Considered one of Japan’s “Three Most Beautiful Festivals”, the Takayama Spring Festival, held annually on April 15 and 16 in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, doesn’t disappoint. Dating back around 400 years, the festival centers on richly ornamented floats, called yatai, that are displayed outside traditional stone storehouses around Takayama Old Town. Seeing their bright colours of red and gold, topped by elaborate roofs, tassels and intricate carvings, is an extraordinary sight, especially when surrounded by billowing clouds of cherry blossom.
Some yatai feature moving and dancing dolls, called karakuri, and visitors can catch performances at set times during the festival. But the highlight of the festival is the evening parade, when the huge yatai are pulled through the streets, accompanied by traditional music, swinging lanterns, and a great deal of effort – it takes a big team to heave such a structure.
And if you miss it in spring, there’s a chance to see the same festival again in autumn, with a backdrop of fall leaves instead of cherry blossom. An equally lovely scene.
While many visitors flock to Kyoto to see cherry blossom set against the city’s spectacular temples and shrines, there’s another spot a short train ride away that offers fewer crowds, and the opportunity to see sakura at both a historical shrine and along a riverbank.
Japan is blooming this Spring and it’s worth taking a look.
