle bus will operate around the venue, from around 17:40 to 21:00 )

Yokote City Hall Main Government Building (Google Map)