Takayama Matsuri

Gifu · Float procession

Carved and lacquered floats with marionettes, paraded through Takayama in April and again in October.

Dates

9 to 10 October 2026

The autumn Hachiman Matsuri, held by Sakurayama Hachimangu in the north of the old town.

Two separate festivals each year: the Sanno Matsuri on 14 and 15 April, and the Hachiman Matsuri on 9 and 10 October.

Dates checked against the official site on August 20, 2026

Takayama holds two festivals a year, and they are not the same event in different seasons. The spring Sanno Matsuri belongs to Hie Shrine and covers the south half of the old town; the autumn Hachiman Matsuri belongs to Sakurayama Hachimangu and covers the north. Each brings out its own set of yatai, tall floats built by Hida carpenters and carrying karakuri marionettes worked by hidden rods and strings from inside. The marionette performances are the thing to time your day around. In the evening the floats are hung with lanterns and pulled through the streets, which is worth staying for even in April cold.

Getting a good spot

Both festivals are two days, and the karakuri performances happen at set times at set spots. Check the schedule on arrival and stand at the second performance rather than the first, which is where the tour groups go.

Where it happens

Takayama Old Town Main site Beautifully preserved Edo-period merchant streets with sake breweries, traditional shops, and morning markets.

Access

Common questions

When is Takayama Matsuri?

Twice a year: 14 and 15 April for the spring Sanno Matsuri, and 9 and 10 October for the autumn Hachiman Matsuri. They are separate festivals with different floats and different parts of town.

Is the spring or the autumn festival better?

They are comparable in scale. Spring often coincides with the cherry blossom in Takayama, and autumn with the colour in the Hida mountains, so the surroundings decide it more than the festival does.