【Hida City, Gifu Prefecture】History Breathing in Daily Life, Gorgeous Float Processions and Valiant Okoshi-daiko! 'Furukawa Festival' Opens on April 19th and 20th
Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, will host the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Furukawa Festival' on April 19th and 20th, 2025. This main festival, featuring the valiant 'Okoshi-daiko' and the gorgeous 'Yatai Gyoretsu,' transcends tourism and is passed down as a 'treasure of life' inextricably linked to the daily lives of local residents.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 13:39 (18h 39m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 02:41 (493h 2m after Collected)
Hida City, Gifu Prefecture (Mayor: Junya Tsudake), will host the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Furukawa Festival' for two days on April 19th and 20th, 2025. This main festival, woven from the valiant 'Okoshi-daiko' and the gorgeous 'Yatai Gyoretsu,' transcends the realm of tourism and is still passed down as a 'treasure of life' inextricably linked to the daily lives of local residents.
This traditional event, which colors the spring of Hida, where people's passion and the breath of life blend into the historic townscape, is about to begin.
## 'Furukawa Festival' Overview
**Dates:** April 19th (Sunday) and 20th (Monday), 2026 (Fixed dates: April 19th and 20th every year)
**Venue:** Furukawa-cho urban area, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture
**Content:**
* April 19th (Sunday): [Shigaku-sai (Preliminary Festival)] Shrine rituals, portable shrine procession, float procession, Okoshi-daiko
* April 20th (Monday): [Honraku-sai (Main Festival)] Portable shrine procession, float procession, night festival
**Details:** Please refer to the Hida City Official Tourism Website Hida no Tabi.
## A Rare Festival of 'Stillness' and 'Movement' in Japan
The Furukawa Festival is a traditional festival composed of the solemn 'Shinto rituals' at Ketawakamiya Shrine, the historical picture scroll-like 'portable shrine procession,' and the gorgeous 'float procession' as 'still' events, alongside the valiant 'Okoshi-daiko' where men in loincloths jostle, as 'moving' events. The 'Okoshi-daiko and Yatai Gyoreji' are registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
## Powerful 'Okoshi-daiko'
The 'Okoshi-daiko' is a 'moving' event.
Around 8:30 PM on April 19th, the 'Okoshi-daiko' begins with the 'uchidashi' (start) of a chaotic beating of large drums, accompanied by a grand chorus of the celebratory song 'Wakamatsu-sama' at the festival square. Led by a lively lantern procession of men, women, and children carrying tall lanterns and round lanterns, the 'Okoshi-daiko' procession parades through the city streets until past midnight on the 20th. The fierce struggle with small drums called 'Tsuke-daiko' that rush in from every street corner, and its valiant nature, are known as one of the most powerful festival events among many Japanese festivals. Also, the acrobatics called 'Tonbo,' performed by vertically standing a approximately 3.5m pole with a Tsuke-daiko tied to it, is another highlight.
This traditional event, which colors the spring of Hida, where people's passion and the breath of life blend into the historic townscape, is about to begin.
## 'Furukawa Festival' Overview
**Dates:** April 19th (Sunday) and 20th (Monday), 2026 (Fixed dates: April 19th and 20th every year)
**Venue:** Furukawa-cho urban area, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture
**Content:**
* April 19th (Sunday): [Shigaku-sai (Preliminary Festival)] Shrine rituals, portable shrine procession, float procession, Okoshi-daiko
* April 20th (Monday): [Honraku-sai (Main Festival)] Portable shrine procession, float procession, night festival
**Details:** Please refer to the Hida City Official Tourism Website Hida no Tabi.
## A Rare Festival of 'Stillness' and 'Movement' in Japan
The Furukawa Festival is a traditional festival composed of the solemn 'Shinto rituals' at Ketawakamiya Shrine, the historical picture scroll-like 'portable shrine procession,' and the gorgeous 'float procession' as 'still' events, alongside the valiant 'Okoshi-daiko' where men in loincloths jostle, as 'moving' events. The 'Okoshi-daiko and Yatai Gyoreji' are registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
## Powerful 'Okoshi-daiko'
The 'Okoshi-daiko' is a 'moving' event.
Around 8:30 PM on April 19th, the 'Okoshi-daiko' begins with the 'uchidashi' (start) of a chaotic beating of large drums, accompanied by a grand chorus of the celebratory song 'Wakamatsu-sama' at the festival square. Led by a lively lantern procession of men, women, and children carrying tall lanterns and round lanterns, the 'Okoshi-daiko' procession parades through the city streets until past midnight on the 20th. The fierce struggle with small drums called 'Tsuke-daiko' that rush in from every street corner, and its valiant nature, are known as one of the most powerful festival events among many Japanese festivals. Also, the acrobatics called 'Tonbo,' performed by vertically standing a approximately 3.5m pole with a Tsuke-daiko tied to it, is another highlight.