The Sanno Matsuri celebration is an annual festival held at Hie-jinja Shrine in Takayama. It is a city located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. This festival takes place from April 14 to 15. It is one of the three biggest festivals in Takayama, the others being the Spring Festival and the Autumn Festival.
History of the Sanno Matsuri Festival
Sanno Matsuri has a long history dating back over 300 years. Thus, it began as a celebration to commemorate shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu’s visit to Takayama in 1649. From then on, the festival became an important event in the city, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
Program of the Sanno Matsuri festival
The festival is famous for its magnificent processions. The processions thus pay homage to the gods of the Hie-jinja sanctuary. They include decorated floats, called yatai. Men in traditional clothing pull the floats through the city streets.
The highlight of the festival is the procession on April 15, which includes two spectacularly decorated yatai. Indeed, the first yatai, called the “yatai Hoteitai”, is decorated with wooden sculptures. These sculptures represent mythical characters and animals. Then, the second yatai, called the “Sarutahiko yatai”, is decorated with images of gods and goddesses.
Teams of yatai carriers pull these two yatai through the streets of Takayama. They must perform synchronized movements to move the heavy carts across the city. Additionally, musicians who play traditional Japanese instruments, such as taiko drums and shakuhachi flutes, accompany the processions.
The festival is also famous for its religious ceremonies, which are held to honor the gods of Hie-jinja Shrine. These ceremonies include traditional dances and offerings of food and drink.
If you have the opportunity to visit Takayama in April, don’t miss the opportunity to take part in this incredibly colorful and lively festival.
Tips for getting to the festival
To get to Sanno Matsuri in Takayama, here are some options:
- By train: The JR Takayama and Hida train lines serve Takayama City. You can take a train from Tokyo or Kyoto to Takayama Station. Then you will take a taxi or a bus to go to Hie-jinja Shrine.
- By bus: There are several bus companies serving Takayama from major cities in Japan. Buses arrive at Takayama Bus Station, from where you can take a taxi or bus to Hie-jinja Shrine.
- By car: If you have a car, you can drive to Takayama from major cities in Japan. There are several parking lots in the city. But they can be crowded during the festival.
Once you are in Takayama, you can get to Hie-jinja Shrine on foot, by taxi or by bus. The festival takes place in downtown Takayama. It is therefore easy to get around on foot to attend the different activities and processions.
We recommend planning your trip in advance and booking your accommodation in Takayama. Because many visitors come to the city to attend the festival.
Click here for more information on the Takayama Tourism Office website.