Yokote Kamakura Festival

Yokote (横手市 Yokote-shi) is a city in Akita prefecture.

Understand

Tourist information sites

The city's official site has a tourism section with integrated machine translation. In addition, there is a separate tourist information page in English.

The local tourist associaiton has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in

For most train travelers, taking the Akita Shinkansen to Omagari (Daisen) and changing to the Ou Line to reach Yokote Station will be the fastest way to reach Yokote. Those in Yamagata, can go north along the Ou Line, but trains are infrequent. The Kitakami Line (Kitakami) also terminates in Yokote. If timetables align, the Kitakami Line is the fastest way from southern Iwate.

Get around

The castle and historic district are a 30 minute walk from Yokote Station or a 10 minute walk from Honmachi Bus Stop.

See

Manga Museum

• 1 Yokote Castle (横手城). The original castle was burned down in the Boshin War. Although the reconstructed castle has a keep, the original castle had a palace but not a keep. (updated Mar 2022)
• 2 Yokote Masuda Manga Museum (横手市増田まんが美術館), Shinmachi 285, Masuda (In Jumonji near Masuda Junior High School.), ☏ +81 182 45-5556. A museum about Japanese comics with original works by famous manga artists. 

Masuda’s Historic Merchant District

• 3 Masuda’s Historic Merchant District (Masuda’s Hidden Storehouses "Uchigura") (増田の町並み (内蔵)), Masuda (Bus or cab from Jumonji Station (10 min.)). 
• 4 Akita Prefectural Museum of Modern Art (秋田県立近代美術館), Tomigasawa 62-46, Akasaka, ☏ +81 182 33-8855. This museum's collection of modern art is predominately from Akita, though some is from elsewhere. 

Do

• Kamakura Festival (横手かまくら祭り Yokote Kamakura Matsuri) (This festival is held at many locations in Yokote -- see the website for a map.), ☏ +81 182 33-7111. Feb 15-16 18:00-21:00. Small igloos (called "kamakura") are built in many locations across town. There are hundreds of kamakura, some large enough to enter. Some of these, in turn, become small eating establishments. Traditionally, amazake (a sweet winter-season drink) and mochi are served. 
• 1 Yokote Gymnasium (横手市横手体育館), Jōri 2-2-40 (1 block NW of Yokote City Hall Jōri Office), ☏ +81 182 33-2102. This city gymnasium hosts a variety of sports and community events. 
• 2 Hiraka Gymnasium (横手市平鹿体育館), Gakumachiushiro 140, Asamai, Hiraka, ☏ +81 182 24-1340. This public gymnasium hosts a variety of sporting events. 
• 3 Jūmonji Track and Field Stadium (十文字陸上競技場), Bōzuzawa 20-1, Jūgonoshinden, Jūmonjimachi, ☏ +81 80-1847-5809. This is the regional track and field stadium. 

Go next

• Yuzawa
• Higashinaruse
• Daisen
• Senboku
• Akita
• Shinjo
• Ugo
• Misato
• Nishiwaga

Routes through Yokote

Akita ← Omagari ←	N  S	→ Yuzawa → Yamagata
Yurihonjo ←	W  E	→ Hanamaki → Tono
END ←	W  E	→ Higashinaruse → Ichinoseki