The Winter World of Kamakura: Chilling Within Japan’s Snow Huts

Acquired a case of the post-Christmas blues? Are the freezing winds of winter getting you down? To not fear! Japan isn’t any stranger to sub-zero temperatures, and as such, there are many actions and points of interest designed to make the season vivid, like having fun with the heat of a kamakura.

Just like the Inuits of Canada, winter in Japan comes with its personal frozen huts known as “kamakura.” These hollowed-out snowdomes have been initially constructed as shrines to the God of Water, and proceed to be a beloved winter custom offering a surprisingly comfortable nook towards the frigid local weather. Include us as we duck inside Japan’s high kamakura spots.

 

Tokamachi Metropolis, Niigata Prefecture

Nestled deep in Japan’s famend “Snow Nation” within the Uonuma area, Tokamachi Metropolis transforms right into a blanket of white every winter, making it the right location for rows of pristine kamakura, or, within the native Niigata slang, “Hon-yara caves”.

Contained in the frozen huts, you’ll discover fairly a spacious inside stored heat with a charcoal grill coated in mochi (rice desserts) and marshmallows. Moreover, you’ll have the possibility to don conventional Snow Nation clothes like straw “sugeboshi” snow hats and “kanjiki” snowshoes for an genuine romp by a snowy riverbed.

When you can most actually buy a daytime package deal for kamakura use, solely the nighttime package deal comes with the sparkle of candles, the nourishing warmth of the fireplace and the sampling of heat sake on your bones.

Tackle: 472-1 Baba Hei, Tokamachi Metropolis, Niigata Prefecture
Dates: January – March
Reservations have to be made at the least one week prematurely

 

Iiyama, Nagano Prefecture

One other space intently related to the Snow Nation is town of Iiyama, positioned within the far north of Nagano prefecture. After the favored Shinanodaira Ski Resort closed down in 2001, the abundance of snow on the world’s large fields was repurposed as Kamakura Village, the brand new house for 20 comfortable snow huts providing unique eating expertise for a restricted time.

Inside Kamakura Village, lovable domes company are handled to the world’s native specialty, Noroshi Nabe, a miso-based hot-pot crammed with Iiyama’s specialty ‘Miyuki Pork’, domestically grown mushrooms and greens.

Nonetheless, there may be extra than simply wonderful delicacies within the Village. On the finish of the lane stands a vibrant vermillion torii gate main the way in which to Kamakura Shinto Shrine, the place you’ll be able to say a prayer totally free. Moreover, quite a few 2-day packages with native lodging abound, permitting you to benefit from the world’s snowy actions resembling snowmobiling, snow-trekking, ice-cream making, scorching spring bathing and even fireworks gazing.

Tackle: 807-2 Kotobuki, Iiyama, Nagano Prefecture
Dates: Finish of January to finish of February 28
Please examine the provision and costs as reserving reservations and occasions will differ

 

Nakao, Gifu Prefecture

Deep within the wooded highlands of Gifu’s snow-prone prefecture is the village of Nakao, the resting place of the sacred Nakao Hakusan Shrine, and the location of the annual Nakao Kamakura Pageant.

Not like different entries we’ve coated to date, Nakao Kamakura Pageant is a full-fledged 10-day lengthy nighttime occasion held from February 1st to the tenth, and consists of quite a lot of dwell performances, cooking courses and a shrine tour by the encircling forest. The kamakura themselves are lined up across the shrine grounds shelling out items like scorching sake and soup, in addition to offering a surprisingly cozy nook to get heat and chat with a fellow pilgrim.

One of many highlights of the pageant is the Nakaojishi (often known as the “Lion Dance”), a conventional two-man efficiency the place a colourful lion struts and performs spectacular acrobatic feats set to the sounds of flute and drums. Attempt to catch each exhibits on the primary and final day of the pageant!

Tackle: 400-1 Okuhida Onsengo Kansaka, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture
Dates: February 1st to tenth, 8pm to 9pm (till 9:30pm on Saturdays solely)
Admission is free, however costs of drinks and meals will differ

 

Niko Metropolis, Tochigi Prefecture

It might be straightforward to overlook the onsen city of Yunishigawa, hidden throughout the mountains and timber of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Nonetheless, this might be a colossal disgrace, because it’s the location of the annual Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Pageant, the largest of its sort within the prefecture.

Equally to Nakao’s Kamakura pageant, the whole space round Yunishikawa Onsen comes alive for an elongated time period, full with huts, large and small. Naturally, frozen domes massive sufficient for adults abound, however maybe much more spectacular is the Riverside Mini Kamakura Venue, the place 700 miniature igloos constructed by the locals are lit and illuminate the riverside hills. It’s stated that twilight is the perfect time to view this mesmerizing spectacle.

Elsewhere, there’s a embellished procuring road, preserved thatched homes and a snow park for the children (and onsen for adults). Within the midst of a secluded snowy scorching spring city and surrounded by conventional—and pure—points of interest, you could simply really feel your self slip again in time.

Tackle: 1042 Yunishikawa, Nikko-city, Tochigi Prefecture
Dates: January 31 – to March 2
Normal admission and the Riverside Kamakuri are free, different points of interest’ charges will differ

 

Yokote, Akita

Final however most actually not least, we head to Yokote, Akita, a metropolis located on the high of Japan’s largest island of Honshu and a spot fairly actually synonymous with kamakura. Certainly, the snow huts featured on the Yokote Snow Pageant are of particular historic and even worldwide significance.

The story goes that in Japan’s Edo interval (1600 – 1868), monumental sq. partitions of snow have been erected each January by samurai households within the space, and sacred objects like sake, rice desserts and shimenawa ropes have been positioned inside, till lastly the whole block was lit ablaze to maintain away evil spirits. In the meantime, on the outskirts of city, retailers constructed their very own snow caves honoring the water god Oshizu no Kami-san. Naturally, the native kids joined within the enjoyable and constructed huts designed extra for enjoyable.

Quick-forward to 1936, German architect Bruno Taut arrived in Japan after fleeing Nazi aggression again house and stumbled upon Yokote and town’s magnificent snow buildings. Upon witnessing the kamakura, he proclaimed “What fantastic magnificence! I’ve by no means seen something so lovely, nor did I anticipate it to be.” They left such an indelible impression that he even talked about them in his e book Rediscovering Japanese Magnificence.

The Snow Pageant itself is a two-day affair filled with a plethora of occasions and sights like a transportable shrine competitors, mini kamakura alongside the Yokote River, mochi pounding, sledding, snow artwork and, in fact, entry to the sixty ubiquitous ice domes discovered round city. Inside, unwind and revel in an assortment of candy, rice desserts and amaeko (candy sake), full with cozy straw mats for flooring and roofing.

When you discover your arms and ft nearly frozen, thaw out on the sightseeing facility of Kamakurakan Corridor, the place town’s relationship with kamakura is on show with precise snow huts preserved all yr spherical.

Tackle: Yokote Metropolis Corridor, Yokote Park, Futabacho, and different areas in Yokote, Akita Prefecture
Dates: February fifteenth and sixteenth
Normal admission is free, however restricted numbers can be found for refreshments 

As a substitute of staying holed up in your house this season, get exterior and expertise what even architects name the “fantastic magnificence” and conventional winter attraction of Japan’s kamakura. Simply keep in mind to pack your boots and gloves!