Gifu Prefecture is in the center of Japan. In Hida Takayama, in the north, there is a seasonal summer event called "Tezutsu fireworks". Brave men hold gunpowder-filled cylinders in their hands and shoot up huge pillars of fire while being covered in sparks. At the end, sparks fly from the bottom of the cylinder with a roar, creating a very impressive display of fireworks. In all of Japan, these can only be seen in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, and here in Hida Takayama.
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Surrounded by the magnificent nature represented by the Hida Mountains (Northern Alps), Hida Takayama is a town that is alive with history and traditional culture, such as old townscapes that retain traces of the Edo period and Takayama festivals held in spring and autumn. There are also hot springs such as Hida Takayama Onsen and Okuhida Onsenkyo, as well as gourmet food such as Hida beef and Japanese sake. In particular, the Takayama Festival, which is held in spring and autumn, is characterized by a festival procession centered around gorgeous floats (dashi floats), elaborately moving mechanical dolls, and reproductions of picture scrolls, and many people from Japan and abroad come to watch. I will visit. It is about 6 hours from Tokyo and about 4 hours from Osaka. There are some of Japan's leading tourist destinations such as Shirakawa-go, Kamikochi, and Kanazawa in the surrounding area, and you can visit various places around Hida Takayama. There is a mix of various types of accommodations, including Western-style hotels, traditional inns, homely guesthouses, and hostels suitable for long-term stays, and we have the capacity to meet the needs of our users. The people of Hida, who are involved in various fields such as nature, history, tradition, culture, and gastronomy, are simple and warm, and offer heartfelt hospitality to visitors.
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Table of Contents
- The History of Hida Takayama Tezutsu Fireworks
- A grand flame drives away evil spirits
- Lumberjack songs and lion dances
- A raging pillar of fire and a roaring sound that resonates in your stomach
- Details of Hida Takayama Hand-held Fireworks
- Events taking place at the same time
- Access to Hida Takayama
- To learn more about Hida Takayama
The History of Hida Takayama Tezutsu Fireworks
Hida Takayama's hand-held fireworks began about 40 years ago. It started small with just a few people, but more and more people who fell in love with the grandeur of hand-held fireworks joined, and now it has grown to over 40 members and 180 fireworks, making it a representative summer event in Hida Takayama.
The tubes come in different sizes and weigh up to 8kg when filled with gunpowder. When ignited, a huge pillar of flame shoots up to 8-10m, and hot sparks rain down on the shoulders and arms holding the tube.
Participants approach fireworks with a unique aesthetic: they hold the tube vertically, and proudly explain that it's beautiful when the pillar of flame shoots up straight and the sparks form an umbrella-like silhouette.
A grand flame drives away evil spirits
There is an ancient Japanese concept called "yakubarai" (warding off evil spirits). Bad destinies that are determined by willpower that one cannot control are called "yaku" (misfortunes), and the act of warding off "yaku" (misfortunes) is called "yakubarai."
There are said to be various ways to do this, but one of them is the belief that the flames purify bad luck. Tezutsu fireworks are an event that exorcises bad luck not only for the participants but also for the spectators who watch the fireworks, and prays for people's happiness.
Before the fireworks begin, prayers are offered at the shrine. Fireworks are a beautiful and spectacular event, but they also pose the risk of fire and accidents. Prayers are offered and the priest performs a ritual to ward off misfortune, so that danger does not befall you, your friends, and all the spectators.
Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine
Lumberjack songs and lion dances
After the ceremony, a procession will proceed from the shrine to the fireworks venue while singing songs. These songs are called "Kiyari Uta" and have been sung since ancient times all over Japan. Originally, they were work songs sung to coordinate the timing of people carrying heavy objects.
Since ancient times, Japan has had many wooden buildings, and fires have been common, so in Edo (Tokyo 300 years ago), it was customary for light, mobile carpenters to fight fires. The firemen who saved the city of Edo were highly respected, and people were delighted to invite them to weddings and festivals and have them sing Kiyari-uta (wooden songs).
The Hida Takayama Lumberjack Song is based on the Edo firefighters' Lumberjack Song, but the lyrics have been devised to add a touch of Hida Takayama flavor. When you walk down the main street singing this song, both the singer and the listeners feel excited, and their expectations for the upcoming fireworks grow.
Just before the fireworks, a lion dance is dedicated. The lion dance is also said to ward off evil spirits. The lion dance, dancing vigorously in the deepening darkness of evening, is an otherworldly, mystical sight.
A raging pillar of fire and a roaring sound that resonates in your stomach
The Hida Takayama Hand-held Fireworks are held on the banks of the Miyagawa River, which runs through the center of Hida Takayama. Over the course of an hour, 180 hand-held fireworks are lit one after the other, driving the spectators wild.
The Tezutsu Fireworks of Hida Takayama are spectacular, but the fleeting moment of the fireworks as they disappear symbolizes the short summer in the north. Please come to Hida Takayama and see this magnificent event with your own eyes.
Details of Hida Takayama Hand-held Fireworks
Date: August 9th every year
Time: 7:30pm - 1 hour
Location: Near Miyamaebashi Bridge
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