Positioned in the Hida expanse of northern Gifu Prefecture is the city Takayama, also called Hida-Takayama, where the yearly autumn festival is celebrated. The old town is filled with light-emitting after the glow of lanterns during the festival. Every year on the 9th and 10th of October, thousands of people gather in the old town of Takayama for the grand festival. A traditional harvest carnival that is held in and around Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine. To reach the venue you will have to take the Hida Limited Express that departs from Nagoya every hour and it takes around 140-150 minutes to reach. One can also visit the city by taking the fixed highway busses and trains.
Festival Time
This festival is held around the harvest time of year and is believed to be a celebration for the successful harvest of the season. However, it is also about welcoming the season to come which is winter. This is believed to be a tradition that has been passed on the generations since the Edo period and even though eras changed and times passed the traditions are still being followed. The harvest season is also the Autumn season and just like Nature’s colorful delight, it is a pleasure to the eyes to witness the colorful boats that are lined up for the festival. To be precise, 11 spectacular floats are lined up and some of them are decorated with marionettes, puppeteers who perform a traditional dance while the floats are lined up. It is a sight to be only seen and not just believed otherwise if not present physically because people that witness these beautiful floats are short for words and can only gasp with disbelief.
The Ritual
Before the arrival of the first float, one can hear loud flute-like sound with flashy drum reverberations to heighten the excitement between the crowds. And then begins the showcase of each Yatai, each crying for itself the craftsmanship that went behind its creation. The event is so organized even without really managing with barricades or something of that sort. The crowd stays at their assigned spots completely glued to the beauty of the Yatais. These original Yatai are being passed down from generation to generation and are now owned by a group that is recognized as Yatai Gumi that maintains the pristine condition of the Yatai floats.
Celebration Ends
The curtain dropping event is marked on the second day by means of the Night carnival when these Yatai are taken to the storehouse entitled the Yatai Gura by the group members of Yatai Gumi. Individuals must give in to the festival and the colors it brings in to enjoy and get the best out of the event. Visitors or locals must not miss the Karakuri Hounou experience which is executed on the Yatai titled Hoteitai, an event that is carnival offerings accomplished by mechanical puppets. This is accompanied by traditional music in the background. You will also witness a doll cross a trapeze termed aya and land just on the back of another doll. The particulars of this event are a loss if missed as the greatness of it lies in its details when seen dolls in acrobatic movements.
