Giant floats parade along a cherry tree-lined road in a scene right out of an ancient colored woodblock print

The customs of the Inuyama Festival have been handed down to the present since the festival's beginning in 1635. With the encouragement of Naruse Hayato no Sho Masatora, a chief retainer of the Owari Tokugawa family and lord of Inuyama Castle, the festival took off as an offering to Haritsuna Jinja Shrine—home of the local guardian deity.
Thirteen enormous and elaborately decorated yama parade floats proceed along to the melodies of flutes and drums before offering a mechanized doll performance in a custom carried out since the Edo period. Once night approaches, 365 lanterns adorn the floats for another spectacle as they light up the blooming cherry trees around the Inuyama Castle Town. The age-old tradition appears as if it has popped right out of an ancient colorful ukiyo-e woodblock print.

Recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2016

Japan's incredible yama, hoko, and yatai parade float festivals have been designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Of the 33 festivals spanning 18 prefectures recognized from the northern Tohoku region to the southern Kyushu region, Aichi Prefecture touts itself as having the most float parade festivals. Five of these incredible festivals and their distinct aspects are recognized with this prestigious title: the activities surrounding Inuyama Festival's floats, activities with Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival's decorative boats, bunraku and karakuri performances on Chiryu Festival's floats, activities with Kamezaki Shiohi Festival's floats, and activities with Sunari Festival's decorative boats and reed-laden boat.

Note:
• Find out more about the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages here.