■Takayama Spring Festival to Be Held on April 14–15: UNESCO-Listed Festival Floats Take to the Streets
岐阜県高山市で、春の高山祭（山王祭）が4月14日・15日に行われる。日枝神社の例大祭にあたるこの祭は、秋の八幡祭とあわせて「高山祭」と総称され、日本三大美祭のひとつに数えられている。
The Takayama Spring Festival (Sanno Matsuri) will take place on April 14 and 15 in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture. This annual celebration, held in honor of Hie Shrine, is counted among Japan’s three most beautiful festivals and, along with the Autumn Festival (Hachiman Matsuri), collectively known as the Takayama Festival.
祭の起源は16世紀後半から17世紀にさかのぼり、行事は国の重要無形民俗文化財、祭屋台は重要有形民俗文化財に指定されている。2016年には「高山祭の屋台行事」としてユネスコ無形文化遺産にも登録された。
Dating back to the late 16th or early 17th century, the festival is recognized as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. Its elaborately decorated floats, known as “yatai,” are designated Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties. In 2016, the Takayama Festival Float Procession was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
14日は12台の屋台が市内に曳き揃えられ、午後には獅子舞や裃姿の警固など数百人から成る御巡幸（ごじゅんこう）の行列が神輿を中心に町を巡行。神輿は御旅所で一泊する。御旅所前では、三番叟・龍神台・石橋台によるからくり奉納が午前・午後にそれぞれ披露される。夜には約100個の提灯が各屋台に灯され、幻想的な雰囲気の中で巡行が行われる。
On the 14th, twelve yatai will be paraded through the town. In the afternoon, a grand procession known as gojunkō features hundreds of participants, including lion dancers, costumed guards, and portable shrines (mikoshi), which are carried from Hie Shrine to an “otabisho” (temporary resting place), where they remain overnight.
At the otabisho, mechanical puppet performances (karakuri hōnō) are presented twice during the day, showcasing the artistry of floats such as Sanbasō, Ryūjindai, and Ishibashidai. In the evening, approximately 100 lanterns are lit on each float, creating a magical nighttime procession before the floats are returned to their storage houses.
15日も再び屋台が曳き揃えられ、前日に続きからくり奉納が行われる。午後には神輿が御旅所を出発し、夕方には日枝神社へ還御。各屋台は屋台蔵へ戻り、祭は幕を閉じる。
On the 15th, the floats are again paraded and the karakuri performances repeated. In the afternoon, the mikoshi return to Hie Shrine in a solemn procession, marking the end of the festival.
飛騨の匠の技が結集した絢爛豪華な屋台と、地域に根ざした伝統行事を一目見ようと、例年多くの観光客が訪れる。詳細は高山市公式観光サイトで案内されている。
The Takayama Festival draws numerous visitors each year who come to admire the exquisite craftsmanship of the floats and to witness centuries-old traditions passed down through generations. For more information, visit the official festival website.
▶official festival website
https://www.hidatakayama.or.jp/harunotakayamamatsuri/
