Held on 19–20 April at Ketawakamiya Shrine in the beautifully preserved town of Hida-Furukawa, the Furukawa Matsuri is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. The festival's centrepiece is the Okoshi Daiko, a colossal barrel drum mounted on a large float that is paraded through narrow lantern-lit streets at night, surrounded by hundreds of bare-chested men beating smaller drums in a spirited, chaotic procession. By day, elegant yatai floats carrying mechanical karakuri puppets are pulled through the streets, echoing the splendour of the nearby Takayama Festival. The contrast between the refined daytime floats and the intense nocturnal drum event makes this one of the most dramatic festivals in the Hida region.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Spring
- Month
- Late April
- Region
- Chubu
- Prefecture
- Gifu
- City
- Hida-Furukawa
Highlights
- ◆Nighttime Okoshi Daiko giant drum procession
- ◆Hundreds of bare-chested taiko drummers in the streets
- ◆Ornate karakuri puppet floats by day
- ◆Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property
- ◆Charming white-walled sake brewery townscape backdrop