Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• 古川祭（ふるかわまつり）
• Furukawa Matsuri, the festival of Hida Furukawa

History

The Furukawa Matsuri（古川祭, Furukawa Matsuri）is the major spring festival of Hida Furukawa（飛騨古川, Hida Furukawa）, in the city of Hida（飛騨市, Hida-shi）, Gifu Prefecture (Gifu（岐阜県, Gifu-ken）). It is the reitaisai（例祭, reitaisai, annual festival) of the Keta Wakamiya Shrine（気多若宮神社, Keta Wakamiya Jinja）, which overlooks the town from a slight promontory. It is often presented as a festival with two faces: the “movement” (動, dō) and the “silence” (静, sei), an alternation that makes it unique.

The traditional core of the festival is based on the parade of yatai（屋台, yatai, floats/processional structures) and the impressive Okoshi Daiko（起し太鼓, okoshi daiko, “drum that awakens”) led by hundreds of men at night. The whole event, called “Furukawa matsuri no okoshi daiko・yatai gyōji”（古川祭の起し太鼓・屋台行事, furukawa matsuri no okoshi daiko / yatai gyōji）, has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property（重要無形民俗文化財, jūyō mukei minzoku bunkazai）and has been part of the UNESCO inscription since 2016 under “Yama・Hoko・Yatai, float festivals in Japan”（山・鉾・屋台行事, yama-hoko-yatai gyōji）.

In recent history, the festival experienced reduced or reorganized editions during the health crisis period, before gradually returning to a fuller format: it is typically a festival where the “exact” program (route, intensity of night sequences, restrictions) may vary depending on the year, while maintaining its ritual framework and traditional dates.

Location and Date of the Event

• Location: downtown 飛騨古川（Hida Furukawa）and 気多若宮神社（けたわかみやじんじゃ, Keta Wakamiya Jinja）.
• Address: 〒509-4212 岐阜県飛騨市古川町上気多1297（1297 Kamigeta, Furukawa-chō, Hida-shi, Gifu 509-4212）.
• Access: JR 飛騨古川駅（ひだふるかわえき, Hida-Furukawa-eki）is adjacent to the center; the festival areas are connected on foot. For the shrine, expect a climb (about 20 minutes on foot depending on pace). Temporary parking on certain days (schools) and shuttles depending on the edition: check the official map.
• Date: April 19 and 20 each year.

Schedule

The Furukawa Matsuri lasts 2 days and revolves around three main events: Okoshi Daiko（起し太鼓, okoshi daiko）, Yatai Hikizoroe（屋台曳き揃え, yatai hikizoroe, gathering/parade of floats) and the mikoshi procession（神輿行列, mikoshi gyōretsu）. The atmosphere alternates between the nocturnal fervor and the elegant “living picture” of the floats in the traditional streets.

April 19 is marked by rites at the shrine (神事, shinji) and especially by the explosion of energy of the Okoshi Daiko in the evening: the large drum moves forward surrounded by groups of tsuke-daiko（付け太鼓, tsuke daiko）, in a very dense, rhythmic, and noisy atmosphere. On April 20, the mood becomes more “solemn”: the yatai (屋台, yatai) are displayed, with times of hōnō（奉納, hōnō, offerings/ritual presentations) such as karakuri（からくり, karakuri, automata) and kodomo kabuki（子ども歌舞伎, kodomo kabuki, children’s kabuki) depending on the floats. When the program allows, the evening part gives a magical tone to the streets, with illuminated floats (夜祭り, yo-matsuri).

What is most unique here is really the contrast: the “raw” and spectacular night of the Okoshi Daiko, then the refined daytime of the yatai, where you can see the precision of the carvings, lacquer, fabrics, and artisanal techniques of the Hida region. In practice, some sequences (route, night part, level of “intensity” of the okoshi daiko) can be adjusted according to the instructions of the year.

Practical Tips

Photos

For the yatai (屋台, yatai), aim for the old streets of Hida Furukawa: dark wood + golden decorations work very well. For the Okoshi Daiko（起し太鼓, okoshi daiko）, favor a bright lens: it is at night, and the crowd is dense. If you want detail (carvings, lacquer, embroidery), a short zoom is perfect; for the atmosphere, take a wide-angle and embrace the density.

Weather

Mid-April in the Hida region: days often cool to mild, but cold evenings possible (altitude). Plan layered clothing and a jacket for the night part, especially if you stay outside for a long time for the Okoshi Daiko.

Transport

The easiest is to arrive by train at Hida-Furukawa-eki（飛騨古川駅, Hida-Furukawa-eki）and then do everything on foot. Parking around the center is limited and may be temporarily reorganized (schools, shuttles) depending on the days: check the official map before coming.

Visitor Tips

If you want to see both “faces” of the festival, do Okoshi Daiko on the evening of the 19th, then Yatai during the day on the 20th. To avoid the worst of the crowd, arrive early at key points. Useful words: 起し太鼓（おこしだいこ, okoshi daiko）, 屋台（やたい, yatai）, 神輿行列（みこしぎょうれつ, mikoshi gyōretsu）, 交通規制（こうつうきせい, kōtsū kisei, traffic restrictions).

What to Bring

Cash (for stands), power bank, poncho (more practical than an umbrella in the crowd), warm clothes for the night, and comfortable shoes.

Sources & References

• 飛騨市公式観光サイト「飛騨の旅」｜古川祭（イベント）

  Reference page (fixed dates April 19–20), access, temporary parking, and highlights reminder (Okoshi Daiko, yatai).

• 文化遺産オンライン｜古川祭の起し太鼓・屋台行事

  Heritage reference: status (Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property) and UNESCO inscription via “山・鉾・屋台行事”.

• 飛騨古川まつり会館（公式）｜Furukawa Festival

  Presentation (in English): explanation of Okoshi Daiko + yatai, and mention of UNESCO inscription.

• Hida City Official Tourism (EN)｜Furukawa Festival

  Official page (English): summary, dates, and links to 2025 documents (maps/routes).

• 岐阜県観光公式サイト｜古川祭

  Event sheet (prefecture): dates, access, general information and related documents.