Kamakura Snow Festival, Yokote

A few more mini snow huts set up on the side of the road. Lighting these all up at night with candles made a nice site, and at least the snow would help avoid any accidents with fire.

As well as kamakura there were also other lights along the street creating a warm atmosphere.

One of the side streets on the way to the main Kamakura event site. You can see that the snow has not been so heavy this year and the roads are not too hard to drive.

A nice warm glow coming from inside this local restaurant.

You can still see the bucket shape of this small snow hut.

Around the City there were many places to see mini light displays as well.

A decorated elephant lit up as part of the occasion.

A small tree in the middle of the art exhibition.

another good looking place for a meal and a drink. Yakitori in the foreground, tonkatsu behind.

Cooking up some food inside the kamakura.

A menacing statute built in snow at the main kamakura event site. The fire in the front was a welcome site as my fingers had started to freeze over.

Tonari no Totoro looked quite realistic here. The Ghibli creation fitted in well with the snow.

Japanese and Foreigners alike, all keen to get a photo of the inside of the kamakura.

Some of the kids took turns sliding down the large Mameshiba snow statute.

Lots of shapes and combinations for stacking the snow.

A whole walled fort has been created here with the individual huts. It made for a nice effect with all the candles lit.

Inside the kamakura, children served up hot food and amazake.

Looking back inside the wall of candles.

The streets were not too crowded which made it easy to get around. With the weather being quite mild as well, walking through the snow was not a problem.

Lots of effort had gone in to making all of these small kamakura along the roadway.

A popular spot here for people to stop and get some amazake or noodles.

Enough people out to make in friendly, not so many that it was uncomfortable. Without the Festival, on a really cold snowy night, I imagine there would hardly be anyone out on the streets.

Traditional snow boots and a mini bonden alongside a small kamakura for this house.

Plenty of choice for kids to buy a mask here.

The colors really shone through from these stalls. With it being cold out and the food looking great, everyone was tucking in.

The main crowds seemed to have gathered around the outdoor food stalls. Hot dogs, yakisoba, Okonomiyaki, Monja and many other types of food were available.

The Okonomiyaki chefs cook up a large hot plate full of food.

Ika, squid, being cooked up. Always nice to down this with a dose of Japanese Sake as well.

This is how you make Okonomiyaki. I am not sure how many servings I can count here, but they were disappearing fast as customers lined up.

A couple of chocolate dogs to the left here with other stalls in the background.

A mini kamakura and shrine. Looks like it wont be long before the shrine melts.

Have you visited Japan in the Winter snow time? Where did you go?

21 comments

Comments are closed. These are from readers when the post was first published.

achiisan 17 February 2010
Just noticed that wile it's freezing cold in Japan, here in the Philippines is so much hot which tend our dam reservoirs to run dry, and give you a heat stroke :D
Neksus 17 February 2010
This is a good reportage. So funny to enjoy. Honestly, you were in line for an okonomiyaki, didn't you??
xiaorongda 17 February 2010
Absolutely beautiful!
xiaorongda 17 February 2010
Great angle!
shibuya246 17 February 2010
I really like okonomiyaki :) :) After I took the photo of the okonomiyaki guy, I showed it to him. He was really happy!
shibuya246 17 February 2010
kamakura
shibuya246 17 February 2010
tonkatsu
shibuya246 17 February 2010
JTB
Kesenaitsumi 18 February 2010
Wow... Really had great view there.. Wish I can visit there someday too. All the candles+snow is very beautiful.
whipcracker 18 February 2010
Back home here we call the corn dogs. Do the hot dogs come from France? by: whipcracker
whipcracker 18 February 2010
Don't think I'd care for squid. by: whipcracker
whipcracker 18 February 2010
Never heaed of chocolate dogs before. Is it a regional delicasey?
tokyokid121 18 February 2010
wow I just love this! it's so awesome looking! great photo keep up the great work! :D
Brother Baye 18 February 2010
Awesome pics as usual...I especially like the lit displays!
HELLOSHEENA 18 February 2010
I love the snow and the Hello Kitty shot!!
DJTK 20 February 2010
That just brought back tons of memories for me of living in Japan. Excellent photos. I didn't have a digital camera when I lived there.. I really wish I had! At least I have 35mm memories!
shibuya246 20 February 2010
Thanks. There are many places I have also been in Japan years ago where I didn't take a camera. I wish I could recapture those visits on digital film also :)
Tapiokaa 20 February 2010
OOOooo... lovely ^^
Maria Alejandra Acosta 15 February 2015
En que mes se realiza esto?
Neil 10 August 2015
Watching them make Okonomiyaki on a big scale like that is amazing!
Lee 28 January 2019
The light those lamps bring upon generates such motivation. my hairs stood up for a sec. once I saw these pictures. Not to forget the creativity involved. Thanks for posting.

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21 comments