Japan Events and Festivals

4/14/2008 - 4/15/2008Takayama Spring Festival

The charming old city of Takayama has two famous festivals, one at the height of the autumn colours and this slightly larger one at cherry blossom time. 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 Hie Jinja, which serves the southern half of Takayama, whereas the autumn festival belongs to Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine in the north of the city.