culture & tradition · Japan
Takayama Spring Festival (Sanno Matsuri)
春の高山祭（山王祭）
The short answer
The spring half of the Takayama Festival is the annual festival of Hie Shrine, held in the southern part of Takayama's old town. Twelve ornate yatai floats are displayed, some with mechanical marionette performances, and there is an evening float procession.
Where
Takayama
Country
Japan
When
annual, 14-15 April
Last held
2026-04-14 to 2026-04-15
Next edition
2027-04-14 to 2027-04-15
Next dates are
calendar
Organiser
Hie Shrine (contact: Takayama City Tourism Division)
Visitors
about 180,000 visitors expected over two days (2026, city forecast reported by Japanese press; not a final count)
Good to know
The Takayama Festival consists of two separate festivals (spring and autumn), listed here as two rows. Dates are fixed regardless of weekday. Floats stay in their storehouses in rain and the evening procession may be cancelled. Free to watch; accommodation in Takayama sells out early. The visitor figure is a pre-event forecast found through a search summary of Japanese press.
Kungfucius says: Floats older than most countries, pulled through the old town. Kungfucius walks behind and says 'sugoi' a lot.
Official website ↗