Takayama Festival
takayama festival 高山祭 takayama matsuri takayama japan started th th century festival believed started rule kanamori family correspondence dated place origin year prior date one festival held april october spring takayama festival centered hie shrine shrine also known sanno shrine spring festival also known sanno festival sanno festival held pray good harvest autumn festival giving thanks autumn festival centered sakurayama hachiman shrine referred hachiman festival held crop harvested fall festival one three largest festival japan two kyoto gion matsuri chichibu night festival matsuri festival famous large ornate float yatai roam around city night float date back th century decorated intricate carving gilded wood detailed metalwork similar style art kyoto momoyama period blended element early edo period detailed carving lacquering beautiful decorative metalwork found outside float inside well roof behind panel work amazingly detailed float also “gorgeously decorated embroidered drapery yatai float lined dusk town becomes veiled evening darkness many chochin lantern lit float unique ornament yatai float look even resplendent darkness night float moved around city people wheeled cart bearer required endure load float lit traditional lantern escorted tour city people traditional kimono hakama float reflects district takayama represents craftsmanship hotei tai intricate marionette perform top puppet show registered cultural asset” tall festive float displayed two day festival inclement weather float returned storage house takayama matsuri yatai kaikan store four fall float others stored special storehouse throughout city use inclement weather outer door yatai kaikan open visitor may view float yatai kaikan changed several time year yatai kaikan located northern end takayamas old town – minute walk station yatai kaikan open march november december february admission fee yen marionette made wood silk brocade embroidered cloth operated string push rod within yatai “karakuri mechanical puppet play performed stage superb” puppet like yatai represent skilled craftsman area three marionette “on hotei tai god fortune” require puppet master manipulate string make marionette move lifelike manner gesture turn movement problem puppet part needed repair puppet spring puppet made right whale baleen cannot replaced steel spring baleen whale material used make spring cannot duplicate movement spring made right whale baleen takayama gifu takayama matsuri festivalnhkvideo takayama official website english takayama guide english stepping back time takayama english hidatakayama travel guide wikivoyage english gifu travel guide english gifu crossroad blog tourism gifu english