Yunishigawa Kamakura Festival in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

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A winter tradition in Japan. Snow aglow in Central Japan

Here at Yunishigawa Onsen, a hot spring spa town in Central Japan, the Yunishigawa Kamakura Festival lights up the countryside each winter. Kamakuras are snow huts that range in size from these small, candlelit structures along the river banks to large igloo-like domes. People gather in the larger kamakuras to worship, socialize, or share a meal. The entire community pitches in to build and light the kamakuras during the festival, which runs from January to mid-March.