Watercolour on paper

Signed certificate of authenticity.

A mobile shrine in a Springtime Festival passes the Akiba Shrine (not shown) beneath a cherry blossom tree on the bank of the Miyagawa River in Takayama City, Gifu Province, Central Honshu, Japan. This was one of many mobile shrines within a very long procession of people dressed in traditional costumes, walking to the sound of traditional Japanese music.

The Takayama Festival (高山祭, Takayama Matsuri) is ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals alongside Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and the Chichibu Yomatsuri. It is held twice a year in spring and autumn in the old town of Takayama and attracts many spectators.

The Spring Festival (April 14-15, 2024) is the annual festival of the Hie Shrine in the southern half of Takayama's old town. Because the shrine is also known as Sanno-sama, the spring festival is also called Sanno Festival.