Takayama Festival 2027: Spring and Autumn Dates, Schedule and Where to Stay
Facts checked against official sources: 2026-10-27
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The Takayama Festival fills the old town with ornate festival floats (yatai) twice a year, in spring and autumn. The dates don't move from year to year, so you can plan well ahead. This guide uses the schedule published by Hida Takayama Tourism, the city's official tourism site.
Takayama Festival at a glance
| Spring Festival (Sanno Matsuri) | Autumn Festival (Hachiman Matsuri) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | April 14–15 every year (2027: Wednesday–Thursday) | October 9–10 every year (2027: Saturday–Sunday) |
| Shrine | Hie Jinja | Sakurayama Hachimangu |
| Floats | 12 | 11 |
| Night festival | First night, about 100 lanterns lit on each float | First night, about 100 lanterns lit on each float |
| Area | South of Yasugawa Street, around Takayama Jinya | Varies by festival; see the official map for the year |
Sources: Hida Takayama Tourism, Takayama Festival; Spring Takayama Festival, as of October 2026. Weekdays calculated from the fixed dates.
Hida Takayama Tourism describes it as one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan, said to date from the late 16th to 17th century (Hida Takayama Tourism).
What is the Spring Takayama Festival schedule?
| Event | April 14 | April 15 | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Float display | 9:30–about 15:00 | 9:30–about 16:00 | Takayama Jinya (Otabisho), plus Sanmachi/Kamininomachi (14th) or Kamiichinomachi/Shinmeimachi (15th) |
| Karakuri puppet show | 10:00 and 14:00 (about 50 min) | 10:00 and 14:00 (about 50 min) | Takayama Jinya (Otabisho) |
| Shrine procession | 12:45 from Hie Shrine, ends about 16:00 at Otabisho | 12:30 from Otabisho, ends about 15:30 at Hie Shrine | Through town |
| Night festival (yomatsuri) | From 18:00, starting near Nakabashi Bridge | — | Old town |
Source: Hida Takayama Tourism, Spring Takayama Festival, as of October 2026. Check the page for the year you go.
Three floats perform the karakuri puppet show: Sanbaso, Ryujin-tai and Shakkyo-tai. The tourism office also streams the puppet show on its YouTube channel (same source).
If it rains: the procession, float display, puppet show and night festival are cancelled and not postponed. Depending on the weather, you may be able to see floats in their storehouses instead (same source). Have a backup plan, such as the Floats Exhibition Hall below.
What about the Autumn Takayama Festival?
The Autumn Festival (Hachiman Matsuri) is held on October 9–10 for Sakurayama Hachimangu, with 11 floats and lanterns lit on the first night (Hida Takayama Tourism). In 2027 it falls on a weekend. Hida Takayama Tourism publishes the detailed autumn schedule ahead of each festival; check its festival pages before you go.
Can you see the floats on other days?
Yes. The Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall shows floats from the autumn festival: four of the 11 are on display at a time, rotated in March, July and November. It is open daily, 9:00–17:00 from March to November and 9:00–16:30 from December to February; adult admission is ¥900; about 20 minutes on foot from JR Takayama Station (Hida Takayama Tourism, as of October 2026).
Where should you stay for the Takayama Festival?
Stay in Takayama itself if you can: the float display starts at 9:30 and the night festival at 18:00, and the Limited Express Hida takes about 2 hours 20 minutes from Nagoya (JR Central). Book early for both festival dates. The station area is a short walk from the festival area; see where to stay in Takayama. Takayama City adds an accommodation tax of ¥100–¥300 per person per night (Takayama City).
If Takayama is full, Gero Onsen is about 45–60 minutes away by train (JR Central); see Gero Onsen guide. The Hida Furukawa Festival follows on April 19–20, about 15 minutes away by train (Hida City tourism); see Hida Furukawa or Takayama?.
Tips for festival days
From Hida Takayama Tourism's festival page (as of October 2026):
- Crowds are heavy: give way to others and don't block the parade for photos.
- Don't touch the floats, and keep your distance when they are on display.
- There are no rubbish bins for visitors; take your rubbish with you.
- Smoking is not allowed in the old town.
- Watch for open roadside gutters, especially during the night festival.
Before you go: you'll rely on your phone for live festival updates, train times and maps. Our Japan eSIM guide explains how much data to get; Yesim's Japan plans start at $4.44 for 1 GB, valid 30 days from first connection (as of October 2026).
FAQ
When is the Takayama Festival in 2027?
The Spring Festival is on April 14–15, 2027 (Wednesday–Thursday) and the Autumn Festival on October 9–10, 2027 (Saturday–Sunday). The dates are fixed each year (Hida Takayama Tourism).
What time is the karakuri puppet show at the Spring Takayama Festival?
At 10:00 and 14:00 on both April 14 and 15, about 50 minutes each, at Takayama Jinya (Otabisho) (Hida Takayama Tourism, as of October 2026).
What happens if it rains during the Takayama Festival?
The procession, float display, puppet show and night festival are cancelled and not postponed; you may be able to see floats in their storehouses depending on the weather (same source).
Can I see the Takayama Festival floats outside festival days?
Yes, at the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, open daily, ¥900 for adults, with four autumn-festival floats on display at a time (Hida Takayama Tourism).
Festival schedules change and depend on the weather. Check Hida Takayama Tourism before you go. Facts last checked: 2026-10-27.
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