Written by Greg Lane
Counterpart to the Takayama Spring Festival, this festival is based around the Sakurayama Hachinmangu shrine.
What happens?
This Takayama festival features large wheeled floats, mikoshi (shoulder borne portable shrines) and marionette performances. There are processions during the day and in the evening.
The surrounding mountains provide a stunning backdrop.
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How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Tokaido Shinkansen headed for Hiroshima. Alight at Nagoya Station, then transfer to the JR Hida Limited Express for Takayama. Alight at Takayama Station. The entire journey takes around 4.5 hours.
The cheaper option is to take a bus. Direct highway buses, both during the day and at night, operate from Shinjuku. These take around 5.5 to 6 hours.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
Oct 9–Oct 10, 2025
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Free
Takayama Station
Use the Japan Rail Pass to get here.
Use the Japan Rail Pass to get here.
Typical weather at this time:
High: 18 ºC
Low: 9 ºC
