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Event Guide · Chubu & Hokuriku

Spring Takayama Festival (Sanno Matsuri)

AprilTakayama2027: Apr 14 (Wed) – Apr 15 (Thu), 2 days
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Overview

Overview

The annual festival of Hie Shrine in Hida-Takayama, held every year on April 14 and 15. In the Kamimachi area south of Yasukawa-dori, 12 yatai festival floats are lined up, with karakuri puppet performances, the Gojunko procession, and a night festival in which lantern-lit floats make their way through town. It is said to have already been held around 1652. The Takayama Festival float events are a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and in 2016 they were inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list as part of ‘Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan.’

When
Every year April 14 and 15
Confirmed dates: 2027: Apr 14 (Wed) – Apr 15 (Thu), 2 days
Venue
Hie Shrine, the Otabisho and central Takayama (the Kamimachi area south of Yasukawa-dori)
Official website
https://www.hidatakayama.or.jp/hidatakayama/maturi_spring/
Highlights

Highlights

The biggest draw is the yatai hikisoroe, where the 12 floats, designated National Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties, line up along the springtime streets. The karakuri performances, with string-operated mechanical puppets, and the night festival on the 14th, when lantern-lit floats slowly make their way through town, have a magical atmosphere completely different from the daytime.

Times

Times

Yatai hikisoroe (floats on display)9:30 to around 15:00 (14th) / 9:30 to around 16:00 (15th)

Official information for 2026. The 12 floats are lined up at their designated spots

Karakuri puppet performancesAbout 10:00–10:50 and 14:00–14:50

Twice a day on both the 14th and 15th, performed by three floats: Sanbaso, Ryujintai and Shakkyotai. Official information for 2026

Gojunko (festival procession)12:45 to around 16:00 (14th) / 12:30 to around 15:30 (15th)

On the 14th it leaves Hie Shrine and tours the parish neighborhoods; on the 15th it returns from the Otabisho to Hie Shrine. Official information for 2026

Night festival18:00 to around 20:30

14th only. Each float, lit with about 100 lanterns, makes its way through town. Official information for 2026

Times can change from year to year. Check the official website for the latest information.

Tips

Tips for travelers

  • ✓The night festival is on the night of the 14th only. If you want to see it, plan your trip around the 14th and stay in Takayama
  • ✓Karakuri performances are held twice a day, morning and afternoon, on both days (about 50 minutes from around 10:00 and 14:00 in 2026). They are very popular, so secure a spot early
  • ✓Festival events may be changed or canceled due to weather, and there is no postponement. Updates on the day are posted on the websites and social media of Takayama City and the Hida Takayama Tourism & Convention Bureau
  • ✓In some years the karakuri performances are livestreamed on YouTube, handy if rain keeps you from seeing them
  • ✓JR Takayama Station is about 12 min on foot from the heart of the festival, and the old town about 15 min. You can stroll the old streets between festival events
Access

Getting there

Nearest stations
  • JR Takayama Station (JR Takayama Line)About 12 min on footTo the heart of the festival (around Hie Shrine and the Otabisho)
From major stations
  • Nagoya Station: JR to Takayama Station (About 3 hr)
  • Kanazawa Station: Highway bus to Takayama (About 2 hr)
  • Tokyo Station: JR to Takayama Station (1 transfer) (About 5 hr)
  • Osaka Station: JR to Takayama Station (1 transfer) (About 4 hr)
Extra buses & shuttles
During the festival, a free shuttle bus runs every 20–30 minutes from the temporary parking lot (Takumigaoka) toward Takayama Civic Cultural Hall. Tour buses use the bus-only temporary parking at Sukyo Mahikari headquarters (2026 information)
Getting back
  • During the festival, traffic restrictions such as road closures are in place in the center (in 2026, 22:00 on the 14th to 8:00 the next day, among others). If you drive, use the temporary parking and shuttle bus
  • Crowds head toward Takayama Station around 20:30, when the night festival ends, so allow plenty of time
Open in Google Maps ↗
Crowds

Crowds & best timing

Busiest times
Daytime on the 14th and during the night festival. Even busier in years when it falls on a weekend
Quieter times
Around 9:30, when the floats are first lined up
Time needed
Half a day to a full day to see the floats on display, karakuri performances and the procession. The night festival lasts about 2.5 hours
Weather

