Top Things to do in Yokote
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What to do and see in Yokote, Japan: The Best Places and Tips
Discover the best top things to do in Yokote, Japan including Akita Furusatomura, Masuda Storehouses, Michi-no-Eki Jumonji, Kamakaura Museum, Masuda Classic Road, Yokote Castle, Yokote Snow Festival (Kamakura), Yokote Masuda Manga Museum, Sato Mataroku House, Akita Museum of Modern Art.
Restaurants in Yokote
1. Akita Furusatomura
Overall Ratings
4 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By YoroNikki - Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
We enjoyed the permanent exhibition of prefectural crafts. There is a Planetarium showing movies with reclining seats, that was fun, around 500 for adults, my son aged 4 as free. Kids can try crafts for a fee and see figures and objects from festivals around Akita. There are loads of souvenirs, local food and casual restaurants too. On national holidays they have special events. Yokote is cold so it was nice to walk around somewhere warm inside, outside the snow was knee deep. There is a science museum and kids activity centre here that we didn't have time to try. Much more fun than it sounds.
2. Masuda Storehouses
3. Michi-no-Eki Jumonji
Overall Ratings
4 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By JKE255103 - Perth, Australia
We took a bus from the Yokote main bus terminal, only 100m from the east exit of the JR train station. The lady in the ticket info didn’t speak English but she got her colleague to help us and when the bus came she made sure the driver knew where we wanted to go. Journey took around 45mins.
On arrival in Jumonji, the walk was about 5-6mins. It was snowing and cold and we’re glad to find the market was held in a large hall.
There was a choir of senior gents and ladies singing. The produce of fruit, veges, cakes, breads and local delicacies as well as flowers were for sale. We were the only foreigners there. The lady Yoko San at the reception didn’t speak much English but she quickly got her friend from another stall Yumi san to help us. They were very warm and friendly. Recommended what food to try eg Yokote yakisoba and even called us a taxi to take us to Masuda storehouse nearby. What hospitality.
We bought cakes, mochi, bread, hana zushi to try. All good and interesting. What a great experience.
4. Kamakaura Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By mildly_surprised - Southampton, United Kingdom
I'm sorry that I cannot say much about this place, nor provide a photo or two - I went there in 2006, some seven years ago, even though the review date says 2013.... I was there to visit my daughter who was teaching English on the Jet programme (recommended if you can get in and are the right age).
This is a little museum in the centre of the sprawling "city" of Yokote. It celebrates the little igloos (the kamakura) that kids build during a festival at some point in the winter (think it may be February). They invite people into them to share hospitality. I wasn't there for the festival so the museum was next best.
It's better for Japanese speakers here and a visit will be quite short; well under an hour. The highlight is a Kamakura maintained at some horribly low temperature that you can enter through a sort of fridge door. It really is cold. For those not sufficiently protected, you can see it through a window too. Take a camera.
Sorry but I cannot remember if there's an admission charge. If there is, it will be very small as is the case at many attractions in Japan.
I really love Japan and the Japanese.
Note to Trip Advisor, it's not Kamakaura but Kamakura, the same spelling as the town with the Daibutsu not far from Yokohama.
