From Takayama Station, the festival venues in the old town are a short walk. Buses and taxis are also available.
5
Takayama Matsuri
of in evenementen in Takayama
The Takayama Festival (高山祭, Takayama Matsuri), held in the picturesque old town of Takayama, is celebrated twice a year and ranks among Japan's three most beautiful festivals. The Spring Festival (April 14-15) honors Hie Shrine, also called Sanno-sama, in the southern part of the town, while the Autumn Festival (October 9-10) celebrates Hachiman Shrine in the north. Visitors are captivated by the grand processions, showcasing elaborately decorated floats (yatai) that reflect Takayama's rich craftsmanship.
During the festivals, these historic floats are paraded through the streets, offering an unforgettable experience. While the original floats are stored in town warehouses throughout the year, replicas are displayed at the Matsuri no Mori museum. Whether you visit in spring or autumn, the Takayama Festival is a vibrant celebration of tradition and artistry.
Schedule
Display of festival floats
- When
-
April 14 and 15: 9:30 to 16:00
October 9 and 10: 9:00 to 16:00 (until 17:00 on the 9th)
- Whats happening
-
The festival floats (yatai) are displayed in the streets from morning until late afternoon. If the weather isn’t good, the floats are kept in their storage houses. However, the doors of these houses are opened, allowing visitors to see the floats inside. This ensures that even in bad weather, festival-goers can still admire the impressive floats.
Karakuri Performance
- When
-
April 14 and 15: 10:00 and 14:00
October 9: 12:00 and 14:00
October 10: 11:00 and 13:00
- Whats happening
-
During the Karakuri Performance, some of the festival floats are decorated with karakuri ningyo, mechanical dolls that can move and dance. These performances are held on both festival days and last about 50 minutes. In case of bad weather, the shows are held in the storehouses where the floats are kept.
Mikoshi Procession
- When
-
April 14: Departs the shrine at 13:00
April 15: returns at 16:00
October 9: Departs the shrine at 13:20
October 10: returns at 16:00
- Whats happening
-
During the Mikoshi Procession, a portable shrine (mikoshi) is carried in a parade around town for two days. It starts and ends at the shrine, with the kami (Shinto deity) of the shrine inside the mikoshi. This is the only time of the year when the kami leaves the shrine to travel through the town.
Evening Festival
- When
-
April 14: from around 18:00 to around 21:00
October 9: from around 18:15 to around 20:30
- Whats happening
-
In the evening on the first day of the Takayama Festival, festival floats are pulled through the streets of the old town for 2-3 hours. Many visitors consider this evening event (yomatsuri) the highlight of the festival. However, bad weather could cancel the event. The festival is very popular, attracting hundreds of thousands of people from Japan and around the world. If it falls on a weekend or holiday, it gets even busier.
Hotels in Takayama often get fully booked months in advance, so it’s best to make reservations early. Nearby towns like Furukawa and Gero Onsen are good alternatives for accommodation, though staying further away can make it difficult to see the evening parade.
Getting there
Resources
English
Takayama Matsuri
Official website
Japanese
Spring Festival
Information website
Autumn Festival
Information website
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