Takayama Matsuri

a Japanese autumn festival of floats

By Kim Lau

Takayama in the Hida region was glazed with good trades, and it was built into a characteristic town with great style and architectures. The community ventured into ornamental float building with exquisite decorations and wood carving, dating back to the 17th century. There are a total of 11 such float, call Yatai for Takayama Autumn festival, and another 12 Yatai for the Spring festival. These Yatai weigh several tons and contain old mechanical dolls (marionette) that give performances on the days of the festival. For the Autumn festival takes place after the summer harvesting period in early October, as a celebration before going into fall. The gathering of the Yatai is at the front of Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine. All locals and tourist awaits the Karakuri performance, featuring the Hotei (布袋), the fortune Budda marionette that needs 9 puppet masters controlling a total of 36 strings. The highlight of the festival occurs on the first night when the tall floats are lit up with chochin lanterns and paraded through town with a light performance. The area around the shrine becomes a big carnival; Townspeople and visitors alike immerse in a festive mood.

Quiet streets before Festival processions

Jimmatai (神馬台) vacated storehouse early in the morning when it was moved to Hachimangu shrine for their yearly gathering.

HOMETAI TOWARDS HACHIMANGU SHRINE FRONT

Yatai-gumi teams manoeuvre the heavy floats to the front of Hachimangu shrine for their yearly gathering.

GATHERING OF YATAI AT SAKURAYAMA HACHIMANGU SHRINE

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KYUHOSHA YATAI

Children and devotees glaze each Yatai.

YATAI ESCORT

A strong Japanese senior in traiditonal clouthing for the Takayama autumn festival.

JIMMATAI , KYUHOSHA & HOMETAI

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exquisite wood carving

from the Kyuhosah Yatai

CHILDREN PARADE

Children accompanied by ladies in their march through Takayama old town during the autumn festival.

AFTERNOON PARADE

Selectred floats goes on the afternoon parade.

Carnival

Hawkers line the streets near Hachimangu shrine for the big Autumn Festival Carnival.

DAIHACHITAI & JIMMATAI

Jimmatai (right) and Daichitai (left) with lighted lantern queuing for their procession to the night parade and festival.

GOD 神

Impressive line up of lighted Yatai ready for the night festival at Takayama city centre. Devotees on Kaguratai at high elevation, feeling of divinity.

Night Festival

At the traffic junction in the city centre of Takayama at Kokubunji Dori with Miyagawa river, the main procession for the night festival. Melacholic tunes accompany the procession with autumnal emotions at the thoguht of the coming fall.