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Takayama Festival

Sanno Festival in spring and Hachiman Festival in fall are called Takayama Festival, known as one of Japan’s Three Most Beautiful Festivals.

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Takayama Festival has been carefully kept for over 300 years in Takayama City, Gifu. It includes the Sanno Festival (Spring Takayama Festival) held at Hie Shrine in April, and Hachiman Festival (Autumn Takayama Festival) at Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine. It is known as one of Japan’s Most Beautiful Festivals.

The Spring Takayama Festival is held on April 14th and 15th, and Autumn Takayama Festival, on October 9th and 10th. Hundreds of people dressed in traditional attire will march led by the lion dance.

The highlight of Takayama Festival is the brilliant floats. 12 of them in spring and 11 in fall are all designated as national important cultural properties. 6-8m-tall and made up of top, middle and bottom layers, they are fashioned by superb craftsmen. You can see their traditional craftsmanship in the detailed carvings and embroidery on the giant banners. The trick crafts on the floats is a must-see. With lanterns on the floats lit, the “evening festival” is tantalizing.

In 2016, Takayama’s “yama, hoko, and yatai float festivals” were registered as “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'' by UNESCO.

Highlights

  • One of Japan’s Most Beautiful Festivals.
  • Sanno Festival in spring and Hachiman Festival in fall are called Takayama Festival.
  • A tradition for hundreds of people dressed in traditional attire to march along the town.
  • Brilliant festival floats, the national intangible cultural properties, are a must-see.
  • In the evening festival, the floats with lanterns lit are tantalizing.

Photos

  • The Spring Takayama Festival is held at Hie Shrine. Sanno Festival

    The Spring Takayama Festival is held at Hie Shrine. Sanno Festival

  • A line of people dressed in traditional attire march (Photo: Spring Takayama Festival)

    A line of people dressed in traditional attire march (Photo: Spring Takayama Festival)

  • Festival floats are lit with lanterns in the evening festival (Photo: Spring Takayama Festival)

    Festival floats are lit with lanterns in the evening festival (Photo: Spring Takayama Festival)

  • The Autumn Takayama Festival is held at Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine

    The Autumn Takayama Festival is held at Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine

  • The trick dolls on the floats are a must-see!  (Photo: Autumn Takayama Festival)

    The trick dolls on the floats are a must-see! (Photo: Autumn Takayama Festival)

  • The floats with detailed craftsmanship are breathtaking (Photo: Autumn Takayama Festival)

    The floats with detailed craftsmanship are breathtaking (Photo: Autumn Takayama Festival)

Reviews

1
  • Way Huang

    被稱為日本最美的三大祭典之一,有春天的山王祭和秋天的八幡祭,不分男女老少全投入的祭典活動,外籍遊客也紛湧到來,飯店房間一房難求。

Details

Name in Japanese
高山祭
Telephone
0577-32-3333 (Takayama City Office Tourism Department)
Performance
Spring Takayama Festival (Sanno Festival) April 14 and 15,
Autumn Takayama Festival (Hachiman Festival) October 9 and 10
Directions
Sanno Festival: From JR Takayama Station, walk 10 min.
Hachiman Festival: From JR Takayama Station, walk 20 min.
Official Website
Spring Takayama Festival (Sanno Festival) (English)
Autumn Takayama Festival (Hachiman Festival) (English)