Come, Snow: Moments of Respite in the Snow Country (Photos)

A canopy of trees shelters a house from snow and wind (Kakunodate, Semboku, Akita Prefecture)

At the Paper Balloon Festival (Nishiki-Chō, Semboku, Akita Prefecture)

At the Paper Balloon Festival (Nishiki-Chō, Semboku, Akita Prefecture)

At the Paper Balloon Festival (Nishiki-Chō, Semboku, Akita Prefecture)

A family waits to shower the passing procession with sake. Bonten Crossing the River (Daisen, Akita Prefecture)

Mochimaki. Throwing mochi to the crowds. Bonten Crossing the River (Daisen, Akita Prefecture)

Grandmother and granddaughter on festival day. Bonten Crossing the River (Daisen, Akita Prefecture)

The ceremonial climax honoring Bonten. Bonten Crossing the River (Daisen, Akita Prefecture)

A young girl browses the Hanawa Morning Market (Kazuno, Akita Prefecture)

Traditional pickled vegetables for sale at the Hanawa Morning Market (Kazuno, Akita Prefecture)

A busy fish vendor - Hanawa Morning Market (Kazuno, Akita Prefecture)

An Akita-breed dog at home in the canine-heavy atmosphere of the Inukko Festival (Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture)

Children waiting for visitors inside a festival igloo (Yokote, Akita Prefecture)

Miniature snow houses on the river bank (Yokote, Akita Prefecture)

Children building miniature houses (Yokote, Akita Prefecture)

A glimpse behind the famous snow houses (Yokote, Akita Prefecture)

Hachinohe Enburi’s brilliant colors (Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture)

One of the stars of the Enburi Festival (Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture)

Three girls after the big dance. Hachinohe Enburi (Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture)

Spring shows its face in the Snow Country (Minami Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture)