Japan Events and Festivals

10/09/2009 - 10/10/2009Hachiman Shrine Festival

The charming old city of Takayama has two famous festivals, one at cherry blossom time and this slightly smaller one at the height of the autumn colours. If your idea of a 'float' is something stuck on the back of a truck, check out these extraordinary pieces of mobile architecture. When the festival began in the 17th century, the wealthy merchants and famously skilled craftsmen of the region were not permitted to put their wealth into houses as that would have shown up the samurai class, but nothing could stop them from constructing these gloriously showy floats. This is the annual festival of the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine, which serves the northern half of Takayama, whereas the spring festival belongs to Hie Jinja in the south of the city.