Weather & what to wear

Evening temperatures
Takayama’s April normals are a high of 17.0°C and a low of 3.4°C. It gets quite cold during the night festival
What to wear
A light jacket in the daytime; a down jacket or thick coat is needed at night. Wear comfortable shoes
Rain, snow & typhoons
Festival events may be changed or canceled due to weather, and there is no postponement
Where to check for cancellations
Websites and social media of Takayama City and the Hida Takayama Tourism & Convention Bureau, Takayama Festival Support Association (0577-32-7712)
☁ Chubu & Hokuriku weather in April →
Etiquette

Local rules & etiquette

  • !The floats are fragile, so never touch them
  • !Do not block the path of the procession or floats. Follow staff directions
  • !Refrain from using tripods and selfie sticks in crowded places
  • !Take your trash home
  • !At the shrine, bow once before the torii gate and avoid walking down the center of the approach. Watch quietly so as not to disturb the rituals
  • !Public trash bins are rare in Japan. Bring a small bag and take your trash with you.
  • !Smoking while walking is banned in many cities. Use designated smoking areas.
Facilities

Facilities

Toilets
Barrier-free toilets (ostomate-equipped) are shown on the festival guide map (2026 information). They get crowded, so go early
Lockers & luggage
Coin lockers at Takayama Station tend to fill up. It’s best to leave large luggage at your accommodation before heading out
Paying at food stalls
Some street stalls and small shops are cash only, so bring cash as well
ATMs
Convenience store ATMs around Takayama Station
Seven Bank ATMs (inside 7-Eleven stores) usually accept cards issued overseas.
Wheelchairs & strollers
The streets are extremely crowded, so allow extra time when getting around with a wheelchair or stroller
Food

Food

Local favorites
Hida beefTakayama ramen (chuka soba)Mitarashi dango (soy-glazed rice dumplings)Gohei-mochi (grilled rice skewers)
Vegetarian & halal
Vegetarian and halal labels are rare, so it helps to look up nearby restaurants in advance
Tours & tickets for this eventPR
🏨 Where to stay during the event

Accommodation in Takayama gets very busy around April 14 and 15. Book early, or consider staying at a nearby hot spring area

Where to Stay · Agoda

Places to Stay near Spring Takayama Festival (Sanno Matsuri)PR

PRSee more places to stay near Spring Takayama Festival (Sanno Matsuri) on Agoda →

Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.

Attractions

Attractions in Takayama

Experience

Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Takayama

An open-air museum in Takayama where more than 30 buildings, including thatched- and shingle-roofed farmhouses relocated from across the Hida region, are arranged like a village. It's about 9 minutes by Sarubobo Bus from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center, making it easy to combine with sightseeing in Takayama's old town.

See all attractions →
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Events & festivals in Chubu & Hokuriku

January–February

Shirakawa-go Winter Light-up

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Shirakawa-go

Usually a few days in January–February (fully reservation-only)

2027 (41st): 4 days, Jan 11 (Mon, holiday), Jan 17 (Sun), Jan 24 (Sun) & Jan 31 (Sun)

April

Inuyama Matsuri

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya

Usually the first Saturday and Sunday of April (Saturday is the Shigaku-sai, Sunday the Honraku-sai)

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Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Kanazawa

Usually 3 days in early June (the Hyakumangoku Procession is on Saturday; June 5–7 in 2026, procession on June 6)

August

Matsumoto Bonbon

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Owara Kaze no Bon

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Every year September 1–3

Photo coming soonOctober

Nagoya Festival

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2026 (72nd): Oct 17 (Sat) – Oct 18 (Sun), 2 days (no Nagoya Festival processions)

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Dates, times and access are based on official and other primary sources. Only dates confirmed by official sources are shown as “Confirmed dates”; otherwise the usual timing is given.

Last checked: 2026-10-02

PRKlookShirakawa-go & Gokayama World Heritage Day Bus Tour from TakayamaA day tour to the gassho-zukuri villages of Gokayama and Shirakawa-go, departing from and returning to Takayama Nohi Bus CenterView