Takayama is home to two major festivals: the Spring Takayama Festival and the Autumn Takayama Festival. With just under a month to go, the city is preparing for the highly anticipated spring event! Held every April and October, the Takayama Festival is one of Japan’s most stunning traditional festivals. Its elaborate festival floats are recognized as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, making it a must-see experience for visitors interested in Japanese culture.
This year’s Spring Takayama Festival will take place on April 14 and 15. To mark the countdown to the event, a 15-meter-tall banner reading “Hida Takayama Festival” was raised in front of Takayama Station early last week. The large flags were carefully hoisted into place and secured with metal fittings and ropes. In addition, two large lanterns, each standing over two meters tall, were also installed, adding to the festive atmosphere.
A special highlight of this year’s festival is the restoration of the “Ebisu-tai” festival float, which has undergone its first major renovation in over 140 years. With all 12 magnificent floats coming together, this year’s festival promises to be an unforgettable event.
If you’re visiting Japan in April, Takayama is the place to be! Here’s hoping that we have great weather on both festival days!
