Furukawa Festival

What Is the Furukawa Festival?

The Furukawa Festival is the annual festival of Keta Wakamiya Shrine in Furukawa, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, held each April. Known for combining two contrasting elements—the spirited okoshi-daiko (rousing drum) and the resplendent yatai (float) events, embodying dynamism and stillness—it is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan and is also inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as one of the "Yama, Hoko, Yatai float festivals." It is a spring festival with a history of some 400 years, unfolding against the old townscape of Hida.

History and Origins

The Furukawa Festival is a traditional event that has continued since the Edo period as the annual festival of Keta Wakamiya Shrine. With a history said to span about 400 years, it conveys to this day the spirit of the townspeople of Hida-Furukawa. The festival's centerpiece, the okoshi-daiko, is a spirited rite in which a great drum is beaten while making its rounds through the town in the dead of night, rousing people to the festival; there are various theories about its origins. Meanwhile, the gorgeous floats that each neighborhood takes pride in are adorned with intricate carvings and mechanical karakuri dolls that bring together the skill of the Hida craftsmen, telling the history of townspeople vying in wealth and the finest of artisanship.

Highlights

The greatest attractions are the two contrasting events. In the okoshi-daiko, bare-bodied men carry a great drum, and the "tsuke-daiko" drums sent out from each neighborhood clash fiercely as they try to draw near it, in a spirited and rough struggle that unfolds late at night. By day, in the yatai events, nine gorgeous floats bringing together the skill of the Hida craftsmen process gracefully through the old townscape, with performances of karakuri dolls and children's kabuki. The contrast of roughness and grace is the great charm unique to this festival.

When It Takes Place

The festival is typically held on 19 and 20 April at Keta Wakamiya Shrine and throughout the townscape of Furukawa in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture. As a spring annual festival, its season is spring. The okoshi-daiko on the night of the 19th and the yatai events on both days are the highlights. Visitors are advised to confirm the details of dates and routes in advance through official announcements from Hida City and the local tourism association.

Access

Hida-Furukawa enjoys good access, within walking distance of Hida-Furukawa Station on the JR Takayama Main Line. Just one stop from Takayama Station (about 15 minutes by local train), it can be reached by JR from the directions of Nagoya and Toyama. As it bustles with many tourists during the festival, public transport is recommended.

Around the Area

Furukawa in Hida City is an evocative castle town known for the "Setogawa Canal and White-Walled Storehouse District," where white-walled storehouses line up, and for the beautiful townscape of the Setogawa Canal in which carp swim. At the "Hida-Furukawa Festival Hall," which conveys the skill of the Hida craftsmen, visitors can view the okoshi-daiko and floats all year round. The World Heritage site of Shirakawa-gō and Takayama, famed for its old townscape, are also close, making it an area where one can savor the tradition and nature of the Hida region. Together with the spring festival, one can enjoy a journey that engages with the profound culture of Hida.

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