The Hokuriku and Tohoku regions (comprising Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate, Aomori, Yamagata, and Akita prefectures) along the Sea of Japan side of the Japanese archipelago are among the few heavy snowfall zones in the world. In winter, it snows almost daily here, with snow accumulation on flat ground exceeding one meter, and even deeper—two to three meters—in mountainous areas.
In the snowy land, people here battle with snow day after day. However, throughout the long winter, various regions and villages have maintained the tradition of holding festivals and markets since ancient times to dispel the gloom weighing on people’s hearts. Many of these festivals boast centuries-old traditions. Here we introduce the winter customs and events passed down through generations by the people of the snowy regions.
Hachinohe g3
Located in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, the festival “g3” has been celebrated since the agricultural era as a prayer for a bountiful harvest in the new year, and is the city’s most representative folk performance. “g3” refers to the colorful horse-head-shaped hats worn by dancers. After making offerings at the Shinra Shrine on Chōrō Mountain, citizens flood into the city center streets, creating a lively scene of “everyone dancing together.” A unique feature of the dance is the vigorous head-shaking, and in addition to depicting rice planting, it also includes adorable performances by children.
Tips: [Time] The second Saturday of February and the following day
[Location] Yuzawa area, Akita Prefecture
In the snowy land, the continuous snowfall in winter can bring a touch of melancholy to people’s moods. Yet winter festivals lift the spirit and bring joy. In winter, the people of snowy regions also release giant paper balloons adorned with images of warriors or beauties into the night sky to make wishes, among other activities. These events not only bring fun to their lives but also add courage to welcome the arrival of spring. For those interested in learning more about the customs of Japan’s snowy villages, you can visit the official website of the Japan National Tourism Organization [http://www.welcome2japan.cn/vj2014/?utm_source=kiji&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=vj2014] to find out more about traveling in Japan independently and experience firsthand the unique winter life of the people in snowy regions.