No visit to Takayama, Japan, would be complete without a visit to the Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan Float Exhibition Hall. The floats are massive wooden two or three-wheeled structures, brought out twice a year for the Takayama Matsuri (festival). Four of these floats are always on a rotating visit to the museum, where you can view them from a distance of several meters, behind glass. They’re something to behold.
The floats are made of elaborate carved, gilded wood and detailed metalwork, and many date from the 17th century. Several of them have attached marionettes, and one of these, the Hotei Tai float, has 36 strings, requiring 8 puppet masters. They’re magnificent works of art, and this is as close as many visitors will ever get to any of them. Highly recommended by those of us here at WoWasis!
Yatai Kaikan Float Exhibition Hall
178 Sakura-Machi, Takayama City
Phone: +81-(0)577-32-5100
Open daily: 9:00-4:30
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