A candlelit kamakura night brightens the snowy hot spring town
Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival
The 2026 edition of Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/01/30 〜 2026/03/01Ended
- Season / frequency
- Usually for about 1 month from late January / Every year
- Location
- Sawaguchi riverbank, Heike no Sato, and Yunishigawa Mizunosato Snow Park
- Area
- Tochigi Prefecture・Nikko City(From Tokyo: approx. 50 min–1 h · 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.
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Sawaguchi Riverbank Mini Kamakura: Free. Heike no Sato: Adults, 510 yen; elementary and junior high school students, 250 yen. Yunishigawa Mizunosato Snow Park: Adults, 1,200 yen; children, 600 yen.
- Age restrictions
- Heike no Sato classifies visitors as adults (high school students and older) and children (elementary and junior high school students). Mizunosato Snow Park classifies them as adults (junior high school students and older) and children (preschool and elementary school students).
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This winter event layers large and small kamakura and candlelight against the snowy scenery of Yunishigawa Onsen. Centered around the Sawaguchi riverbank, Heike no Sato, and Mizunosato Snow Park, you can enjoy snow activities, hot springs, and local food.
About Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Miyuki Meinaka File:Yunishigawa Kamakura Festival 2023, Sawaguchi Riverside.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: Miyuki Meinaka File:Yunishigawa Kamakura Festival 2023, Heike no Sato Street.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: Miyuki Meinaka File:Yunishigawa Kamakura Festival 2023, Sawaguchi Riverbed.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival is a winter event that uses snow to adorn the hot spring town.
Hundreds of mini kamakura line the Yunishigawa and Sawaguchi riverbank, where candlelight creates a riverside scene.
At Heike no Sato, you can take in the snow-covered thatched-roof buildings alongside the kamakura.
Some venues are recognized as Japan Nightscape Heritage sites, making this a festival where you can experience snowy landscapes and the culture of a hot spring destination.
Source: 【湯西川温泉かまくら祭2026】見どころや楽しみ方をご紹介！日光冬の風物詩 ｜特集 ｜【公式】日光市の観光サイト 日光旅ナビ
Festival highlights
A highlight is the candlelit mini kamakura lining the Sawaguchi riverbank.
They are lit from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the event period; you can walk along the riverside or view them from the bridge.
At Heike no Sato, you can enjoy thatched roofs and snow sculptures, as well as “Heike Akari,” featuring bamboo lanterns and bamboo balls.
A distinctive feature is the chance to compare the different ways snow and light appear at each venue.
A candlelit kamakura night brightens the snowy hot spring town
What to expect
First, take in the mini kamakura fashioned from snow around the hot spring town and along the Sawaguchi riverbank.
At night, enjoy the scene as local residents light the candles one by one.
At Heike no Sato, you can see thatched buildings, large kamakura, and bamboo lights.
During the day, try sledding and other snow activities at Mizunosato Snow Park. One suggested way to spend your time is to combine this with a hot spring visit or a meal cooked over an irori hearth.
How to take part
This is not a festival with competitions open to general participants or events requiring advance registration; visitors come to see the snowy scenery and lights.
The mini kamakura lights at the Sawaguchi riverbank can be viewed free of charge.
Admission fees apply separately at Heike no Sato and Mizunosato Snow Park.
You can see the mini kamakura on the Sawaguchi riverbank by visiting the venue during the lighting hours.
Heike no Sato offers a one-day pass valid from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mizunosato Snow Park lists an admission fee that includes sledding and hot spring bathing.
No information is provided about advance applications or numbered tickets for general visitors.
Since opening hours and prices vary by venue, visitors choose which venue they want to visit.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Sawaguchi riverbank, Heike no Sato, and Yunishigawa Mizunosato Snow Park.
The address is Yunishigawa, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture (〒321-2601).