5. Masuda Classic Road
Overall Ratings
4 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By iwaida - Ota, Japan
横手市増田地区にある古い町並みです。そこまで長い通りでは無く、端から端まで大体500mくらいです。最寄り駅は十文字駅になりますが、十文字駅からも大体5～6Km程度離れています。ですので、車で行くか、バスを利用して行くのが現実的です。バスで行く場合は十文字駅からバスに乗り、増田中町か四ツ谷角で降りればくらしっくロードです。バスの時刻は増田町観光協会のホームページで調べられます。
古い建物が多く、みな間口も大きく奥行きも長いです。また、外見は質実剛健です。ですが、どの家も中に内蔵を持っています。生活空間と蔵が内部で繋がっており、それを母屋の屋根が覆っている、という形をしています。このような構造にした理由は、豪雪地帯の為、蔵を野晒しにすると傷みが早い為だそうです。有料公開と無料公開のものがあるのですが、無料公開のものでもかなりのものです。蔵の駅と松浦千代松家を見学しましたが、どちらの内蔵も黒漆喰で覆われ、凄く豪華な作りでした。装飾が綺麗、というわけではないのですが、立派な木材が柱や梁にふんだんに使われています。有料のところも幾つか見学しましたが、そちらも同様に豪華で、外見とは対照的でした。
現代の視点からすると、なぜ交通の便の悪い田舎町にこれほどの建築物があるのか不思議ですが、内蔵が建造された明治期から昭和初期に掛けて、増田は秋田北部や山形、岩手を結ぶ交通の要衝だったそうで、物資の集積地でもあったそうです。また、養蚕やタバコ栽培、鉱山など、当時の主要産業が全て集まっていたそうです。そういう経緯で増田の商人は富裕で、銀行を設立したり電力会社を創業したりして、より財力を蓄えていったそうです。その結果が内蔵です。ただ、現在は鉄道も通っておらず、当時の主要産業も没落してしまい、寂しい田舎町に転落してしまいました。結果として再開発も行われず、内蔵だけが残った、ということのようです。どちらが良かったのか判りませんが、このような貴重な文化財が残されたのですから、それはそれで良かったと思います。ちょっと便は悪いですが、是非訪問してみることをお勧めします。
6. Yokote Castle
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By bakatori - Singapore
Yokote. Never heard of, never seen, never been.
That was until this winter 15th Feb 2013.
Kamakura Festival at Yokote Castle.
I head towards Yokote From Akita station by a local train. Do note the last train departing from the Yokote Station if you do not intend to spend your night there.
Once you are there, you will be able to get all the information and map from the desk that will be set up in the station for this special matsuri. Help and assistance are readily available, just ask.
It was about a 15 mins walk to the main street where the happenings happen. The ice sculptures, the food, and of course the Kamakuras. Kamakuras, a big igloo-like shelter. A hollow dug-out from a huge mould of compact snow, the dug-out is big enough to house a group of about 5 to 6 people and a small little shrine for the water god.
Children sat inside the Kamakura, with warm rice cakes grilling on the wire mesh on a charcoal stove and sweet warm rice wine, invites passerby to get out of the cold and join them in the warm of the Kamakura. In return, the passerby who accepts the invitation, make offerings to the water god. As the night falls, the Kamakuras that lined the streets were lit up with. The big ones with electrical lights, the small ones with candles and some with colored torchlights.
Along the river that led to the Yokote Castle, small Kamakuras lit the way. The castle itself was located on top of a hill thus I had to climb up a long and very steep road that leads direct to the entrance. More Kamakuras at the castle ground. Although Yokote Kamakura Festival is not a Big or well-known thing but it's beauty does attract a lot of photographers. By the time I was there, there were many people there with their tripods set up, angeling for a perfect shot. The snow laden path leading to the castle was lined with tiny lit up small Kamakuras. I took A shot of the huge Kamakura against the lit up castle. The snow was getting heavier by the minute. As I had to catch the last train for Akita, I did not head for the river which I read was beautiful with the hundreds of candle lit mini Kamakuras. By the time I reached the Yokote station, it was snowing cats and dogs. Later in the night, in the warmth of my room, the TV was broadcasting this event in the midst of the heavy snowfall. It seems nothing, not even Mother Nautre can deter the Japanese from having a good and happy time.
Just a note if you intend to visit in the winter. A good pair of spiked boots is a must. My bruised backside was my testimonial to that.
Will I come back again? Yes you can bet my backside on it. I will be back for the Kamakuras, rice cakes, sweet wine and the "heck with the weather" crowds.
