Opening of hiking season at Mt. Norikura to climbers – Norikura Skyline is open
May 15 to Late October
This high area consisting of 23 ridges, 7 lakes, and 8 plains is collectively referred to as Mt. Norikura. The highest peak is Mt. Kengamine, 3,026 meters above sea level. You can travel up the mountain along the Norikura Skyline, Japan’s highest-altitude mountain road, to a height of 2,700 meters without stopping.
Garakuta Fair (Jumble market)
First Sunday in April, May and June
An antique fair started in 1982. Held on the first Sunday of the month from April to October. The streets are temporarily closed to vehicles (called “pedestrians’ paradise”) and over 20 art dealers have stalls on the street. You will enjoy looking at olden daily-life utensils while strolling down the street.
Below is the cherry blossom forecast for 7 famous viewing spots in Takayama City.
Enjoy the pretty pink flowers, blooming with the arrival of spring. Having a picnic or a walking while viewing the flowers is the ultimate way to enjoy the season and feel the essence of being Japanese.
The ever-popular Kimono experience is starting again.
Time-trip to the Edo period.
April 14 (Sat) - May 27 (Sun) .
Try on the traditional Japanese attire of Hakama and Kimono and walk around the old streets of Takayama. A fitting service is available. Also, as a privilege, a "tsuko-tegata", or special sightseeing pass, will be included for free admission to the 16 sites within the city as well as a photo service.
Fee: 1,500 yen for 2 hours
Available Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the above period and during the Takayama Festival. Bookings available 9:00am-3:00pm. (Please note that bookings will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.)
Location: Takayama City Memorial Hall (4-15 Shinmei-machi, Takayama City)
Access: 12 minutes walk from JR Takayama station
Websites for more information:
http://www.hida.jp/event/timecapsule.html(Japanese)
http://www.hida.jp/english/activities/experiences/trip-to-the-edo-period-through-a-time-capsule
Takayama Spring Festival, one of the biggest events in Takayama City, is coming soon.
Takayama Spring Festival (Sanno Festival).
April 14 (Sat) and April 15 (Sun).
Takayama Spring Festival is ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals. Twelve luxuriously decorated festival floats (Yatai) are pulled through the streets and the highlight is the dedication of mechanical Karakuri doll performance to the deity by three festival floats (Sanba-so, Ryujin-tai and Shakyo-tai floats). The Evening Festival (Yomatsuri) is also a highlight when the festival floats are pulled through the streets in the evening. (The festival floats will remain in their storehouse in the event of inclement weather.)
Locations: Kami-ichinomachi, Kami-ninomachi, Kami-sannomachi, Katahara-machi, Honmachi, Shinmei-machi and the surroundings of Takayama City
Access: Approximately 15 minutes walk from JR Takayama station
Websites for more information:
http://www.hida.jp/matsuri/harumatsuri.html (Japanese)
http://www.hida.jp/english/events/takayama-festival
Enquiries: Takayama City Tourism Division (0577-32-3333)
*Please check the detailed routes on the maps at places such as the Tourist Information Center.
Mikoshi Procession (Festival Parade)
A portable shrine (Mikoshi) departs the Hieda Shrine at 1:00pm on April 14 and reaches the Otabisho (temporary resting place) at around 4:00pm.
The next day, on April 15, the Mikoshi departs the Otabisho at 12:30pm and returns to the Hieda Shrine at about 4:00pm.
Display of festival floats
From 9:30am to approximately 4:00pm on April 14 (4 floats in the front of the Otabisho and 8 floats at Shinmei-machi Street) From 9:30am to approximately 4:00pm on April 15 (4 floats in front of the Otabisho, 5 floats at Kami-ichinomachi Street and 3 floats at Sanmachi Street)
Dedication of mechanical Karakuri doll performance to the deity
At 11:00am and 3:00pm on April 14 in front of the Otabisho
At 10am and 2pm on April 15 in front of the Otabisho
・Each dedication performance is for 50 minutes approximately.
Evening Festival
The festival floats depart the Nakabashi Bridge of Shimei-machi at 6:30pm and, are pulled through Honmachi to the north, over the Kajibashi Bridge, through the Yasugawa Street to the east and Kamichinomachi to the south. From the Idojundoba (Takayama Museum of History and Art), the floats go to each storehouse.
Video
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