Yokote City Fureai Center Kamakura Museum

A kamakura is a Japanese snow igloo that is made by piling up snow in a park or on a street, hardening it, and hollowing it out to form a room. For about 450 years, kamakura has been a New Year's tradition in Yokote City, which has particularly heavy snowfall in Akita Prefecture. Every February, the city hosts the "Yokote Kamakura Festival," during which approximately 80 kamakuras are built.

A kamakura made with real snow during the winter is preserved in the "Fantasy Gallery" of the kamakura museum, where the temperature is always kept at minus 10 degrees Celsius, allowing visitors to experience the feeling of a snow country all year round. Visitors can also rent cotton-filled robes called "donbuku," which will surely enhance the atmosphere while in the kamakura.

The store sells a variety of Yokote souvenirs, including specialty products such as the famous "Yokote Yakisoba" and original items. The Yokote City Tourist Association office is also located inside the building and provides tourist information; a visit to the office is recommended before exploring the city.