Nakanosawa Onsen Snow Woman Procession

I'm originally from Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, and have loved Nakanosawa Onsen since I was a child. Soon after I started Yokaiya, I had a connection with the Nakanosawa Onsen youth group. It had been a warm winter this year, and the number of visitors to the hot springs was decreasing, so I asked, "Can we call a Yuki-onna?" and suddenly started a "recruitment for Yuki-onna" campaign on social media, which led to the project starting by chance. It has been going on for over five years, and more and more customers are coming to see it from all over the country. (As of 2023)

In the extreme cold of minus 9 degrees Celsius, the snow-white mountains are lit up in the blue of the Yuki-onna. This is a fantastical performance that combines the traditional fire festival "Toshi no Kami" (God of the Year) to pray for good health and long life, with the Yuki-onna praying for snow in front of a pillar of fire. Other events include New Year's calligraphy by a fox spirit using a large brush, and a dance performance by a group of foxes playing Japanese drums, which continue to fascinate the audience. This is growing into a large project that can attract as many as 50 Yuki-onna and spirits from all over the country.