About the festival
Takayama Autumn Festival brings ornate yatai floats to Sakurayama Hachimangu and the old streets. Carved details and mechanical karakuri puppets are as much a draw as the procession.
Who is it for?
Craft lovers and visitors who want to combine a traditional festival with Takayama's old town.
Photo: Sjaak Kempe from Groningen, The Netherlands · CC BY 2.0
Original date: 2013-10-09 03:53. Original image or Commons thumbnail; no additional edits.
Dates and times
9–10 October 2026
Upcoming confirmed edition. Times use JST. See the official programme for session times and changes.
Venue and parade route
Takayama · 高山
Sakurayama Hachimangu, its Omotesando approach and the Shimomachi district form the autumn venue. Parade and evening-float routes vary by program; the spring festival uses Hie Shrine instead.
櫻山八幡宮・下町一帯
The map pin marks a reference venue, rather than every entrance or the full parade route.
Getting there by train or bus
- Take the JR Limited Express Hida from Nagoya to Takayama, then walk through the old town toward Sakurayama Hachimangu.
What to see
- Ornate yatai floats
- Karakuri puppet performances
- First-night float displays
History and origins
The wider Takayama festival tradition dates to around the late 16th or early 17th century. The autumn Hachiman festival gives thanks for the harvest.
Planning your visit
Our editorial suggestions for planning your trip.
Plan around a puppet-performance time and look at float carvings between events. Rain can keep the floats indoors.
Places to visit nearby
Sanmachi Historic District
三町伝統的建造物群保存地区
Historic merchant streets with wooden shopfronts.
Explore the shops, then walk toward Shimomachi; fit the walk around the puppet-performance schedule.
These stops and the suggested order are editorial recommendations. Check each venue's opening hours and festival-day road closures before travelling.
Takayama Autumn Festival: common questions
When is Takayama Autumn Festival?
9–10 October 2026 These dates refer to the stated edition; they do not confirm dates for a later year. Times are Japan Standard Time (JST).
Where does Takayama Autumn Festival take place?
Sakurayama Hachimangu, its Omotesando approach and the Shimomachi district form the autumn venue. Parade and evening-float routes vary by program; the spring festival uses Hie Shrine instead.
How do I get to Takayama Autumn Festival by public transport?
Take the JR Limited Express Hida from Nagoya to Takayama, then walk through the old town toward Sakurayama Hachimangu.
Is the autumn festival held at the spring festival's shrine?
No. Autumn centers on Sakurayama Hachimangu and Shimomachi, while spring centers on Hie Shrine.
Official sources
- Festival and visitor guide 1 (www.hida.jp) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 2 (www.hidatakayama.or.jp) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 3 (www.japan.travel) ↗
Sources reviewed: .