The festival venues in the old town are a short walk from Takayama Station. Buses and taxis are also available.
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Takayama Matsuri
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Part of Takayama
The Takayama Festival (高山祭) is a spectacular event held twice a year in the charming old town of Takayama, known for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant atmosphere. Ranked as one of Japan's top three most beautiful festivals, it celebrates two important shrines in the town. The Spring Festival, held on April 14-15, honors Hie Shrine (Sanno-sama) in the southern part of Takayama, while the Autumn Festival, celebrated on October 9-10, is dedicated to Hachiman Shrine in the northern area. Both festivals are famous for their impressive processions, where elaborately decorated floats (yatai) are paraded through the streets, showcasing the town's exceptional craftsmanship and tradition.
The historic floats, which are carefully preserved in town warehouses throughout the year, come to life during the festivals, creating a mesmerizing spectacle for visitors. For those who want to experience the floats outside the festival period, replicas are on display at the Matsuri no Mori museum, offering a glimpse into the artistry behind these intricate designs. Whether you visit Takayama in spring or autumn, the Takayama Festival offers an unforgettable experience filled with tradition, culture, and stunning craftsmanship.
Schedule
Display of festival floats
- When
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April 14 and 15: 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
October 9 and 10: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (until 5:00 PM on the 9th)
- Whats happening
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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
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April 14 and 15: 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
October 9: 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM
October 10: 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM
- Whats happening
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During the Karakuri Performance, some of the festival floats are adorned with karakuri ningyo—mechanical dolls that can move and dance. These performances take place on both festival days and typically last around 50 minutes. In the event of bad weather, the shows are moved to the storehouses where the floats are kept.
Mikoshi Procession
- When
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April 14: Departs the shrine at 1:00 PM
April 15: returns at 4:00 PM
October 9: Departs the shrine at 1:20 PM
October 10: returns at 4:00 PM
- Whats happening
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During the Mikoshi Procession, a portable shrine (mikoshi) is carried in a parade around the town for two days. It starts and ends at the shrine, with the kami (Shinto deity) residing 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
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April 14: from around 6:00 PM to around 9:00 PM
October 9: from around 6:15 PM to around 8:30 PM
- Whats happening
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On the evening of the first day of the Takayama Festival, festival floats are paraded through the streets of the old town for 2-3 hours. Many visitors consider this evening event (yomatsuri) to be the highlight of the festival. However, bad weather may cause the event to be canceled. The festival is extremely popular, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from both Japan and abroad. If the festival coincides with a weekend or holiday, it becomes even busier.
Hotels in Takayama often book up months in advance, so it’s advisable to make reservations early. Nearby towns such as Furukawa and Gero Onsen offer good alternatives for accommodation, though staying farther away may make it difficult to catch the evening parade.
Getting there
Resources
English
Takayama Matsuri
Official website
Japanese
Spring Festival
Information website
Autumn Festival
Information website
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