Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival高岡御車山祭

The spring grand festival of Takaoka Sekino Shrine, in which seven Mikurumayama floats adorned with Takaoka's metalwork and lacquer craft are drawn through the old town to the sound of festival music.

Every May 1, seven Mikurumayama floats, their wheels, railings and beams decorated with Takaoka's traditional metalwork and lacquer, are drawn through the centre of the old town to graceful festival music. At noon all seven gather in the Seizoroi ceremony. An eve festival is held on April 30.

This is a religious rite rooted in a shrine or temple. Please follow the guidance of the organizers and clergy, and take care not to disrupt the ceremonies.

Tradition holds that the floats derive from the imperial carriage Toyotomi Hideyoshi used in 1588 to receive Emperor Go-Yozei at the Jurakudai palace; Maeda Toshiie received it, and in 1609, when Maeda Toshinaga built Takaoka Castle, it was given to the townspeople. The City of Takaoka notes that little documentary evidence survives, and that two city-designated documents held by Sekino Shrine are the only records linking Toshinaga to the floats.

Source: 高岡市観光協会(external site, opens in a new tab) / 高岡關野神社(external site, opens in a new tab) / 高岡市(external site, opens in a new tab)

The Agency for Cultural Affairs explains that the rite began when Maeda Toshinaga distributed the floats among the town's districts and they were drawn in attendance on the mikoshi at Sekino Shrine's spring festival. Kept by the districts of Yamacho, the floats carry forward Takaoka's merchant culture and craft skills.

1. 01

   Hoei junko (procession of the floats)

   The seven floats are drawn through the old town with festival music.

2. 02

   Seizoroi-shiki

   At noon all seven floats assemble in one place.

3. 03

   Yoi-matsuri (eve festival)

   On the evening of April 30, the eve festival includes illuminations.

The designated preservation body is the Takaoka Mikurumayama Preservation Society.

• Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival高岡市PR動画　御車山祭り

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The Yamacho area is within walking distance of Takaoka Station. Traffic restrictions are put in place for the festival; check Takaoka Kanko Navi for each year's details.

Traffic controls, seating and fees change every year. Always check the official website for the latest information.

Official website — takaoka.or.jp(external site, opens in a new tab)

• Do not obstruct the mikoshi or the floats
• Follow the directions of stewards

• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · 2016

  UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan

  Designated subject: Mikurumayama float event of the Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival（Festival as a whole）

  Source: 高岡御車山祭の御車山行事 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

• National designation · 1979

  Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property

  Designated subject: Mikurumayama float event of the Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival（Festival as a whole）

  Source: 高岡御車山祭の御車山行事 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

• National designation · 1960

  Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property

  Designated subject: Takaoka Mikurumayama (7 floats)（Floats）

  Source: 高岡御車山 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 1.高岡御車山祭｜イベント｜【公式】高岡観光ナビ(external site, opens in a new tab)高岡市観光協会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
2. 2.令和8年度高岡御車山祭は、5月1日(金)に開催します。｜【公式】高岡観光ナビ(external site, opens in a new tab)高岡市観光協会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
3. 3.例大祭 御車山祭 | 高岡關野神社公式サイト(external site, opens in a new tab)高岡關野神社 · Accessed 2026-09-26
4. 4.高岡御車山祭の御車山行事 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)文化庁 · Accessed 2026-09-26
5. 5.高岡御車山 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)文化庁 · Accessed 2026-09-26
6. 6.高岡御車山｜高岡市公式ホームページ(external site, opens in a new tab)高岡市 · Accessed 2026-09-26
7. 7.「山・鉾・屋台行事」のユネスコ無形文化遺産登録（代表一覧表記載）について(external site, opens in a new tab)文化庁 · Accessed 2026-09-26

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  A Takaoka Mikurumayama float with a gilded crest and flower parasol moving along a city street

  Photographer

  くろふね

  Source

  高岡市街の風景 - panoramio.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY 3.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  A displayed Takaoka Mikurumayama float with lacquered wheels, carved body and radiating flower-parasol crown

  Photographer

  掬茶

  Source

  Float of the Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  The Kibunemachi Mikurumayama float crowned with a golden crest and a red-and-white flower parasol

  Photographer

  Suikotei

  Source

  Kihunemachi-takaoka mikurumayama.JPG(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)