Japanese name：春の高山祭（春の高山祭）
Event period：April
Venue：Gifu
The elegant Sanno Festival, coloring the spring in Hida
【history】
The Spring Takayama Festival is the annual festival of Hie Shrine (Sanno-sama) held on April 14 and 15 in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture.
Its origins are said to date back to the 16th–17th centuries, and it is believed that already during the Edo period, the luxurious floats seen today were in use.
Since Hida Takayama was a territory directly controlled by the Edo Shogunate, craftsmanship flourished, and the region also developed a culture of floats.
The floats of the Takayama Festival are the culmination of this skill and aesthetic sensibility.
Together with the Autumn Hachiman Festival, it is called the ‘Takayama Festival’ and is counted among Japan’s three most beautiful festivals.
【Feature】
１．Luxurious and Gorgeous Floats (Yatai)
Lacquered, gilded, intricately carved, and adorned with mechanical dolls, these floats,
showcasing the peak of Japanese traditional craftsmanship, decorate the town. The floats
are designated as Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan, truly making them a
”moving museum.”
２．Karakuri Dedication
The skillful performances of mechanical dolls on top of the floats are a symbolic highlight of
the Takayama Festival. By skillfully manipulating strings and mechanisms, the dolls dance,
leap, and change expressions, captivating the audience.
３．Night Festival (Yoi-matsuri)
Lanterns are lit, and the floats move through the town at night, creating a magical scene. In
the chilly spring air, the gently swaying lights blend into Takayama’s old town streets,
evoking a beauty reminiscent of Japan’s original landscapes.
【Content】
■ April 14: Eve Festival & Float Parade
During the day, the floats gather in full display, and karakuri performances are offered.
From the evening, the Eve Festival, with floats lit by lanterns parading through the town, takes place, enveloping the area in a magical atmosphere.
■ April 15: Portable Shrine Procession & Float Parade
A portable shrine procession is held as the deity of Hie Shrine visits the town, continuing the elegant festival scenes.
The floats are paraded again, adding a festive vibrancy to the town of Takayama in spring.
How was it? There are still many fun things in Japan. Please be sure to try them when you visit Japan.
Let’s Enjoy！
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