Takayama Matsuri

A spring festival held in April in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. Features ornate festival floats over 200 years old, displaying intricate carvings and luxurious decorations. Merges Edo period architecture with contemporary craftsmanship, representing significant cultural value. A regional tradition celebrating the arrival of spring.

A traditional spring festival held annually in April in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, continuing from the Edo period. Featuring magnificent festival floats and lion dances, the festival transforms the entire town into a celebration. The intricately and lavishly decorated floats are considered masterpieces of Oriental festival artistry. Regarded as one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals and acclaimed internationally.

A festival of Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, one of Japan's Three Great Festivals. Held throughout July, the spectacular Yamahoko Junko parade of ornate floats through the city streets is the main highlight. Begun in 869 as prayers to ward off plague, it was inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009, with over 1,150 years of history.

One of Japan's three most beautiful festivals, held twice annually in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture—in spring (April) and autumn (October). The highlight is the magnificent floats equipped with elaborate karakuri mechanical puppets, registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The floats, representing the culmination of Hida craftsman skills, are often called 'moving Yomeimon Gates.'

The annual grand festival of Chichibu Shrine held December 2-3 in Chichibu, Saitama. The spectacular sight of ornate floats and kasaboko illuminated against the winter night sky with fireworks ranks it among Japan's Three Great Float Festivals. Inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, it is known as the pinnacle of winter festivals.

A festival of Kushida Shrine held every July in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka. The highlight is 'Oiyama,' where men race through Hakata's streets carrying 'kaki-yamakasa' floats weighing over one ton. With over 770 years of history and inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, it is a festival embodying the spirit of Hakata people.