Takayama Festival (original) (raw)

The Takayama Festival (���R��, Takayama Matsuri) is ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals alongside Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and the Chichibu Yomatsuri. It is held twice a year in spring and autumn in the old town of Takayama and attracts many spectators.

The Spring Festival (April 14-15) is the annual festival of the Hie Shrine in the southern half of Takayama's old town. Because the shrine is also known as Sanno-sama, the spring festival is also called Sanno Festival.

Likewise, the Autumn Festival (October 9-10) is the annual festival of the Hachiman Shrine in the northern half of the old town, and the festival is also known as Hachiman Festival.

The spring and autumn festivals have similar attractions and schedules. Each festival features its own set of about a dozen festival floats (yatai). During the year, the tall and heavily decorated floats are stored in storehouses, which are scattered across Takayama's old town (except the floats exhibited in the Yatai Kaikan). A set of replica floats are, furthermore, exhibited year round at the Matsuri no Mori festival museum.

Main attractions of the Takayama Festival

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  Display of festival floats
  From morning to late afternoon of both festival days, the festival floats (yatai) are displayed in the streets of Takayama. When the weather is bad, the floats remain in their storehouses, but the doors of the storehouses are opened so that visitors can still see them.
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  Karakuri Performance
  Several of the festival floats are decorated with so called karakuri ningyo, sophisticated mechanical dolls that can move and dance. Karakuri doll performances are held on both days of the festival at dedicated times and places and last about 50 minutes. During bad weather, the performances take place in the floats' storehouses.
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  Mikoshi Procession
  A portable shrine (mikoshi) is carried around the town in a parade during the two days of the festival, starting and ending at the respective festival's shrine. The mikoshi contains the shrine's kami (Shinto deity). The festival is the only time of the year when the deity leaves the shrine to be carried around town.
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  Evening Festival
  In the evening of the first day, the festival floats are pulled through the streets of Takayama's old town for 2-3 hours. The evening festival (yomatsuri) is considered the festival's highlight by many visitors. In case of bad weather, the evening festival may have to be canceled.

The Takayama Festival is a very popular event, visited by several hundred thousand people from across Japan and the world. It gets especially crowded if one or both festival days fall on a weekend or national holiday.

As a result, hotels in Takayama get booked out many months in advance, and it is recommended to make hotel bookings as early as possible. Neighboring towns, such as Furukawa and Gero Onsen can also be used as a base for seeing the festival, but going further than that will make it difficult to see the evening festival.

