Matsuri no Mori

The Matsuri no Mori (まつりの森 ミュージアム) is located just outside Takayama's city center and celebrates the iconic Takayama Festival. Known as one of Japan’s three most beautiful festivals, it takes place in spring and autumn, alongside Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and the Chichibu Yomatsuri.

At Matsuri no Mori, visitors first walk through a 50-meter hallway that leads to the main underground exhibition space, which has a cave-like atmosphere. The hallway features eleven miniature festival floats, a third the size of the actual ones used in the autumn festival, and golden-lacquered folding screens depicting famous floats from other cities, including Kyoto. The main exhibition showcases life-sized replica floats and karakuri dolls—puppets featured prominently in the Takayama Festival. Visitors can enjoy demonstration performances of these mechanical dolls.