Akita's Inukko Dog Festival 2025: Snow Sculptures, Lanterns, and More

The Yuzawa Inukko Festival 2025 in Akita

Japan's Snow Dog Festival! The Innuko Festival is a one-of-a-kind tradition in Japan, with strong regional ties and motifs that represent some of the prefecture's most beautiful and attractive attributes.

The festival beckons dog and snow lovers near and far with its traditional charm, featuring gigantic dog sculptures and mini candle-lit shrines made from snow.

From meeting real dogs, both large and small, to exploring a magical snow village lit up by warm glowing candles and dazzling fireworks at night, here is a deeper insight into this rare festival.

Yuzawa Inukko Festival 2025 Guide

1. Dates and Venue
2. History and Concept
3. Festival Highlights
4. Access
5. Hotels in Yuzawa City, Akita

Yuzawa Inukko Festival 2025: Dates and Venue

A weekend of wonder, the Yuzawa Inukko Festival is the perfect mixture of heartfelt moments and awe-inspiring scenery, combined with adorable, fluffy cuteness!

Set in the enchanting winter landscape of Yuzawa City in Akita, the main festival venue will be the Yuzawa City General Gymnasium—an open space transformed into a winter wonderland featuring huge dog snow statues, shrines, and dogs of all shapes and sizes.

The main festival will run from 10:00 to 21:00 on February 8 and from 10:00 to 19:00 on February 9, 2025.

Additionally, on February 8, guests can watch beautiful winter fireworks sparkle in the sky from 19:30 until 20:00, with drum performances before and after the fireworks show from 19:00 to 19:30 and from 20:00 to 20:30.

During this free festival, visitors can enjoy seasonal and cultural activities throughout the day, including a banana boat ride on the snow, a dog café, dog prayer ceremonies, and more.

Furthermore, the city itself will be transformed into one huge celebration of Akita's cultural charms, featuring a dazzling thousand lantern display and exhibitions such as the Kawaren Lacquerware Exhibition, as well as crafting experiences where visitors can paint kokeshi dolls!

Akita - Inukko Festival 2025 Event Details

Main venue: Around Yuzawa City General Gymnasium
Dates: February 8 - 9,2025
Hours: 10:00 - 21:00 (February 8), 10:00 - 19:00 (February 9)
Address: Okitsuru 140, Yuzawa, Akita 012-0037
Sub-venue: Yuzawa City Central Shopping District

Activities onsite during the event: Individual dog prayer 10:30-15:00 at Innuko Shrine, Dog run and Slide 10:00-17:00, Banana boat on snow ride 10:00 - 16:30, Dog Festa - a memorial service with food and services for dogs, fireworks 19:30 - 20:30 (February 8), and Drum performance 19:00-19:30 and 20:00-20:30 (February 8).

Activities offsite from main venue:
A Thousand Lanterns Event 18:00-20:30 (February 8) at Yanagimachi Shopping street, Yuzawa City (Next to Akita Bank Yuzawa Branch)
Akita Kokeshi Exhibition 10:00-17:00 (February 8), 10:00-16:00 (February 9) at Yuzawa Grand Hotel 1F
Kokeshi painting experience 10:30-16:00 (February 8) and 10:30-15:00 (February 9)
Dog cafe: Next to festival headquarters
Local product market 10:00-20:00 (February 8) and 10:00-20:00 (February 9) at the Yuzawa City Health Dome
Kawaren Lacquerware Exhibition venue: multi-purpose Hall in Yuzawa City Cultural Exchange Center
Inaniwa shinko crafting production experience and Inaniwa shinko craft painting experience 10:00 -19:00 (February 8) and 10:00-18:00 (February 9)at City Cultural Exchange Centre

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Akita - Inukko Festival 2025: History and Concept

Believed to have begun 400 years ago, the Innuko Festival is a unique celebration in Akita, famously known as the birthplace of Akita dogs such as Hachiko.