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    SOY
    Mid-range
    Located in 15-minute bus ride from JR Takayama Station, Guest House & Cafe SOY is surrounded by lush greenery. Free WIFi is provided and free private parking is available on site. The property also provides free pick-up service from JR Takayama Station. Free shuttle bus service is available when check-in, check-out, after dinner. Rooms at Guest House & Cafe SOY are air conditioned and fitted with a seating area. A hairdryer and slippers are provided for your comfort. Shirakawa Village is a 50-minute drive away, while Takayama Old Town is a 20-minute away from the property. Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village can be also reached in 12 minutes by car from Guest House & Cafe SOY.
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    Hidaji (Adult Only)
    Luxury
    Nestled between untouched nature in the tranquil Northern Alps area, Hidaji offers spacious Japanese-style accommodation with traditional architecture. Guests can also request for massages and relax in the public hot-spring baths. JR Takayama Station is a 60-minute bus ride away. The air-conditioned rooms have tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. Each has a heated Kotasu table, a TV, a fridge and an electric kettle with green tea bags. All rooms come with an en suite bathroom and Yukata robes are provided for all guests. Free Wi-Fi is available in the public areas and you can look out into the traditional garden. Local gifts can be purchased at the souvenir shop. A safety deposit box and luggage storage is provided at the front desk. Traditional multi-course meals featuring Hida beef and local vegetables are served at the dining room. Fukuchi Onsen Bus Stop is a minute's walk from the property, while a free shuttle is available from Fukuchi Onsenguchi Bus Stop. Hidaji is a 25-minute drive from Shinhodaka Ropeway and a 40-minute drive from Kamikochi. Norikura is a 40-minute drive away.
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    Auberge Hidanomori
    Mid-range
    Reopened after renovation in 2022, Auberge Hidanomori is situated in quiet hills, a 10-minute shuttle ride from JR Takayama Station. The property offers free WiFi access in rooms and in public areas including the shared TV lounge and the terrace. Each room has air-conditioning and heating facilities at Hidanomori Auberge. Bathrooms are shared. Free toiletries are provided. Guests here can enjoy outdoor activities like hiking or walking through the on-site garden, or just simply unwind at the shared lounge with some tea. Free on-site parking is also available. Breakfast is served in the dining hall starting at 07:30 daily. Freshly baked bread, salad, yogurt, tea and coffee are served, while Italian cuisine is served for dinner. Meals require advance reservations. From Auberge Hidanomori, Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village and Takayama Jinya are within a 10-minute drive.
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  • 
    Sumiyoshi Ryokan
    Luxury
    Located just a 1-minute walk from popular Miyagawa Morning Market in the heart of Takayama, Sumiyoshi Ryokan offers homely Japanese-style accommodation in the historic townhouse building. Free WiFi is available at the lobby and guestrooms. This hotel was selected as one of the Top 25 B&Bs and Inns in Japan by TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award 2015. The inn is a 12-minute walk from JR Takayama Station. Takayama Jinya, an old government building, is a 7-minute walk away, and the streets full of old merchants�f houses can be reached within a 10-minute walk from the property. Rooms are fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding. A low table and a TV with satellite channels are provided. Guests can relax in the room with free green tea. Ryokan Sumiyoshi has a spacious public baths and a small Japanese garden. There are many antiques like pots and samurai armours displayed at the lobby. Carefully prepared Japanese multi-course dinner, including Hida Beef sukiyaki dish, can be enjoyed at the guest room. Guests can choose to have either Japanese or Western breakfast to satisfy their appetite in the morning.
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  • 
    Oyado Yamakyu
    Mid-range
    Yamakyu features classic Japanese-style accommodations with free Wi-Fi. Indoor and outdoor public baths are available for guests to relax in. JR Takayama Train Station is a 20-minute walk away and a free shuttle service is provided from the station. The air-conditioned rooms feature tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. A TV, yukata robes, safety box, towels and green tea bags are provided. Includes a private toilet but bathrooms are shared. Guests can enjoy the beautiful Japanese garden or request for relaxing massages. There are 1 computers at the lobby that guests can use. Complimentary coffee and a computer with free internet access are available as well. Local products can be purchased at the souvenir shop. There is a washing machine on site that guests can use for an additional fee. A traditional multi-course meal is served for dinner and a Japanese set menu is available for breakfast. All meals are served at the dining room. Yamakyu Inn is a 5-minute walk from Old Town, Takayama Jinya and the morning market. Hida No Sato Folk Village is a 20-minute bus ride away.
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  • 
    Mozumo (Adult Only)
    Luxury
    Situated in a tranquil area in Gifu Region, a 52-minute drive away from JR Takayama Station, Mozumo boasts a hot-spring bath and rooms decorated with modern Japanese interior. Free WiFi and free private parking is available on site. Guests can savour hoba miso, a regional favorite, for breakfast. Rooms with contemporary Japanese design are fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and come with a private open-air bath. Also comes with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a seating area with low table. The public bath and shared lounge offers views of the private forest. Guests can relax with massage at an additional charge. Various activities can be enjoyed in the surroundings, including skiing and fishing. Takayama Old Town is a 50-minute drive away, while Shirakawago can be reached with a 90-minute drive from Mozumo.
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  • 
    Takayama Ninja House
    Budget-friendly
    Takayama Ninja House available for Covi d measures is located in a conservation area in one of the few historic towns remaining in Japan, where is Takayama city. It takes only a 8 minute walk to Takayama�fs most famous street Sanmachi-dori. Takayama Ninja House features air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi throughout the property. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Private parking (1,000 yen per night) is available on site. A free shuttle service is available upon prior request at the property. Museum of Local History is 300 metres from Takayama Ninja House, while Takayama Old Town is 400 metres away.
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  • 
    Iroriyado Hidaya
    Luxury
    Situated 1.6 km from Takayama Station, Iroriyado Hidaya is a recently renovated 4-star accommodation in Takayama, boasting a garden, a shared lounge and private parking. It is located 2 km from Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village and features luggage storage space. The ryokan has parking on-site, a hot spring bath and full-day security. All units in the ryokan are equipped with a kettle. With a shared bathroom fitted with a bidet and bathrobes, units at the ryokan also boast free WiFi. At the ryokan, each unit has air conditioning and a flat-screen TV. ? la carte and continental breakfast options with warm dishes, fresh pastries and fruits are available each morning at the ryokan. Gero Station is 47 km from Iroriyado Hidaya, while Fuji Folk Museum is 2.3 km from the property. Toyama Airport is 84 km away.
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    Ryokan Kaminaka
    Mid-range
    Conveniently located just a 3-minute walk from JR Takayama Train Station and registered as an important cultural asset, Ryokan Kaminaka offers traditional Japanese-style accommodation with hot public baths, multi-course Kaiseki dinners served in guests�f rooms, and sleeping arrangements on the tatami (woven-straw) floor. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout. Stepping into the rooms at Kaminaka Ryokan is like stepping back in time with LCD TV and air conditioning. Furnishings include sliding paper screens and a low table with floor cushions, and Yukata robes and green tea are provided. Only a 1-minute walk to Hida Kokubun Temple, the ryokan is a 10-minute walk to the Miyakawa Morning Market and Furui Machinami (Historic Streets). It is a 15-minute walk to Sakurayama Hachiman Temple. On-site parking is free. The ryokan boasts a beautiful Japanese garden, which features a 200-year old Japanese Azalea tree. Luggage can be left at the reception. The Japanese or Western set-menu breakfast is served at the dining room. Kaiseki dinners consist of regional specialities made using fresh seasonal, local ingredients.
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    Relax Hotel Takayama Station
    Luxury
    Ideally located in the centre of Takayama, Relax Hotel Takayama Station offers buffet breakfast and free WiFi throughout the property. This 4-star hotel offers a concierge service and luggage storage space. The property is non-smoking and is set 100 metres from Takayama Station. The private bathroom is fitted with a bidet, free toiletries and a hairdryer. At the hotel the rooms are equipped with air conditioning and a flat-screen TV. Popular points of interest near Relax Hotel Takayama Station include Fuji Folk Museum, Yoshijima Heritage House and Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine. Toyama Airport is 83 km from the property.
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