The area of present-day Yokote was part of ancient Dewa Province and was the homeland of the Kiyohara clan of the Heian period Gosannen War.

However, the Onodera sided against Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara and the area came under the control of the Satake clan, who had been relocated to Kubota Domain from their former holdings in Hitachi Province.

After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Hiraka District, Akita Prefecture in 1878, with one town and 23 villages.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Akita 3rd District of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

It is held in the days leading to the Bonden Festival (mid February) and its location is focused around the city hall area.

An altar for the water deity is carved into the rear of the room inside each kamakura, where people pray for abundant harvests, the safety of their family members, protection against fire and for academic success.

The kamakura can be experienced year round in a building adjacent to Yokote City Hall called the Kamakura-kan.