Konnichiwa from MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN TAKAYAMA!
Here in Japan, the gentle sound of Japanese wind chimes is synonymous with the summer season, and Takayama city is no exception.
Held at the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine, the oldest shrine in Takayama, the 2026 Sakurayama Wind Chime Festival (桜山風鈴まつり) is held from July 18th to August 29th. The shrine grounds fill with the sounds of hundreds of colorful wind chimes during this period.
As you walk into the shrine, you’ll first find the temizuya. This is where visitors are meant to perform a symbolic purification of their hands and mouth before entering the shrine grounds. During the festival, it is specially decorated with fresh flowers.
Inside, besides enjoying the sight of the displayed wind chimes, you can also add to it yourself. For a fee, you can dedicate a wind chime with a written wish, having it displayed among the other wind chimes. You can also take part in wind chime painting workshops (available by reservation) to create your own original wind chime to take home as a souvenir.
We recommend visiting on the nights of July 25th, August 1, August 8, and August 15. On these particular Saturdays, the shrine will be illuminated from 18:00 to 20:30. The illuminations, combined with the wind chimes, transforms the shrine grounds into a completely different experience from the daytime.
There is also a festival held on August 15, between 16:00 and 20:30. Featuring food stalls, live performances of traditional Japanese court music, and more, it is a great way to experience a classic Japanese summer festival right in the heart of Takayama.
The shrine is about a 20–24 minute walk from Takayama Station, or just a few steps from the “Hachimangu-mae” bus stop.