During the Edo Period, the region suffered from frequent burglaries. To protect the village's homes, the Lord of Yuzawa City implemented a plan to ward off thieves. Taking place during the second weekend in February, coinciding with the lunar new year, villagers displayed small dogs, cranes, and turtles sculpted out of rice powder by their windows and at the entrances to their homes.

Since then, the festival has transformed over time into what it is today, with a special emphasis on appreciation for dogs—their companionship, acts of service, and protection.

Small dogs sculpted from rice powder adorned with colorful collars and patterns can be spotted sitting inside the mini snow-sculpted shrines at the festival, re-enacting this old tradition.

Given that the region has relied heavily on dogs for protection and hunting throughout the years, and as the home of Odate City—a town that declared the Akita Inu a Japanese Natural Treasure and managed to preserve the breed from going extinct—the Inukko Festival is an authentic celebration that represents the region and its strong traditional and cultural ties.

Highlights of the Inukko Festival 2025

A fun and beautiful festival with plenty to do and explore—here are our top three highlights.

Meet Dogs and Particpate in The Prayer Festival for Beloved Dogs

Dogs, dogs, and more dogs! At the festival, visitors can meet a variety of dogs, from small to large, throughout the weekend, with many dressed in scarves, jackets, and other winter attire to warm.

Especially rare to see in places like Tokyo, many Akita Inu dogs gather with their owners in celebration of the event, making it a perfect occasion for these snow-resistant canines.

During the festival, there will be dog protection prayers at Inukko Shrine, where you can participate with your own dog or watch as a spectator as the rituals unfold. Individual dog prayers are available to the first 70 participants each day, costing 5,000 yen.

Individual dog prayer
Hours: 10:30-15:00
Price: 5,000 yen
Venue: Innuko Shrine

Candle Night Event: A Thousand Snow Lights

Warm, glowing lantern artwork will be displayed at Yanagichimachi Shopping Street, about a 26-minute walk from the venue or an 11-minute walk from Yuzawa Station, creating gorgeous circular patterns amidst the snow.

This beautiful display resembles golden ripples spreading across the frozen landscape. Visitors can enter the venue for free and are encouraged to write personal wishes for the lanterns, adding a sense of community spirit.

Snow Light Event
Period: February 8, 2025
Hours: 18:00 - 20:30
Location: Akita, Yuzawa, Yanagimachi Shopping street, Yuzawa City (Next to Akita Bank Yuzawa Branch) 2 Chome-1-48

Fireworks

Soaring to the sky in a magnificent celebration, fireworks are launched as the sounds of mighty drums come to a close, echoing booms into the sky and showering glistening sparks over the festival.

Firework Show
Date: February 8, 2025
Hours: 19:30 -20:00

Access to the Inukko Festival 2025

To access the Inukko Festival from Tokyo, travelers can either take the Shinkansen, a plane, or drive.

Tokyo to Akita via Shinkansen

From Tokyo Station, take the Akita Shinkansen to Omagari Station.

From there, transfer to the Ou Line and take the local Innai train to Yuzawa Station. This journey will take approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes and will cost 17,370 yen one way.

Alternatively, you can take the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kitakami Station, then transfer to the local Yokote Line and ride the train to Yokote. Once you arrive, transfer to the Ou Line and take the local Innai train to Yuzawa Station. This route takes around the same time and is slightly cheaper, costing 14,930 yen.

The advantage of taking this route is that there are many more available hotels in Yokote, allowing you to drop off your luggage before heading to the festival. The downside is that you will need to change trains more often, so it depends on your individual situation.

We also recommend using a discount travel pass like the JR EAST Tohoku Area Pass (5 days, 175 USD), which is great value for money if you want to explore several areas in eastern Japan, including Tokyo.

Tokyo to Akita Via Car and Airplane

For those looking for a road trip, driving from Tokyo to Yuzawa will take around 6 hours and 49 minutes.

Alternatively, we recommend taking a plane from Tokyo to Akita Airport (AXT), which will cost around 12,000 yen and take 1 hour and 30 minutes. Once you arrive, pick up your rental car and drive to the venue for approximately 1 hour.

