A winter festival in Yokote, where lavish Bonden travel snowy mountain roads and take on the shrine gate and steep slopes
Bonden at Asahiokayama Shrine
The 2026 edition of Bonden at Asahiokayama Shrine has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/02/17Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year February 17 / Every year
- Location
- From in front of Yokote City Hall’s main building to Asahiokayama Shrine
- Area
- Akita Prefecture・Yokote City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 40 min–4 h 10 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This winter tradition sees local groups in Yokote carry handmade Bonden to Asahiokayama Shrine and dedicate them there. The Bonden can stand over 6 meters tall, and its forceful progress through the shrine gate and up steep slopes is a distinctive feature.
About Bonden at Asahiokayama Shrine
The Asahiokayama Shrine Bonden event is one of Yokote City’s signature winter traditions.
It is a major festival alongside Kamakura, and each year local groups make Bonden and dedicate them at the shrine.
The Bonden can stand over 6 meters tall. Its lavish ornamental top and the sight of bearers working together to move it are among its defining features.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the Bonden’s ornamental tops, each uniquely designed by a different group.
The ornamental tops are remade every year, with groups competing over their lavishness and craftsmanship; this also feeds into the Bonden contest.
On the day, participants carry Bonden weighing around 30–40 kilograms along the mountain road. At Asahiokayama Shrine’s gate, groups push and jostle against one another.
The event culminates in a thrilling dedication as everyone works together to climb the steep slope.
A winter festival in Yokote, where lavish Bonden travel snowy mountain roads and take on the shrine gate and steep slopes
What to expect
Each group designs its own Bonden and spends nearly 1 month making it while testing different materials.
Once it is complete, the Bonden is loaded onto a light truck and shown around the local area to the sound of Bonden songs.
On the day of the event, the procession travels about 4 kilometers from the starting point to Asahiokayama Shrine. After pushing and jostling at the shrine gate, participants shout in unison as they climb the steep slope.
Source: 旭岡山神社梵天奉納祭 - 横手市子育て情報サイト はぐはぐ
How to take part
The 2026 event information says that advance registration is not required.
Location and access
- Venue and address
From in front of Yokote City Hall’s main building to Asahiokayama Shrine / 8-2 Chuo-machi, Yokote City (Yokote City Hall main building)
Address From 8-2 Chuo-machi, Yokote City (Yokote City Hall main building) to Asahiokayama Shrine
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
February 17, 2026 (Tue), the event date and hours were listed as 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
The procession starts in front of Yokote City Hall’s main building and travels about 4 kilometers to Asahiokayama Shrine.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Akita Prefecture / Yokote City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
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Photo source ·Origins and History of Bonden at Asahiokayama Shrine
The Asahiokayama Shrine Bonden event is a traditional celebration with a history of about 280 years.
Local groups remake the Bonden’s ornamental tops each year, passing down their skills as they experiment with materials and ways to make them lighter.
In Heisei 14 (2002), the Sakae Yuwakai was formed, bringing together the Sakae district. The activities of local groups are also recorded, including the group’s selection for the special prize at the Bonden contest in Heisei 19 (2007).
Official information
Reference links are provided to Yokote City’s official website, “Yokote’s Winter Bonden,” and the Yokote City Tourism Association’s “Bonden.”
Information about the 2026 event is also posted on the Yokote City Child-Rearing Information website.
Bonden at Asahiokayama Shrine at a Glance
The Bonden at Asahiokayama Shrine is a winter tradition in Yokote City with a history of about 280 years.
Local groups make Bonden with lavish ornamental tops, carry them along a route of about 4 kilometers, and dedicate them at the shrine.
From the pushing and jostling at the shrine gate to the shouts as they climb the steep slope, the event showcases not only the Bonden’s size but also the strength of the people who make and carry them.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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