Takayama Autumn Festival: A Celebration of Japan's Autumn Traditions
As summer comes to an end, the town of Takayama comes alive with one of the grandest festivals in the Tokai region. The Takayama Autumn Festival (秋の高山祭), also known as Hachiman Matsuri, takes place every year on October 9 and 10 at Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine in Gifu Prefecture.
Held to celebrate a good autumn harvest, the festival fills the streets with beautifully decorated floats, traditional costumes, lanterns, food stalls, and lively processions.
Thousands of visitors from around the world come to admire the intricate craftsmanship of the festival floats and experience this traditional Japanese celebration.
Admire Takayama's Autumn Festival Elaborate Festival Floats
One of the biggest highlights of the festival is its 11 matsuri-yatai, or festival floats. Each float has its own unique ornaments and intricate designs, making it especially interesting to see them together during the festival.
The floats are displayed around Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine and along Omotesando Street, the front steps of the shrine, during both days of the festival.
The afternoon of October 9 also features the Yatai Parade, where four floats are paraded through the city. As they make their way through the streets, visitors can get a closer look at the detailed decorations and craftsmanship that make these floats so special.
The festival can get very crowded, so if you're planning to take photographs, be careful not to obstruct the parade or get too close to the floats. The yatai are considered “invaluable cultural assets”, so visitors are asked not to touch them.
Watch the Traditional Marionette Performances
Another fascinating part of the festival is the traditional marionette performance held on the Hotei-tai float at the district of Sakurayama Hachimangu.
The performance is carried out by six to eight masters known as tsunakata, who control many strings to move the marionettes. Their detailed and bold movements make the puppets appear almost lifelike
Performances are held twice a day on both days of the festival, with shows taking place in the morning and afternoon at the district. It's one of the festival's most impressive displays and a great opportunity to see the craftsmanship and traditional performing arts that are part of Hachiman Matsuri.
Experience the Festival Procession
The festival isn't only about the floats. A traditional procession also makes its way through the festival area, featuring hundreds of people wearing kamishimo, a type of samurai costume.
A portable shrine carrying the deity travels with the procession, accompanied by shishimai performers performing a lion dance and tokeiraku participants wearing costumes decorated with fiery gamecocks and ringing bells.
The procession takes place on both days, with the route beginning and ending around Omotesando.
See the Festival Come Alive at Night
After dark on October 9, the atmosphere changes completely one of the highlights of the festival: the Yoimatsuri, or evening festival.
The floats make their way through the town, each adorned with about 100 lanterns. Their warm glow creates a spectacular nighttime scene that viewers can enjoy.
Getting to Takayama
Takayama is accessible from several cities in the region. From Nagoya, it would take two hours and twenty minutes on the Hida Limited Express. Highway buses from Toyama and Matsumoto are also an option.
Because thousands of visitors come for the festival, expect heavy crowds around the festival area. Giving way to others and being mindful of your surroundings can help make the experience safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Picture Sources:
Sources:
コメント