Takayama Matsuri: One of Japan's Most Famous Festivals

The small town of Takayama is tucked away in the mountains, northwest of Tokyo and northeast of Kyoto. It is famous for its historic district and for Takayama Matsuri, a festival held twice a year: in spring (Sanno Matsuri, on April 14 and 15) and in autumn (Yahata Matsuri, on October 9 and 10).

Takayama Matsuri is considered one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan. It began in the 16th century and attracts visitors from all over the country, along with foreign travelers.

Because of that, travelers should book hotels well in advance, since lodging in the town is limited and fills up quickly during the festival. If you cannot stay in Takayama itself, Furukawa and Gero Onsen are the closest alternatives.

We also recommend reading:

• 7 onsen to visit in Japan
• Setsubun – Throwing beans at Oni to welcome spring
• List of Festivals in Japan – Matsuri in Japanese

How to get to the Takayama Matsuri?

There is no direct train from Tokyo. Travelers first need to go to Nagoya and then continue to Takayama, with the full journey taking about 4 to 5 hours.

From Kyoto, there is an express train to Takayama that also takes about 4 to 5 hours. Be careful not to take the slower service that stops too often and takes much longer.

Another important point is the weather. Since Takayama is in the mountains, it is much colder than other cities at sea level. In April 2006, there was still snow on the fields, and the temperature was around 5 degrees.

I would advise buying gloves and a hat in town, or you may end up freezing, especially at night when the float procession takes place on the first festival day.

Attractions of Takayama Matsuri

The main attractions of the festival are the floats (yatai), which are part of Japan's cultural heritage and are displayed on the streets of the city during these days. If it rains, they are shown in their “garages” at different points around town.

The floats on the streets are truly fantastic: carved in wood or metal, lacquered, painted in fine detail, and decorated with gold leaf. They are true mobile treasures, each one centuries old and a source of pride for this artisan town.

The floats of the spring festival are different from those of autumn: 12 in spring and 11 in autumn, according to websites and travel guides. Around 6:30 PM, the night procession begins, with the floats lit by lanterns and carried through the streets of the city, while children wave from the top.

Some of the floats have their own music, and on others adults and children play flutes, either on top of the float or walking in front of and behind it. The night parade only takes place on the first night of the festival if it is not raining.

On the second day, the schedule is the same, except for the night parade: the floats are displayed on the streets during the day, there are puppet shows at two different times, morning and afternoon, and the daytime procession. On the first day the altar is taken from the temple to another location, and on the second day it returns to the temple, closing the festivities.

If you visit Takayama outside of the festival days, you can see some of the floats at the Yatai Kaikan, which is a special hall that displays 4 of the 25 floats throughout the year. The floats are not always the same; they rotate over time.