What it is
The Inuyama Festival is the spring festival of Haritsuna Shrine, in the castle town below Inuyama Castle on the Kiso River. It has been held for about 400 years. The town’s neighbourhoods pull out thirteen kuruma-yama, three-tiered wooden floats about eight metres tall, each topped with karakuri puppets that perform in front of the shrine.
At night the floats are hung with lanterns and pulled through the old streets, often under cherry trees in full bloom. The festival is a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and part of UNESCO’s listing of Japan’s float festivals.
The festival at a glance
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Saturday | Shigaku-sai: The thirteen floats gather in front of Haritsuna Shrine and perform their puppets, then parade through the old town |
| Saturday, evening | Yoyama: Each float is hung with 365 lanterns and pulled through the streets at night |
| Sunday | Honraku-sai: The main day, with the same programme of puppets, parade and night floats |
Which day should you go?
Saturday
See the puppets at the shrine in the morning, walk the castle town, and stay for the lantern-lit floats at night.
What to look for
Karakuri
Mechanical puppets on top of each float, worked by hidden strings, perform short scenes from legend.
Donden
Pullers lift the front of a float weighing over three tonnes and spin it round to change direction.
Night floats
After dark, each float glows with 365 paper lanterns, one for each day of the year.
Getting there & where to stay
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nagoya | Meitetsu Inuyama Line from Meitetsu-Nagoya to Inuyama | about 30 min |
| Tokyo | Tōkaidō Shinkansen to Nagoya, then Meitetsu | about 2 h 15 min |
On the day. The floats gather in front of Haritsuna Shrine, below the castle, about 15 minutes on foot from Inuyama or Inuyama-yūen Station.
Crowds. Several hundred thousand people come over the weekend, and cherry blossom season adds to the crowds.
Where to stay
Nagoya
Many hotels and frequent trains to Inuyama.
Inuyama
Hot-spring hotels by the Kiso River, close enough to walk back after the night floats.
When to book. Early April is cherry blossom season. Book 2–3 months ahead.
Book ahead
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Times are typical fastest routes. Check current timetables before you travel.
Make a day of it
Donden-kan どんでん館
A hall in the old town where real festival floats are on display all year, with a light-and-sound show that compresses the festival day into six minutes. Open 9:00–17:00.
Inuyama Castle 犬山城
One of only twelve castles in Japan with its original keep, on a hill above the Kiso River. The festival floats gather below it at Haritsuna Shrine.
Opening hours change by season. Check before you go.
Practical tips
- Weather. The festival is cancelled in rain. Check on the morning.
Glossary
Karakuriからくり
Mechanical puppets worked by strings and springs, performed on top of festival floats in towns such as Takayama.
Dashi山車
A general word for a festival float that is pulled through the streets.
Matsuri祭り
A Japanese festival, usually held for the kami of a local shrine. The word comes from the idea of serving and entertaining the gods.
References
- Aichi Now (Aichi Prefecture official tourism): Inuyama Festival.
- Inuyama City: Inuyama Festival.
- Aichi Prefecture tourism (Aichi Now): Donden-kan, https://aichinow.pref.aichi.jp/spots/detail/962/
Last checked 2026-10-16.