Yuzawa’s winter prayers, illuminated by snow shrines and candlelight
Inukko Festival
The 2026 edition of Inukko Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/02/14 〜 2026/02/15Ended
- Season / frequency
- Usually on a Saturday and Sunday in mid-February / Every year
- Location
- Special event site around Yuzawa City General Gymnasium, central shopping district of Yuzawa City
- Area
- Akita Prefecture・Yuzawa 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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free viewing and participation activities are available. Individual Inukko purification ceremony: ¥5,000. Inukko shinko rice-flour craft-making experience: ¥700 for 2 Inukko figures.
- Age restrictions
- The snow observation session is for children in Grade 3 of elementary school and above, accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A winter folk event in the Yuzawa area, where lights illuminate snow shrines and Inukko shrines. Centered on a custom of warding off misfortune and praying for safety that has continued for about 400 years, the event features , winter fireworks, a prayer festival for beloved dogs, and more.
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 掬茶 File:Yuzawa Inukko Festival 2015m.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 掬茶 File:Yuzawa Inukko Festival 2015c.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 掬茶 File:Yuzawa Inukko Festival 2015d.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.About Inukko Festival
Inukko Festival is a winter folk event in the Yuzawa region of Akita Prefecture that has continued for around 400 years.
During the old Little New Year, snow shrines and Inukko figures are made to pray for protection from misfortune and for safety.
Candles are lit at Inukko Shrine and small shrines made of snow, and the tradition of offering Inukko and crane-and-turtle figures made from shinko rice-flour crafts has also been passed down.
It is a winter festival held around Yuzawa City General Gymnasium and the central shopping district, where visitors can experience local performing arts and products.
Source: 犬っこまつり - 湯沢市ホームページ
Festival highlights
Highlights include Inukko Shrine and large and small shrines made of snow.
Candles are lit from evening, creating a magical scene across the snowy landscape.
On the first night, winter fireworks are launched after a taiko performance, and the shopping district also hosts “A Thousand Snow Lights,” with around 1,000 candles lit.
At the prayer ceremony for beloved dogs on the second day, you can receive a prayer together with your dog.
Source: イベント・開催概要 | 犬っこまつり2026
Yuzawa’s winter prayers, illuminated by snow shrines and candlelight
What to expect
At the venue, you can look around the snow shrines and Inukko Shrine, and enjoy exhibits and sales related to shinko rice-flour crafts and Inukko.
On the first day, events include an opening ceremony, mochi-throwing, taiko performances, winter fireworks, and a candle event.
On the second day, the program is scheduled to include a prayer ceremony for beloved dogs, a folk performing arts showcase, a snow observation session, mochi pounding, and boccia activities.
On both days, there will be local product sales, a snow play area, and Inukko craft-making experiences.
How to take part
Visitors can take part in some events, not just watch.
In 2026, visitors could write messages on candles at the candle event, and activities such as making Inukko shinko rice-flour crafts, a snow observation session, mochi pounding, and boccia were also announced.
You can also attend the prayer ceremony for beloved dogs with your dog.
Capacity, registration times, and whether advance reservations are required vary by event, so check the conditions for the activity you want to join.
General visitors can look around the exhibits, local product sales, and snow play area at the venue.
Writing messages on candles, making Inukko shinko rice-flour crafts, and trying the Akistars activity are offered as drop-in activities at the venue or during designated times.
The snow observation session is for children in Grade 3 of elementary school and above, accompanied by a parent or guardian, and advance registration through the application form is required.
The prayer ceremony for beloved dogs and individual Inukko purification ceremonies have separate time and participant-number requirements.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The main venue is the special event site around Yuzawa City General Gymnasium, and the secondary venue is the central shopping district of Yuzawa City.
- Train and bus
Free “Inukko-go” shuttle buses run from Yuzawa Station to the area around the venue.
In 2026, the temporary Rapid Inukko Festival train, departing from and arriving at Yuzawa Station, was also announced.
- By car
You can reach the area around the venue from Yuzawa IC.
For travel from Akita-minami IC to Yuzawa IC, the route via the Akita Expressway and Yuzawa-Yokote Road is recommended.
- Parking
There is no parking around the main venue, and visitors are advised to use the free shuttle buses.
Parking for dog owners is available beside Yuzawa Fire Station and at Yuzawa Shohoku High School, and shuttle buses that allow dogs on board will run.
Event venue 秋田県湯沢市 湯沢市総合体育館周辺特設会場
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
In 2026, it was held for 2 days on February 14 (Saturday) and the 15th (Sunday).
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the 14th and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the 15th.
The announced program included an opening ceremony, taiko performances, winter fireworks, and a candle event on the first day, and a prayer ceremony for beloved dogs and a folk performing arts showcase on the second day.
It is usually held on a Saturday in mid-February and the following day.
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 / Yuzawa City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As you’ll be walking around the venue on snow, it’s a good idea to wear warm clothing and footwear with good traction.
If you’re visiting the Inukko Shrine or small shrine at night, or going to see the winter fireworks, check the times of each event and plan your route accordingly.
There is no parking around the main venue, so if you’re driving, check the information about the designated shuttle bus stops.
Items that can be brought to the Dondo-yaki bonfire are restricted; plastic, metal items, stuffed toys, and similar items are not allowed.
Source: アクセス | 犬っこまつり2026
Nearby attractions
Related festival venues include Yuzawa City’s central shopping district, Yanagimachi Shopping Street, Yuzawa Cultural Hall, and Yuzawa City Cultural Exchange Center.
In 2026, the Yuzawa Kite Exhibition was held at the Ogachi County Assembly Hall Memorial Museum in Kitaaramachi, Yuzawa City. Visitors can see preliminary drawings and printing blocks for Yuzawa kites, as well as kites from the Meiji period.
A tour of Oyasukyo Great Geyser and a day-use hot spring was also offered on the second day, with advance reservations required.
院内銀山異人館
秋田県湯沢市にある郷土資料館
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Inukko Festival
According to legend, Inukko Festival originated when a lord defeated the bandit Hakuto, who attacked Yuzawa around the Genna era.
The tradition is said to have begun with making small Inukko and crane-and-turtle figures from rice flour and offering them at the entrances or windows of homes on the night of the old Little New Year, in the hope that no more villains would appear.
Today, snow shrines and Inukko Shrine are built, and Inukko made from shinko rice-flour crafts, mochi, and amazake are offered.
It has been passed down as a folk event in the Yuzawa region for around 400 years.
Official information
The Inukko Festival official website provides information about the 2026 event, venues, transportation, and various events.
The Yuzawa City website provides information on the event dates and times, the main and secondary venues, the festival’s origins, and its highlights.
For inquiries, contact the Inukko Festival Executive Committee (Yuzawa City Tourism and Products Association, General Incorporated Association).
Inukko Festival at a Glance
Inukko Festival is a winter folk event in Yuzawa that carries on traditions of warding off misfortune and praying for safety through snow shrines, Inukko Shrine, and shinko rice-flour crafts.
Enjoy events that vary throughout the day and night, including candlelight displays, taiko drumming, winter fireworks, and prayers for beloved dogs.
In 2026, it was held on February 14 and 15 at the area around Yuzawa City General Gymnasium and the central shopping district. Free shuttle buses also ran.
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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