Received a case of the post-Christmas blues? Are the freezing winds of winter getting you down? To not fear! Japan is not any stranger to sub-zero temperatures, and as such, there are many actions and points of interest designed to make the season brilliant, 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 had been initially constructed as shrines to the God of Water, and proceed to be a beloved winter custom offering a surprisingly cosy nook in opposition to the frigid local weather. Include us as we duck inside Japan’s prime 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 proper 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 saved heat with a charcoal grill coated in mochi (rice truffles) and marshmallows. Moreover, you’ll have the prospect to don conventional Snow Nation clothes like straw “sugeboshi” snow hats and “kanjiki” snowshoes for an genuine romp by means of a snowy riverbed.
When you can most actually buy a daytime package deal for kamakura use, solely the nighttime package deal comes with the glint of candles, the nourishing warmth of the fireplace and the sampling of heat sake in your bones.
Deal with: 472-1 Baba Hei, Tokamachi Metropolis, Niigata Prefecture
Dates: January – March
Reservations should be made at the very least one week upfront
Iiyama, Nagano Prefecture
One other space intently linked to the Snow Nation is town of Iiyama, situated 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 extensive fields was repurposed as Kamakura Village, the brand new house for 20 cosy 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.
Nevertheless, there’s extra than simply glorious delicacies within the Village. On the finish of the lane stands a vibrant vermillion torii gate main the best way to Kamakura Shinto Shrine, the place you may say a prayer without cost. Moreover, quite a few 2-day packages with native lodging abound, permitting you to make the most of the world’s snowy actions akin to snowmobiling, snow-trekking, ice-cream making, scorching spring bathing and even fireworks gazing.
Deal with: 807-2 Kotobuki, Iiyama, Nagano Prefecture
Dates: Finish of January to finish of February 28
Please test the supply 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 Competition.
Not like different entries we’ve coated thus far, Nakao Kamakura Competition is a full-fledged 10-day lengthy nighttime occasion held from February 1st to the tenth, and contains quite a few stay performances, cooking lessons and a shrine tour by means of the encompassing forest. The kamakura themselves are lined up across the shrine grounds dishing 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 competition is the Nakaojishi (often known as the “Lion Dance”), a standard 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 competition!
Deal with: 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 bushes of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Nevertheless, this is able to be a colossal disgrace, because it’s the location of the annual Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Competition, the largest of its sort within the prefecture.
Equally to Nakao’s Kamakura competition, all the space round Yunishikawa Onsen comes alive for an elongated time period, full with huts, large and small. Naturally, frozen domes giant 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 mentioned that twilight is the perfect time to view this mesmerizing spectacle.
Elsewhere, there’s a adorned 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.
Deal with: 1042 Yunishikawa, Nikko-city, Tochigi Prefecture
Dates: January 31 – to March 2
Basic 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 prime of Japan’s greatest island of Honshu and a spot fairly actually synonymous with kamakura. Certainly, the snow huts featured on the Yokote Snow Competition are of particular historic and even worldwide significance.
The story goes that in Japan’s Edo interval (1600 – 1868), monumental sq. partitions of snow had been erected each January by samurai households within the space, and sacred objects like sake, rice truffles and shimenawa ropes had been positioned inside, till lastly all the 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 youngsters 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 count on it to be.” They left such an indelible impression that he even talked about them in his e book Rediscovering Japanese Magnificence.
The Snow Competition itself is a two-day affair full of a plethora of occasions and sights like a transportable shrine competitors, mini kamakura alongside the Yokote River, mochi pounding, sledding, snow artwork and, after all, entry to the sixty ubiquitous ice domes discovered round city. Inside, unwind and luxuriate in an assortment of candy, rice truffles and amaeko (candy sake), full with cozy straw mats for flooring and roofing.
In the event you discover your palms and ft virtually 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.
Deal with: Yokote Metropolis Corridor, Yokote Park, Futabacho, and different areas in Yokote, Akita Prefecture
Dates: February fifteenth and sixteenth
Basic admission is free, however restricted numbers can be found for refreshments
As a substitute of staying holed up in your condominium this season, get exterior and expertise what even architects name the “fantastic magnificence” and conventional winter allure of Japan’s kamakura. Simply bear in mind to pack your boots and gloves!
Josh Furr
Joshua first got here to Japan together with his household over 10 years in the past and it fully ruined his life (in the perfect of how). When he’s not attempting to cross the JLPT, he’s researching Japanese historical past, having fun with 80s J-Pop and dreaming of 牛丼. He’s at present writing, writing, writing…largely about Japan and video video games.