![The back of "Ryujintai" features a huge silkscreen of a dragon. "Ryujin" means "dragon man", and all of the floats carry the postfix "tai", from the word "yatai" [屋台] which combines the chinese characters meaning "room" and "pillar" or "pedestal".](images/1015-5D-2893.jpg "The back of \"Ryujintai\" features a huge silkscreen of a dragon. \"Ryujin\" means \"dragon man\", and all of the floats carry the postfix \"tai\", from the word \"yatai\" [屋台] which combines the chinese characters meaning \"room\" and \"pillar\" or \"pedestal\".")
![During the evening parade, the floats are hung with lanterns. Children on the upper tiers play pipes and drums as the floats are drawn through the streets of town. Here, on the Nakabashi Bridge, are [from left to right] the floats named "Ryujintai", "Shakkyotai", and "Sambaso". Each of these three floats has a marionette that is featured in performances in the main square twice each day during the festival.](images/1015-5D-2929-30.jpg "During the evening parade, the floats are hung with lanterns. Children on the upper tiers play pipes and drums as the floats are drawn through the streets of town. Here, on the Nakabashi Bridge, are [from left to right] the floats named \"Ryujintai\", \"Shakkyotai\", and \"Sambaso\". Each of these three floats has a marionette that is featured in performances in the main square twice each day during the festival.")
16 April 2010: Hida Takayama Spring Festival 飛騨高山春祭 [images from 13 - 15 April]
Since the late 16th or early 17th century, in Spring and Fall, massive wooden floats are paraded through the small town of Takayama, in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture. The floats are drawn by rope by teams of men, as children riding the upper tiers play pipes and drums. In the evening the floats are hung with lanterns.
Although each of the floats is magnificently appointed with carvings, silk brocade, tassels, and gilt work, a few are also equipped with complicated marionettes operated from the top of the float by strings controlled by highly-skilled puppeteers.
Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
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