Central Honshu (Chubu) Festivals

Honen Matsuri ("Harvest Festival") [March 15]

One of Japan's 40 queer shrines, Tagata Jinja near Inuyama, is also renowned for this noisy holiday with a gigantic phallus parade.

Takayama Festival [April 14-15]

Around the Hie-Jinja shrine in Takayama, the parade features wheel-mounted platforms - yachts with karakuri mechanisms.

Ukai (Cormorant Fishing) [October 11-15]

This curious action (now mostly for tourists) is on the Nagaragawa river, the Gifu prefecture. Birds are coached to dive for fish to a place the boat lamp lights up.

Takayama Matsuri Autumn Festival [October 9-10]

At the Sakurayama Hachiman shrine in Takayama since the 15th century. Features decorated platforms and mikoshi (portable shrines).