🎎 Takayama Matsuri (High Mountain Festival)

The Takayama Festival has been carefully passed down in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture for over three hundred years. The annual festival of Hie Shrine, known as the "Sanno Matsuri," is referred to as the spring Takayama Festival in April, while the annual festival of Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine, called the "Hachiman Matsuri," is known as the autumn Takayama Festival in October. The Takayama Festival is a collective term for these two festivals and is also recognized as one of Japan's "Three Great Beautiful Festivals." The spring Takayama Festival takes place on April 14 and 15, while the autumn festival is held on October 9 and 10. Hundreds of performers dressed in traditional attire lead the procession through the streets, featuring lion dances. The most spectacular aspect of the Takayama Festival is the luxurious and splendid "Matsuri Yatai" (festival floats). There are 12 floats in spring and 11 in autumn, all designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan. Each float stands about 6 to 8 meters tall and is constructed in three tiers: upper, middle, and lower. These floats showcase traditional craftsmanship, featuring intricate carvings and delicate embroidery made by renowned artisans. Additionally, the "mechanical puppet performances" displayed on the floats are not to be missed. The "Yoi Matsuri" (night festival), where the floats are illuminated with lanterns, is also enchanting and beautiful. In 2016, the "Takayama Matsuri Yatai Events" were registered as one of Japan's "Yama, Hoko, Yatai Events" as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Listed as one of Japan's three great festivals, the "Takayama Festival" refers to the spring Sanno Festival and the autumn Hachiman Festival. It features a traditional parade with hundreds of participants dressed in traditional attire marching through the streets. The luxurious and splendid "festival floats," designated as Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan, are not to be missed. The "night (yo) festival," where the festival floats are illuminated with lanterns, is enchanting and beautiful.