Takayama Festival
高山祭FestivalApr 14, 2027Dates projected
The Takayama Festival brings out Edo-era floats in April and October, and it suits travellers who want one of Japan's great float festivals inside a walkable old town; the dates never move to a weekend, so plan the trip around them.
Dates and hours
- October 9, 2027 to October 10, 2027Projected from past yearssourcechecked Oct 11, 2026
- April 14, 2027 to April 15, 2027Projected from past yearssourcechecked Oct 11, 2026
- October 9, 2026 to October 10, 2026Confirmedsourcechecked Oct 11, 2026
Date rule: The spring festival (Sanno Matsuri) falls on 14 and 15 April and the autumn festival (Hachiman Matsuri) on 9 and 10 October every year.
Takayama Festival is the shared name for two separate festivals that began in the late 16th and 17th centuries. The spring Sanno Matsuri belongs to Hie Shrine and the southern half of the old town, and the autumn Hachiman Matsuri to Sakurayama Hachimangu and the north. The float procession was named an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1979, and in 2016 UNESCO added it to its list of float festivals.
In spring, 12 floats line up in the upper town on 14 and 15 April. Three of them, Sanbaso, Ryujin-tai and Shakkyo-tai, stage marionette shows in front of the otabisho, where teams pull dozens of strings to work each puppet. On the night of the 14th each float lights about 100 lanterns and rolls slowly back to its storehouse while the teams sing Takai Yama.
In autumn, 11 floats gather on 9 and 10 October, and Hotei-tai performs twice a day in the shrine grounds. On the afternoon of the 9th four floats roll through the town, an event only the autumn festival has, and the Yoimatsuri lights them up that evening.
Worth knowing
- Stand near the otabisho in spring or the Hachimangu grounds in autumn for the puppet shows, and arrive well before the morning performance.
- See the night festival on 14 April or the Yoimatsuri on 9 October, when each float carries about 100 lanterns.
- Two of the four floats that roll through town on 9 October change each year by lottery, while Kagura-tai and Hoo-tai roll every year.
Quick answers about Takayama Festivalよくある質問
When is the Takayama Festival in 2027?
The spring festival falls on 14 and 15 April 2027 and the autumn festival on 9 and 10 October 2027, the dates it keeps every year.
What is the difference between the spring and autumn Takayama Festivals?
The spring festival belongs to Hie Shrine and brings 12 floats to the southern old town. In autumn Sakurayama Hachimangu hosts 11 floats in the north.
Is the Takayama Festival free?
Yes. The floats, processions and puppet shows take place in the streets and shrine grounds.
What are the opening hours of Takayama Festival?
Takayama Festival is open the puppet floats perform twice a day, in the morning and the afternoon, on both days of each festival. The spring night festival runs on the evening of 14 April and the autumn Yoimatsuri on the evening of 9 October.