- Train and bus
From Yunishigawa Onsen Station on the Yagan Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line, take a bus bound for Yunishigawa Onsen for about 25 minutes and get off at the final stop, “Yunishigawa Onsen.”
The Sawaguchi riverbank is about a 5-minute walk away, and Heike no Sato is just steps from the bus stop.
The ride to Mizunosato Snow Park takes about 15 minutes; get off at “Mizunosato Tourist Center-mae,” and the park is right there.
- By car
From Imaichi IC on the Nikko Utsunomiya Road, it takes about 60 minutes to the Sawaguchi riverbank and Heike no Sato, and about 50 minutes to Mizunosato Snow Park.
- Parking
Parking is available for standard cars and large buses.
Parking is limited, and it gets particularly busy on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Address Yunishigawa, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture 321-2601
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, the festival ran from January 30 (Friday) to March 1 (Sunday).
The mini kamakura at the Sawaguchi riverbank are lit from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the event period.
Heike no Sato was open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and its mini kamakura were illuminated from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
There was also an announcement that some activities from February 27 to March 1 would be changed or reduced in scale depending on snow conditions.
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 Tochigi Prefecture / Nikko City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As you will be walking on snow, bring warm clothing and shoes with good traction.
If traveling by car, winter tires are required, and you should drive safely.
Parking is limited, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are busy, so using the train or local bus is recommended.
Please refrain from flying drones at or around the venues, and do not bring pets inside.
Nearby attractions
Around the venues, you can enjoy the snow park, hot springs, and foot baths at Yunishigawa Mizunosato.
At Heike no Sato, listed as one of the festival venues, you can see snow-covered thatched buildings and large and small kamakura.
Nearby attractions including Yunishigawa Dam, Yudonosan Shrine, and the Yunishigawa River are also introduced.
These are all facilities and places presented as visitor information for the area around the venues.
イタリア大使館別荘記念公園
栃木県日光市にある公園
日光の社寺
栃木県日光市にある寺社などから構成される世界遺産
日光二荒山神社
栃木県日光市にある神社
写真：No machine-readable author provided. Fg2 assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain
Photo source ·
日光東照宮
栃木県日光市にある神社
日光植物園
東京大学の附属施設の一つ
日光江戸村
栃木県日光市のテーマパーク
写真：Gene Jackson from Brooklyn, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo source ·
日光田母沢御用邸記念公園
栃木県日光市にある歴史公園
東武ワールドスクウェア
栃木県日光市にあるテーマパーク
湯滝
奥日光三名瀑の1つ。
華厳滝
栃木県日光市にある滝
逍遥園
日光山輪王寺にある日本庭園
Origins and History of Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival
The Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival began in 1994, when the hot spring area's inn association and shopping district made use of the snow to attract visitors during February, a traditionally quiet season.
In 1995, jumbo kamakura made using large quantities of snow became a major visitor attraction.
The mini kamakura began in 2004 and developed into a scene of lights lining places such as the Sawaguchi riverbank.
It was selected for Japan Nightscape Heritage in 2009 and has been known by its current name since 2010.
Source: 湯西川温泉かまくら祭 - Wikipedia
Official information
Nikko Tabi Navi, the Nikko City Tourism Association's travel website, provides information on the 2026 event dates, venues, lighting hours, admission fees, and access.
Nikko Kotsu's official information announces the Yunishigawa Line bus schedule for the 2026 festival.
You can use this information to check venue details and public transport schedules.
Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival at a Glance
The Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival is a winter event where you can enjoy the mini kamakura along the Sawaguchi riverbank, snowy scenery at Heike no Sato, and snow activities at Mizunosato all in one visit.
A major highlight is the nighttime scenery illuminated by candles, which can be enjoyed alongside Heike Akari, hot springs, and local food.
In 2026, the festival ran from January 30 to March 1, with lighting dates, hours, and admission fees varying by venue.
Plan your transport with snow-covered roads and crowds in mind when visiting this festival.
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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