The Yokote Snow Festival is held in the middle of February every year in the city of Yokote in Akita prefecture. They feature making Kamakura; the local name for a hut made of snow. There are several events at various locations around building and staying in the Kamakuras. In each Kamakura is a small shrine dedicated to the god of water. There is also an event with a Bonden, a huge mystic circle made out rope and hay, which is ritualistically carried across the snow in a parade. It looks fun!