murmurYuzawa Inukko Matsuri (Snow Dog Festival)
Yuzawa City · Special grounds around Yuzawa City Gymnasium and the central shopping streets
Dates and details can change. Always check the official website before you go.
Yuzawa City · Last checked: Oct 10, 2026
Dates
Dates confirmed with official sources
- 2026
- Feb 14–15, 2026 （Ended） February 14, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm; February 15, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
- 2027
- Dates have not been announced yet. Please check the official website.
- Usual timing
- Usually mid February
- How the date is set
- Changes from year to year Usually a Saturday and Sunday in mid-February
- Venue
- Special grounds around Yuzawa City Gymnasium and the central shopping streets
- City
- Yuzawa City, Akita
About
This winter folk festival in the Yuzawa area is said to have a history of some 400 years. Legend says a local lord, after defeating a band of robbers who raided homes in broad daylight, had little dogs, cranes and turtles made from rice flour and set at doorways and windows on the night of the old Little New Year to keep such villains away. Today small dogs shaped from rice dough are placed inside snow shrines with offerings of rice cakes and amazake. A snow-built Inukko Shrine stands at the main venue, and on the second day dog owners from near and far bring their pets for a blessing for long life and health. Winter fireworks light up the first night, and in the shopping streets about 1,000 candles glow in the Sen no Yukiakari candle night.
Sources
- OfficialYuzawa City www.city-yuzawa.jp
- OfficialInukko Matsuri Executive Committee inukkofes.com
Last checked: Oct 10, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.
Other events this month
On the day, see what locals are murmuring on the murmur map
murmur is an app that shows short, anonymous posts on a map, right where they were written. On festival day, open the map around the venue and see what people nearby are saying.