Enjoy nabe in a kamakura! Restaurant Kamakura Village 2026 in Iiyama, Nagano

  • Nagano
  • Eating
Illuminated and fantastic kamakura
Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture, will open "Kamakura no Sato 2026 (Restaurant Kamakura Village)" from January 23 (Fri.) to March 1 (Sun.), 2026. During the opening period, visitors can enjoy the view of more than 20 kamakura of various sizes standing side by side in the facility, as well as experience eating hot pot in a kamakura. Why don't you experience the unique kamakura of a region with heavy snowfall this winter?

How to make a kamakura

There are more than 20 kamakura in the village, including kamakura shrines. These kamakura are made with the cooperation of local residents, but the way they are made is a little different from other areas. The way most people think of making kamakura is the traditional method of making a snow mountain and digging inside, as has been known in Akita and other regions for centuries. Also, the "igloo," a house of snow and ice used by the Inuit, the indigenous people of North America, is famous for being made by stacking snow blocks on top of each other. In this context, the method used to build a kamakura at the Kamakura Village is to solidify snow around a giant balloon, then create a doorway and pull the balloon out through it. It is very efficient! The walls of the kamakura are nearly one meter thick, so that even if you enjoy a pot inside, it will not melt easily.
Making kamakura

2023 Experience] I experienced the "meal plan, lunchtime"!

More than 20 kamakura of various sizes are built on the snowfields of Iiyama City. At night, the inside of the kamakura is lit, and the warm light that illuminates the quiet, dignified snowy landscape creates a fantastic atmosphere. The kamakura-no-sato has been passed down as a local exchange and tourism resource, and even after the local ski resort closed in 2001, it has remained a strong winter tradition in the area.
*and trip. editorial staff experienced the site on the first day at the time of 2023! Here are some scenes from the actual experience!
More than 20 giant kamakura of various sizes

Experience in 2023] Sneaking inside the kamakura!

The park was very crowded, even though it was a weekday, with visitors from inside and outside of the prefecture, as well as from overseas, and even some press coverage due to it being the first day of the 2023 event. When we actually entered the kamakura, we had to bend down to get through the entrance, but the inside was spacious enough for a woman to stand up and spread her arms. We were so excited to enter the kamakura for the first time that we took pictures and talked about it while our meals were being served.

2023 Experiences] "Noroshi-nabe, rice balls and pickled nozawana" on the menu for the meal.

The noshiroshi nabe, which comes from the fact that there was a noshiroshi stand on Mt. Kuroiwa behind the village of kamakura, is a miso-based nabe that uses many local vegetables, including traditional Iiyama vegetables, and Miyuki pork, which is hard to find outside of the prefecture. The meat was tender and firm, and the lightness of the nabe was so well matched that we finished the dish with rice balls. The day was sunny and the temperature rose during the day, but there was a breeze and it was chilly outside. The inside of the kamakura is surrounded by snow and in the shade, so it may seem cold, but surprisingly it did not get cold at all.
Noroshi-nabe," a hot pot that warms you from the inside out

Even more spectacular views when the lights are turned on after sunset!

At the far end of the front entrance to the kamakura village is the impressive "kamakura shrine" with its bright red torii (shrine gate). In the evening, all the kamakura, including the mini kamakura on both sides leading to the shrine, are lit up, creating a fantastic view that is different from that of the daytime.
Kamakura Shrine
Lighted Kamakura

There are also many activities! Web reservations recommended for Restaurant Kamakura-mura!

In addition to dining, visitors can experience snowmobile rides and snow rafting, in which snowmobiles pull rubber boats. （In summer, the area is a farming village with rice paddies all over, but in winter, it is snow-covered as far as the eye can see. In winter, the area is covered with snow as far as the eye can see.
For reservations and more information, please click here! Kamakura no Sato HP】

Information on the "Kamakura no Sato 2026" event

Period
January 23, 2026 (Fri.) - March 1, 2026 (Sun.)
Admission fee: Adults 300 yen Elementary school students 100 yen
Free for those who use "Restaurant Kamakura-mura" and preschool children

The Noroshi-nabe plan and snack plan, in which you can enjoy Noroshi-nabe in a kamakura, are set at the following times respectively.
Meal Plan] (Kamakura use + Noroshi-nabe + 1 piece of Iiyama Koshihikari salted rice musubi)
Weekday Daytime ①11:00-12:30 ②11:30-13:00 ③13:15-14:45 ④13:45-15:00
Nighttime ①18:00-19:15
Weekends and holidays Daytime ①11:00-12:30 ②11:30- 13：00 ③13：15～14：45 ④13：45～15：00
Night time ①16：30～17：45 ②17：00～18：15 ③18：00～19：15
*Only visitors with their own car or return bus plan (because the last bus leaves after 17：07)

[Snack plan] (using Kamakura) ＋(+ baked sweet potato + oshiruko or amazake (sweet sake) per person)
Weekdays ①10:00-11:00, ②15:30-16:30, ③16:00-17:00, ④16:45-17:45
Weekends and holidays ①10:00-11:00, ②15:30-16:30
*Friday ③16:00-17:00 is open as 【Doburoku Plan】. Therefore, the "Snack Plan" will be closed.

Web reservations are recommended for both plans. Please check our website for details.
Why don't you try making a kamakura in Iiyama this winter?

Combine your favorite train with lodging or a day trip plan for a great travel experience!

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JR East View Dynamic Rail Package is a variable price individual travel product available only on the web. Depending on the timing and conditions of your application, you may be able to get a discount as early as the day of departure. We also offer one-day trip plans! Enjoy your own unique trip according to your schedule and purpose.
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