| March
1 to April 3 |
Hida Takayama Doll Festival |
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The doll (Hina) festival is celebrated one month later than
the traditional Doll’s Day in Takayama so that the actual
festival day is April 3. Approximately one month before the
festival day, traditional (Hina) dolls such as clay dolls, antique
dolls, Meiji era dolls, etc. are displayed at various locations
throughout the city.
Places: Various locations throughout the city, including tourist
facilities and historic houses such as Hida-no-sato (Hida Folk
Village)
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April 3 |
Hida Live Dolls Festival |
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Single women selected from all over Hida render service at a
Shinto shrine, attired in costumes of the Empress, consort,
ministers, and court ladies. The parade of Live Dolls, as it
winds through the village, looks as if it were right out of
a picture scroll of the Heian period. Rice cakes are scattered
at the end of the festival.
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| April
14 and 15 |
Spring Takayama Festival |
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One of the three most beautiful festivals of Japan: twelve gorgeous
decorative floats are pulled in a festival procession on the
red-colored Nakabashi Bridge and Shinmei-dori (Street); in particular,
karakuri marionettes operated for god on three floats (Sanba-so,
Ryujin-tai, and Shakkyo-tai floats) are the highlight of the
festival. In the evening, a night festival continues while festival
floats are led by the festival procession, which parades through
the streets.
Place: Hie Shrine, etc.
http://www.hidanet.ne.jp/e02/ematsuri/ekigen.htm |
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| Mid
April to Late May |
Travel back in time to the Edo period |
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 You
can take a stroll through the old townscapes of Hida Takayama,
clad in a kamishimo (a ceremonial dress) or kimono (everyday
clothes of the Edo period, about 200 years ago). |
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| Mid
April to Early May |
Cherry trees
in bloom |
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 Hida
Takayama has many fine spots from which you can view magnificent
cherry trees in bloom, such as the Garyu Cherry Tree and the
Shokawa Cherry Tree. |
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| Late
April to Early May |
Excursion
to the grove of the village shrine |
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Annual festival held at each shrine in Takayama City. Spectators
can enjoy various traditional folk dances and music including
worship ceremonies, lion dancing, Tokeiraku, and Urayasunomai. |
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| May
3 and 4 |
Kinzojishi
(Kinzo lion dance) |
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 This
valiant, lively, and original dance is a unique expression of
the story where the evil lion who plays the mischief with the
village is punished by the god Kinzo and the goddess Okame. |
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| May
4 and 5 |
Annual Hida Sosha Festival |
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This is the annual festival
of the grand sanctuary enshrining most guardian gods of Hida.
A worship service attended by approximately 1,000 people is
like viewing an Edo era picture scroll. Do not miss seeing Kaguradai
(a sacred music and dancing platform) which is designated as
a prefectural cultural asset.
Place: Hida Sosha Shrine |
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| First Sunday in April, May and June |
Garakuta Fair (Jumble market) |
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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. |
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What are antique goods? |
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Antiques sold here are old
tools including antique folk crafts and antique arts. The antique
folk crafts are called “getemono” (meaning “weird
things”) in Hida, most of them being tools used at olden
merchant houses: for example, money boxes, tobacco trays, dressing
tables, hibachi (charcoal braziers), iron kettles, pot hangers,
paper lanterns, etc. Antique arts include clocks, Hida’s
unique furniture, china and porcelain ware, Takayama’s
specialty handicrafts such as old Shunkei lacquer ware, old
Shibukusa pottery and Netsuke (ornamental buttons for suspending
a pouch). The antique stalls look like forming a small museums. |
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| May
11 |
Banryu Festival (opening of the climbing season at the Northern
Alps) |
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 This
festival is held each year to pray for the safety of those climbing
the Northern Alps. Praising the great accomplishments of the
holy priest Banryu, who founded the worship of Mt. Yarigatake
and Mt. Kasagatake, representatives of various fields get together
to hold this festival in the Onoue Park clad in fresh verdure.
Following a Shinto ritual, local performing arts such as Torigei
(dance of fighting cocks and hens) and Henbetori (lion dance
representing a legend of defeating evil snake) are dedicated
to god of mountain. |
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| May
15 to Late October |
Opening of hiking season at Mt. Norikura to climbers
Norikura Skyline is open |
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 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. |
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| Mid
May |
Mizubasho in bloom |
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 These
mizubasho (Asian skunk cabbages), which are designated as a
Gifu Prefectural natural treasure, grow abundantly on an area
of about one hectare and display their snow-white flowers across
the entire marsh surrounded by the swampland near the Yamanaka
Pass, 1,375 meters above sea level. |
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| June
26 |
Open-Air Bath Day |
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 The
Oku Hida Hot Springs Village sets June 26 each year, in Japanese
equivoque, as open-air bath day. On that day, a communal open-air
bath is available to the public free of charge, and people are
invited to follow a prescribed walking course and join a stamprally. |
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| Late
June to Mid July |
Lavender in bloom |
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 There
are two parks featuring lavender flowers: the Kiyomi Lavender
Park and Pascal Kiyomi Lavender Garden. In early summer, light-purple
lavender flowers come into bloom, releasing a relaxing fragrance
that floats on the air, suffusing the whole area with their
heady scent.
For further information about the aforementioned events, contact:
Hida Takayama Tourist Information Office (i-Information Desk)
Tel: 0577-32-5328
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Spring