Festivals

Located in Gifu Prefecture, and surrounded by some of Japan’s richest natural areas just below the famous Northern Alps, Takayama is somewhat isolated and distant.  This isolation allowed the city to develop its own distinct culture that combines that of nearby Edo (modern day Tokyo) and Kyoto’s into a new and interesting way. It also has another connection to the aforementioned Kyoto, in that it is host to one of the three most beautiful festivals in the country, the Sanno Festival About Takayama Sanno Matsuri The city of Takayama holds two large festivals a year, one in the spring, and the second in the following autumn. The Spring Festival, also known as Sanno Matsuri (April 14-15, 2020), focuses on the southern part of the old town known as Kamimachi, centering around the Hie Shrine which has a history going back to 1141. With some 1,000 people taking part in the festival’s parade most dressed in kamishimo (samurai costume), the beauty of the Sanno Matsuri comes in the form of the stunning mikoshi portable shrines and ‘yatai’ floats. Dating from the early days of the festival, these floats are each etched with elaborate carvings and are decorated by the dozen local…