Sanno Festival: Takayama City’s Spring Festival

Narelle Katsumoto
4月9日
読了時間: 6分

Takayama Festival (高山祭) has been one of the oldest running festivals in Japan. The festival offers a unique experience of Japanese culture with its articulated performance of puppet dolls during the day and a parade of intricately designed festival floats that goes through the night. Along with Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Chichibu Yomatsuri in Saitama, it is known as one of the three most beautiful festivals in the country.

If you plan to visit Japan during the equinox seasons, then consider yourself lucky. The festival happens twice a year: one in Spring and the other in Autumn. Although these two festivals are collectively known as “Takayama Festival,” the former is known as the “Sanno Festival” (山王祭) while the latter is referred to as the “Hachiman Festival” (八幡祭). In celebration of the arrival of Spring, let’s take a look at the Sanno Festival.

Takayama Festival’s “Sanno Festival” (山王祭) Takayama City Sanno Festival

What’s it all about?

Every year on April 14th and 15th, the festival takes place on the streets of the south side of Takayama’s Old Town. Hie Shrine (日枝神社), which the locals endearingly call “Sanno-sama” (山王様), hosts the festival. It is home to the god Oyamakui-no-kami (大山咋神), who is the god of the mountains, industry, safety, and protection. During the festival, it is believed that it is the only time when the god travels through the town to see the city and bless the viewers.

A Short History of the Sanno Festival

It is said that the Takayama Festival began between the late 16th and early 17th centuries under a samurai family. The Kanamori clan, descendants of Kanamori Nagachika, ruled the Hida Province, now the northern part of Gifu, from 1585 to 1692. They were known for serving under Japan’s three great unifiers, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

The first official record of the festival dates back to 1708, when festival floats were seen during the Hachiman Festival. About 40 years later, these floats were also brought to the Sanno Festival.

Building these floats brought people together. Each festival group took pride in designing and decorating their own float. When a float needed repairs, it was often made more elaborate, as groups tried to surpass one another and show their skills. Over time, this friendly competition and strong sense of unity turned simple Kagura floats into the impressive ones seen today.

Wealthy merchants, known as dannshu, also played an important role. They provided the money needed to repair and improve the floats, which allowed artisans to create more detailed designs. Influences from places like Nagasaki and Kyoto, such as curtains and tassels, were added. Over time, this led to the creation of the unique Takayama style floats.

What happens at the festival?

The festival happens in a span of two days. The longest time the festival runs is on the first day, April 14th, thanks to the night festival. It starts from 9 am until 9 pm. While the second day, April 15th, only lasts until 4 pm.

Yatai Display (屋台曳き揃え)

Starting the festival is a display of ornate festival floats called yatai (屋台). These yatai are massive wheeled floats that are pulled with ropes by several volunteers. Standing rand with its red and gold body and a black roof, they are decorated with beautiful embellishments such as gold phoenixes, flower patterns, and several symbols.

Eight out of twelve of these are displayed around town for everyone to see. Viewers can take a look at the intricate designs of each float up close and admire the incredible handiwork.

One thing to note is that the locations and viewing times for these displays differ each day. On the 14th, the display runs from 9:30 am to 3 pm along Sanmachi Street. Meanwhile, on the 15th, viewing continues until 4 pm along Shinmeimachi and Kamichinomachi Street.

Karakuri Doll Performance (からくり奉納)

Karakuri dolls are traditional Japanese puppets that are delicately carved from wood. They are either controlled by a puppeteer or powered by clockwork. Its name comes from the word karakuru, meaning “to pull or stretch a thread.” These dolls move carefully and mechanically along with traditional music.

The other four yatai are displayed at the square in Otabisho close to Nakabashi Bridge. Three of these are reserved for the Karakuri performances, specifically the Sambaso, Shakkyotai, and the Ryujintai. The puppet dolls are operated with strings by about six or eight master puppeteers called the tsunakata.

In Shinto ceremonies, performances and traditional contests are often part of the celebration. When puppet dolls were added to the Takayama Festival floats, they became part of these events and eventually became the tradition known as karakuri dedication.

These shows happens twice a day: once in the morning at 10 am and once in the afternoon at 2 pm for 50 minutes. So, if you missed it, you can see it again on the same day or the next day!

Gojunko Procession (御巡幸)

By the afternoon, viewers await to welcome the local god of Hie Shrine, Oyamakui-no-kami. The god is accompanied by about a hundred volunteers wearing kamishimo, traditional samurai clothing from the Edo era; some of these volunteers carry a mikoshi, a portable shrine housing the god, while others guide the parade through the streets.

Along with them are shishimai performers doing the lion dance and tokeiraku performers dressed in striking traditional robes reminiscent of colorful fighting roosters. These performers wear flat straw hats and carry taiko drums and gongs to fill the air with music, creating a festive vibe that all visitors enjoy.

On the 14th, the parade starts at Hie Shrine at 12:45 pm and ends at 4 pm at Otabisho. On the 15th, the route is reversed: the procession starts from Otabisho at 12:30 pm and arrives back at Hie Shrine by 3:30 pm. This tradition has been ongoing for more than 300 years, making Takayama festival one of the oldest festivals in Japan.

Yomatsuri (Night Festival) (夜祭り)

When the sun sets, the most awaited highlight of the festival begins. Around 6 pm on the evening of the 14th, the yatai returns to the public scene but this time with a different look. Adorned with over a hundred lit paper lanterns on each float, they once again grace the viewers with their presence as they slowly make their way from Nakabashi Bridge to the Takayama Traditional Culture and Crafts Square.

Then it ends with the highlight of the festival: the yomatsuri, which means “night festival,” starting from 6 pm and lasting about two to three hours. After finishing the route, the yatai are taken back to their storehouses with a song “Takayama” playing in the background.

Quick Overview of Takayama Spring Festival

When?	April 14th - April 15th April 14th (9 am to 9 pm) April 15th (9 am to 4 pm)
Where?	Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture
Event Highlights	Yomatsuri (night of April 14th) Karakuri doll show (April 14th & 15th) Yatai procession (April 14th & 15th)
Access	From Tokyo Shinkansen ≈ 16,000 JPY 1. JR Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo → Nagoya) 100 to 120 minutes 2. JR Hida Limited Express Train to Takayama Station 140 minutes (1 train per hour) Highway Bus ≈ 8,000 JPY 1. Keio or Nohi Bus (Busta Shinjuku → Takayama) 5.5 hours From Osaka Shinkansen ≈ 11,500 JPY 1. JR Tokaido Shinkansen (Shin Osaka → Nagoya) 50 to 60 minutes 2. JR Hida Limited Express Train to Takayama Station 140 minutes (1 train per hour) Highway Bus ≈ 7,000 JPY 1. Kintetsu or Nohi Bus (Umeda or Namba OCAT → Takayama) 5.5 hours From JR Takayama Station Walk (12 minutes)
Tips	During Rainy Days: Festival continues Cancelled: Gojunko procession, karakuri doll performance, yatai display, and night festival Yatai floats viewing may be available at the storehouse Crowds Heavy crowds during weekends or national holidays Stay at towns nearby (Furukawa or Gero Onsen)
Additional Resources	About Takayama Festival About Festival Floats Procession Map

Takayama City Sanno Festival

Picture Sources:

Sources:

毎週火曜日に世界中を助ける。

Sanno Festival: Takayama City’s Spring Festival

Takayama Festival’s “Sanno Festival” (山王祭) Takayama City Sanno Festival

What’s it all about?

A Short History of the Sanno Festival