Yokote Snow Storehouse Tour

Akita Prefecture's Yokote City is one of Japan's most heavily snowed areas and is famous for the Kamakura Festival, but the townscape of uchigura (inner storehouses) remaining in the Masuda district is also an invaluable tourism resource. The luxurious inner storehouses hidden within merchant houses are architectural heritage symbolizing the wealth and culture of snow country. In winter, sake tasting events showcase sake stored in natural refrigerators called 'yukimuro' (snow storage) that utilize the season's snow. Walking down streets lined with substantial storehouse-style buildings creates the sensation of stepping back in time. Here you can truly experience the history and culture of Yokote, a region that has always lived alongside snow.