Overview

• Takayama’s Autumn Festival concluded with about 195,000 visitors over two days, the largest turnout since pandemic disruptions, according to the city.
• The full Takayama program ran in fair weather, featuring the float parade, Tōkeiraku, lion dances, a goshinkō procession and karakuri puppet offerings enjoyed by domestic and overseas tourists.
• Otsu Matsuri holds its main events this weekend, marking Shiga Akihiro’s first main festival since becoming Tenson Shrine’s chief priest in February after succeeding his father.
• Otsu’s festival gained national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property status in 2016, the year a mikoshi procession returned after a 50-year gap, with student-led mascot initiatives and a citywide stamp rally promoting participation through Oct. 12.
• Karatsu Shrine conducted the Oct. 9 Hatsukunichi Hōkokusai with hayashi performances by participants from 14 towns, as organizers prayed for a safe Karatsu Kunchi scheduled for Nov. 2–4 and stressed care for children in hot conditions.