Yunishigawa Kamakura Festival | Tochigi Attractions | Travel Japan

A magical display of light and snow

The Yunishigawa Kamakura Festival is held each year from late January to early March. Hundreds of snow huts, or kamakura, fill the streets of this small onsen town. Best known for its nighttime illumination of the huts, grab your camera and head to Yunishigawa to enjoy this winter wonderland.

Don't miss

Relaxing in one of Yunishigawa's local onsens
Bundling up and enjoying a hot meal inside one of the larger kamakura huts
Step back in time at the Heike-no-Sato open-air museum

How to Get There

Yunishigawa Onsen can be reached by direct buses from either Kinugawa Onsen Station or Yunishikawa Onsen Station. The bus from Kinugawa Onsen Station takes about one hour, and from Yunishikawa Onsen Station takes about half an hour.

JR and Tobu Railway have a direct limited express train that runs from Shinjuku Station to Kinugawa Onsen Station. A one-way journey takes about two hours.

Stars on the snow

A walk along the Zawaguchi river is the best way to enjoy this unique illumination. Locals line the river bed with hundreds of small kamakura huts. Take a stroll around the candlelit river or enjoy the view from a bridge that looks over Zawaguchi.

Miniature huts along the river

Warm up with a grill

A favorite local tradition is to enjoy dinner from inside a kamakura. The larger snow huts are available for rental and come ready with a BBQ. Book ahead of time for a genuinely unique BBQ experience.