Kamakura (snow dome)

Kamakura (かまくら or カマクラ) is a type of traditional snow dome or quinzhee in snowy regions of Japan.

It appears that the practice of worshipping Suijin, a Shinto god of water, during the winter came to northeastern Japan during the early Kamakura period when the Nikaidō clan became local landowners.

In the Uonuma region of south-central Niigata Prefecture, the snow domes made for such ceremonies are known as honyara-dō.

[2] One theory holds that the term kamakura arose from the resemblance of many snow domes to round ceramic kilns (窯, kama).

[5] Not far north from Yokote City in the Semboku District of Akita prefecture another kamakura festival is held each February 11 to 15.

[7] This festival is centered around Akita Suwagu Shrine [ja], which is near Iizume Station on the Ōu Main Line.

On each February 13 in Rokugō village, children typically visit each other's huts and sing songs about chasing birds.

[13] Kamakura festivals also exist at Lake Shikaribetsu Kohan Onsen [ja] in central Hokkaido, Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture, and a number of other places in Japan with cold winters.