7. Yokote Snow Festival (Kamakura)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 14 reviews
Yokote in Akita Prefecture has a 450 year-old event paying respects to the local water deity during the 14th-16th days of the lunar New Year. Snow huts are built, and local children serve sweet sake and sticky rice to attendees, creating a beautiful winter scene. There are also events to try your hand at building miniature snow huts and get a commemorative photo taken, and a rally of 5m tall, 30kg festive pennants carried by the locals (the Asahioka-yama Shrine Bonden Festival). There are various events around the festive pennants donated by each city and volunteers.
Reviewed By のんびり巡り - Minato, Japan
横手の雪まつりは本家かまくらを体験できます。
4-5日間にわたって２月中旬に開催されます。
ミニかまくら作り体験や、撮影会、ショーとイベントもありますが、お祭りの由縁は
かまくらの中に神座を設けて水神様を祀 り、中で子どもたちが甘酒を飲んだりお餅を焼いたりして遊ぶ民俗 行事で、およそ450年の歴史があるようです。
かまくらの中に灯りが灯された風景は幻想的です。
8. Yokote Masuda Manga Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 7 reviews
Masuda Manja Art Museum is a museum exhibiting Japan's first manga original drawings. It is currently closed due to renovation work. It is scheduled to be opened as "Manga Art Museum" in April 2017 "Interview with original drawings". It will be renovated as a facility that will lead the Japanese manga culture, including autograph original paintings of over 180 people, autographed original drawings of "Magnificent Collection" that stores over 100,000 manga original drawings, manga library, manga cafe, etc.
Reviewed By PJLtravel
We visited the Manga museum with our two young sons in July 2016 while exploring the Yokote area. Located about an hour from Akita Station, this museum is great for comic enthusiasts and art lovers. There are hundreds of comics available to read (in Japanese) and the artwork displayed by a large range of artists was very interesting. There is a lovely giftshop with Manga themed goods, and toys for the kids. There were touring Exhibitions with entrance fees however we only visited the free permanent exhibition. There is plenty to do in the area including visiting the lavender fields, Furusato Mura Kamakuland, traditional sweet shops, kamakura-kan snow dome experience, and mato park.
9. Sato Mataroku House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By iwaida - Ota, Japan
横手市増田地区に並ぶ内蔵を持つ家屋の中で、一番古いものです。佐藤又六家は近くにある佐藤三十郎家の分家だそうですが、増田地区最大の豪商で、増田銀行（現北都銀行）の設立に際しても発起人の一人として多額の投資をした位の名家です。蔵造りの家屋を建設したのも、当時の代官から火災時の火避けも兼ねた形で家を作って欲しいとの要請があったからだそうです。
外見上は他の家屋とあまり変わりませんが、生活空間である主屋部分が既に蔵になっており、奥に倉庫としての蔵が繋がっている、という構造をしています。その意味では、道路に面した店舗部分から既に内蔵になっているわけです。これは、2階ベランダ部分の壁が土蔵になっていることからも判ります。また、入口にも一般的な土蔵で使われる立派な扉が設えられています。他の家屋はこのような構造をしていないので、非常に珍しい構造です。内部に使われている柱や梁などは物凄く立派なもので、当時の佐藤家の財力の凄さが判ります。
見学料は300円で、パンフレットを無料で頂くことが出来ます。また、佐藤家の方が詳しく案内してくれます。増田地区を代表する家屋ですので、増田に凝られたら是非見学することをお勧めします。
10. Akita Museum of Modern Art
Overall Ratings
4 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By hosakin - 福岡
秋田ふるさと村敷地内に併設されている秋田県立近代美術館に郷土所縁の「福田豊四郎」展を見に行きました。群馬県立近代美術館(高崎)や新潟県立近代美術館(長岡)みたいに県庁所在地以外に近代美術館というのは一つの時代のトレンドだったでしょうか。所蔵作が数多く展示されていたせいか、福田豊四郎の代表作といえる「秋田のマリヤ」や戦争画の多くは撮影可能と嬉しい限り。横手ＩＣ降りてスグと高速道利用者には便利ですが、近現代美術館も地域間競争が激化している今日、魅力溢れる企画展の充実が求められることは言うまでもありません。
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