🏮 Takayama Aki Matsuri

秋の高山祭

Takayama, Gifu (Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine) · Every year on 9 October

FloatsTraditional performing arts

25 days to go
Rooms around Takayama, Gifu fill up while the festival is on.

The Autumn Takayama Festival (Hachiman Festival) is a traditional festival held every year on October 9 and 10 around Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. Along with the Spring Takayama Festival (Sanno Festival), it is counted as one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals, and in December 2016 it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as the 'Takayama Festival Float Events.' The highlight of the festival is the gorgeous yamaboko (festival floats), which represent the concentrated skill of Hida craftsmen. There are karakuri puppets that perform clever movements, and techniques for turning the floats using wheels called modoshiguruma, offering a spectacular sight. In addition, at the Yo-matsuri, held only on the night of the 9th, floats lit with paper lanterns slowly tour the town, allowing visitors to enjoy a different, atmospheric scene from the daytime.

Getting there

If traveling by car, use permanent parking lots outside the restricted area or the temporary parking lot (Takumigaoka). A free shuttle bus runs between the temporary parking lot and Takayama Civic Cultural Hall (about every 20 to 30 minutes). If traveling by bus, use the Takayama Betsuin parking lot or the temporary bus-only parking lot (Shinko Honbu).