Access Once Arriving at Yuzawa

Once arriving in Yuzawa, the festival offers a shuttle bus to and from different venues.

The Shuttlebuses routes:
Route 1: Aeonsuper market centre Yuzawa store - main venue Yuzawa Cultural Centre and Yuzawa Station (Operation time 10:00- 21:00 February 8 and 10:00 - 19:00 February 9)
Route 2: Yuzawa city hall - Yuzuwa Cultural Center (main venue) - AEONSUPER Market Centre Yuzawa Store (Operation time 10:00- 21:00 February 8 and 10:00 - 19:00 February 9)
Route 3: Yukatsu Regional Promotion Bureur - Yuzawa Cultural Centre (Main Venue)
(Operation time 10:00- 21:00 February 8 and 10:00 - 19:00 February 9)
Route 4: Yuzawa Fire Station Neighbouring Parking lot - Main venue
(Operation time 10:00- 16:00 February 8 and 12:20 - 16:00 February 9)

Dogs are allowed to ride the small shuttle buses. Alternatively, you can walk from Yuzawa station to the main venue within 20 minutes. Please note that due to it being a festival buses may be crowded.

Hotels in Yuzawa City, Akita

Yuzawa Grand Hotel

Picture courtesy of Rakuten Travel

Yuzawa Grand Hotel is located approximately a 26-minute walk from the main venue or an 11-minute walk to Yuzawa Station, where shuttle buses are available to and from the main venue.

This chic hotel offers seven types of rooms, with the largest being the Grand King Suite, which features a spacious living area, a separate bedroom, and is equipped with cozy amenities such as art books, coffee machines, and an electric fireplace.

Within the hotel is Restaurant Granda, serving seasonal cuisine and a buffet breakfast with 30 different dishes and delicious desserts such as pancakes topped with fruit.

Book a room here: https://hotel.travel.rakuten.co.jp/hinfo/1042/

Yokote Onsen Hotel Plaza Geihin

Picture courtesy of Rakuten Travel

Located a 2-minute walk from Yokote Station (approximately a 30-minute train ride from Yuzawa) is the Yokote Onsen Hotel Plaza Geihin, a cozy onsen hotel featuring both Western and traditional Japanese-style rooms.

Visitors can choose between a large, spacious room adorned with tatami mats and sliding doors, accommodating up to 8 people; a Western-Japanese style room with a special tatami dining area and bedroom, sleeping up to 4; or a spacious Western-style twin room featuring a corner sofa and cozy interiors.

Guests who reserve one of these three rooms have free access to the hotel’s bedrock bath, featuring Beitou stone from Tamagawa Onsen, as well as the open-air bath and hot springs.

On-site, guests can indulge in a Kaiseki banquet meticulously created by a Japanese cuisine craftsman, as well as enjoy a Japanese breakfast and access to saunas. The hotel has received the award for being among the Top 47 Japanese Inns in the Rakuten Awards in both 2020 and 2022.

Book a room here: https://hotel.travel.rakuten.co.jp/hotelinfo/plan/7502

Quad in Yokote

Picture courtesy of Rakuten Travel

Quad Hotel is a budget-friendly accommodation located a 5-minute walk from Yokote. Rooms are airy, bright, and clean, accommodating up to 2 people per room.

The hotel has incredible facilities such as a spa and fitness club, a Hanjumak domed-shaped sauna, a rock salt relaxation room, and a large onsen and Jimjilbang, which is a South Korean-style bathhouse. A breakfast buffet is available in the morning to fuel you for the day ahead.

Book a room here: https://hotel.travel.rakuten.co.jp/hotelinfo/plan/84848

Conclusion

The Innuko Dog Festival is a hidden cultural gem just waiting to be explored. If you are looking for a winter festival that incorporates local traditions and showcases cultural attributes while making the most of nature's beauty, then this festival is for you!

If you love snow and dogs, why not head up to Akita this February and enjoy some of its wonders?