Spring Summer Winter 14,15 April Doburoku Festival is held at the Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine in Shirakawago which is designated as a world cultural asset. This festival involves a parade lead by an eight-legged Shishi, or Chinese lion, with bands and people carrying banners and singing folk songs. Doburoku is a kind of local unrefined sake, and everyone attending the parade can indulge themselves in this refreshment - hence the name of the festival. The sake is offered to the mountain gods at the shrine in return for the village's safety and prosperity. Shirakawa Village 0576-96-1311 14,15 April Takayama festival is famous as one of three most beautiful major festivals. Takayama festival is the general term of the spring Sanno festival and the Hachiman festival of autumn. The Autumn Festival is an annual festival of the Sakurayuama Hachimangu Shrine. The people who live in the northern half of downtown Takayama worship at this shrine. At night, 100 lanterns light up the peaceful streets which reflecting in the surface of the river. 10 October is the highlight of this festival. A group of people in the procession play Shinto music (Japanese Imperial music) ; the other group carries a "Mikoshi", or a portable shrine with a god in it. The long procession featuring traditional music and people in traditional costume takes us back to old Japan. Takayama City 0577-32-3333

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