In May, 13 Yama (Yama) cars carrying elaborate mechanical dolls are lined up in the castle town of Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture.
Ogaki Matsuri is a regular festival of Ogaki Hachiman Shrine that has been going on for over 370 years. In 2016, it was registered as one of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage ``Mountain, Hoko, and Yatai Festivals''. In 2026, it will be held on Saturday, May 9th and Sunday, May 10th.
🏮 Karakuri dolls move - A festival where Edo techniques remain
The main attraction of the Ogaki Festival are the karakuri dolls mounted on 13 cars. Karakuri dolls are dolls that move using mechanical devices such as strings, springs, and springs, and are a technique that developed throughout Japan during the Edo period. During the Ogaki Festival, performances are performed in which puppets carry tea, do somersaults, and change their masks on top of a mountain.
Three of the Yama cars have ``Karakuri'', and the remaining 10 cars perform performing arts and dances. The decorations on each mountain are also a highlight, with curtains and carvings passed down from the Edo period. All 13 cars have different designs, and the history that has been preserved and handed down in each town is reflected in the exterior of the mountain.
The origin of the festival dates back to 1648 (first year of the Keian era) when Toda Ujitetsu, the lord of the Ogaki domain, donated 10 ryo yamas to Hachiman Shrine. Since then, each town that makes up the castle town of Ogaki has been in charge of the mountain, and has been responsible for its maintenance and management and passing on the techniques from generation to generation.
Points of appreciation
This is the point to see the Ogaki Festival.
- A complete set of 13 cars:During the festival period, a ``hogei'' ceremony is held in which 13 Yama cars line up in front of Ogaki Hachiman Shrine. The sight of 13 cars lined up in a row is a spectacular sight, and it's a photo spot where you can compare all the mountains at once.
- Karakuri offering time:Karakuri doll performances are performed during ceremonies in front of Hachiman Shrine. The mechanism by which the puppets move cannot be seen from the outside, but a technician (puppeteer) who manipulates the strings goes inside the mountain and operates the puppets. Each performance lasts about a few minutes.
- Night mountain cruise:When the sun goes down, lanterns are lit on the mountain, creating a magical atmosphere that is completely different from the daytime. The sight of Yamaga slowly moving through the streets of the castle town illuminated by the light of lanterns is a highlight that can only be seen at night.
- access:You will arrive at Ogaki Hachiman Shrine in about 10 minutes on foot from JR Ogaki Station. It's about 30 minutes from Nagoya on the JR Tokaido Main Line, making it an easy festival to visit on a day trip. Food stalls line the street from the station to the festival venue.
🎎 A UNESCO heritage site called “Yama, Hoko, and Yatai Festival”
The Ogaki Festival is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, ``Yama, Hoko, and Yatai Festivals,'' which is a list of 33 festivals from all over Japan. Kyoto's Gion Festival, Takayama Festival, and Chichibu Night Festival are also included in the same framework. All have a common structure in that each town in the region owns and maintains floats and food stalls, supporting the festival on a town-by-town basis.
The Ogaki Festival is less well-known nationwide than the Gion Festival and Takayama Festival, but the density of tourists is low and you can see the mountain up close. Another advantage of this festival is that it is only 30 minutes away by train from Nagoya, making it an easy festival to visit in combination with sightseeing in Nagoya.