Mar 19, 2015 - 1 min read

A Beautiful Winter Festival

Hundreds of tiny igloos in Yunishigawa Onsen

By Victoria Simkovic

Community writer

The goal of my trip was this: Hundreds of mini kamakuras (snow huts) along the river.

The large kamakuras (igloos) are big enough for  3-4 Japanese people to fit in (not so sure though in case of Westerners...).

But first, you will arrive at Kinugawa Onsen where you will catch a train to Yunishigawa Onsen. As you will have already spent two hours on the train by now, you might feel a bit hungry and tired. Why not go and grab some manju (a sweet bun with red beans filling), still fresh and warm, from one of the shops next to the station? After, head to this little hot foot bath just outside the station.

The best way to start your trip, ...

... especially if it is raining outside.

As you get to Yunishigawa Onsen, at the station power up with some soba or udon. Looking around, you slowly realize that kappa monsters (Japanese folklore creatures that live in lakes and rivers) are THE thing here. They can be seen everywhere (when I say 'they', I mean their image); just like this fish cake with kappa on it.

Or these kappa ducks, which you will find in yet another foot bath.

In Yunishigawa Onsen me and my friend stayed at Hana to Hana Inn. It was great. The staff was friendly and helpful, the food was unique and yummy and the views were amazing. They were five different hot spring baths to choose from, just enough for us!

After appreciating our room, we went to explore the baths.

Girls, you get to wear a pink and purple yukata (a traditional light Japanese dress); this got me very excited. Also, please have a look at the snow pile, which was taller than my friend.

I never had this kind of dinner in Japan; you sit right by the small bonfire, where you grill all sorts of food.b

Also, there was a bamboo cane full of sake!

This is what you will be grilling: chicken, rice cake, fish, miso and veggies.

Plus, you get all these tiny, beautifully served dishes, mostly cold ones. There was also some grilled meat and sashimi served on the side table.

After you are full (and you will be very full), go to your room and put on some warm clothes, because you are going out into the snow now. The hotel gave us a ride to the Kamakura Festival which was held in the neighborhood.

I went on 28th of February, so the little kamakuras were already starting to melt; however, still very beautiful.

After we got back to the hotel, there was one more round of soaking in the hot springs. Then, it started snowing heavily and we were glued to the window for the rest of the night, devouring one ice cream from the vending machine after another (very refreshing).

In the morning the mountain in front of our hotel was covered in snow and it was hard to leave.

Kinugawa Onsen has plenty of hotels with hot springs. Actually, Kinugawa Onsen is much more famous than Yunishigawa Onsen; however, it is the latter where they hold the Kamakura Festival.

Okay then, one more foot bath with a beautiful view to finish our journey.

At the end of this winter, literally on the 28th of February, I visited Yunishigawa Onsen in Tochigi Prefecture, where around this time of the year you can become a witness of a winter fairy tale, the Kamakura Festival. Hundreds of small igloos are lit up along the river, creating a magical scenery. If just looking at the scenery is not enough for you, rent a BBQ set and enjoy some yummy food in one of the big igloos a few meters away from the river. After taking enough pictures and filling yourself up with meat, go to one of the local Japanese Inns and soak in their hot springs. What else can you ask for?

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Victoria Simkovic

By Victoria Simkovic

Community writer

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Kim

Kim 4 years ago

Dreaming of winter again from this post!

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