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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Yokote
横手市
Spend a half‑day for Yokote Castle and the winter Kamakura festival; add a night if you want to stay for the February festivities.
Yokote is a small Akita‑prefecture city known for its reconstructed castle, the Kamakura winter igloo festival, and a few museums. It is reachable by Shinkansen via Daisen and sits about 30 min walk from the station, making a day‑trip feasible, but winter visitors should allow an overnight stay for the festival.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 横手市
- Best months
- Dec–Feb (festival) and Sep–Nov (pleasant weather)
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, humid)
- Stay
- 0–1 (overnight only for winter festival) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Yokote yakisoba (fried noodle) | ¥600–900 |
| Coffee | ¥300–500 |
| Bus ride (city) | ¥200–300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AKJ · Akita Airport
- Shuttle bus ¥300 twice daily to Yokote (reserve online); otherwise take bus to Akita Station then JR Ōu Line.
Typical fares
- Akita Airport → Yokote shuttle
- ¥300, 15 min (reserve online)
- JR Ōu Line Yokote‑Akita
- ¥1,200, ~1 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The castle, historic district and Kamakura sites are a 10‑30 min walk from Yokote Station; local buses or taxis are available for farther spots.
See and do
Known for
- Yokote Castle
- Kamakura (winter igloo) festival
- Masuda historic merchant district
- Yokote Masuda Manga Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Akita City | JR Ou Line, about 1 h from Yokote Station | ≈1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Yokote Plaza Hotel
- Business hotel, 1 min walk from Yokote Station East Exit; also offers a men‑only capsule.
- Hotel Plaza Annex Yokote
- Higher‑rank business hotel, 3 min walk from station.
- Quad Inn Yokote
- 5 min walk from station West Exit.
- Hotel Nostal Yokote
- Scandinavian‑style designer hotel, opened Oct 2024.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the station? | 駅はどこですか？eki wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Shuttle bus to the city must be booked online; cash or IC card accepted.
- Festival dates change yearly; check the official city page for exact February schedule.
- Winter temperatures can drop below 0 °C; dress warmly.
Yokote is generally safe; typical precautions apply—keep valuables secure on public transport.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Yokote yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 (overnight only for winter festival) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Yokote Castle
- Kamakura (winter igloo) festival
- Masuda historic merchant district
- Yokote Masuda Manga Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Yokote official city site (tourism): www.city.yokote.lg.jp/kanko/1001533/1006604/index.html
- Wikidata – Yokote: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Yokote, revision 5033160 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5033160
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/yokote). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.