February2016 秋田県・横手市で400年の伝統を誇る水神様を祀る小正月行事として開催される「横手かまくら」。かまくらの中は、四角い雪の壁を作り、その中に門松やしめ縄などを入れ、お神酒や餅を供えで水神様の神棚を作る。中に入った小学生や中学生の子供たちが「はいってたんせ（かまくらに入ってください）」と、いいながら、道行く人に甘酒やお餅を振る舞う。そんな雪国の素朴なまつりを紹介します。
The Yokote Kamakura Festival
Chatting with children in house made of snow.
Yokote is located in southeast corner of Akita Prefecture
by the Ōu Mountains and Iwate Prefecture to the east.
The Yokote Kamakura Festival has a history of about
400 years. It is held every year on February 15 and
16 in the city of Yokote in southeastern Akita Prefecture.
The festival features many igloo-like snow houses,
called kamakura, which are built at various locations
across the city.
Children inside the kamakura invite passers by inside.
The candle lights of these snow kamakura produce a
quiet, beautiful spectacle against the darkness.