Takayama Spring Festival (Sanno Festival), one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals

``Takayama Festival Floats Event'' 12 festival floats that have been designated as important cultural properties of the country are assembled to show off the craftsmanship of Hida, which is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Takayama Festival food stall event

Takayama Festival is said to have its origins in the late 16th and 17th centuries. Takayama Festival is a general term that refers to two festivals, the Sanno Festival in the spring and the Hachiman Festival in the fall, and has been carefully preserved by the people of Takayama.

Among these, the Sanno Festival, which heralds the arrival of spring in Takayama, is an annual festival at Hie Shrine (Sanno), the guardian deity of the southern half of the former Takayama castle town. Every year on April 14th and 15th, 12 floats, the treasures of the "Sanno Festival", appear on Kamimachi on the south side of Yasugawa Street, where the festival takes place. Three of them will stage Karakuri performance, and traditional events will also be held during the festival.

The festival dates back to the era of the Kanamori clan, the feudal lord of the Hida domain (1585 to 1692), and floats are said to have originated around 1718.The festival is said to have started around 1718, with karakuri  showing off skillful doll movements. A testimony to the craftsmanship traditions of the city.

At the spring Takayama Festival, 12 ``matsuri floats'', also known as moving Yomeimon gates, are pulled together to showcase their gorgeous appearance. In addition, a festival procession consisting of several hundred people wearing traditional costumes, led by musical accompaniment, court music, and lion dance, will parade the city. At night, each stall lights up about 100 lanterns, creating a gorgeous decoration in the darkness of the night. Takayama Festival raises the spirits of Hida people, it is the pride of the city

A festival procession of several hundred people wearing ancient costumes that makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time.

A grand procession of several hundred people winds through the town, centered around a mikoshi (portable shrine). It features lion dances and guards dressed in kamishimo sugata. After departing from Hie Shrine on the afternoon of the 14th, the procession visits the homes of parishioners. The enshrined deity stays overnight at an inn. On the afternoon of the 15th, the procession leaves from Otabisho and returns to Hie Shrine. The traditional costumes are also a highlight. *Note: Traffic may be restricted in front of Otabisho during the event.

A breathtaking view of gorgeous food stalls

The Takayama Festival stalls that convey the craftsmanship of Hida are designated as important tangible folk cultural properties of the country in both spring and fall, and 12 stalls are lined up in spring. The four stalls, Kaguradai, Sanbaso, Ryujindai, and Ishibashidai, will be pulled out to Otabisho-mae Square (in front of Takayama Jinya) on the west end of Nakabashi, and the other eight stalls will be pulled to designated locations.

Karakuri dolls with fascinating elaborate movements

In front of Otabisho, karakuri performance by Sanbaso, Ishibashidai, and Ryujindai floats will be staged. All three puppets require highly skilled masters to operate by manipulating numerous ropes, and you will be overwhelmed by the delicate yet bold performance of the puppets, which appear to be alive.

*In order to ensure safety and prevent accidents, depending on the congestion situation, entry to the Otabisho-mae area may be restricted even before the Karakuri show begins. (Karakuri dedications are held twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon on both days.)

The stalls lit with lanterns create a fantastic atmosphere

The night festival on the night of the 14th has a fantastical atmosphere that is different from the daytime. Each stall, each with about 100 lanterns lit, slowly travels around town, and after passing the Jundojo, they return to their respective stalls while singing a farewell song called "Takayama." The contrast between the flickering light trails of the lanterns and the jet-black townscape is exceptionally beautiful.