Takayama Festival: One of Japan's Three Great Festivals, Hida's Gorgeous Float Procession

Japan's Three Most Beautiful Festivals

Takayama Festival is a Takayama City, Gifu festival counted as one of "Japan's Three Most Beautiful Festivals." Held twice a year, the spring "Sanno Festival (April 14-15)" and autumn "Hachiman Festival (October 9-10)" are collectively called "Takayama Festival."

Gorgeous Floats

The greatest highlight of Takayama Festival is the gorgeous floats called "yatai." 11 floats (spring) and 11 floats (autumn) are also called "moving Yomeimon gate" concentrating the Edo period's finest craftsman techniques in carvings, lacquer, metal fittings, and tapestries. Some floats also perform a puppet show called "Karakuri Houno (dedicated mechanical puppet performance)."

Float Hall

Takayama City has "Takayama Yatai Hall" exhibiting floats year-round. Even outside the spring/autumn festival periods, the impact of gorgeous floats can be experienced up close.