The Role of Miya-Daiku and Master Carpenter Hachino

Miya-Daiku are specialized carpenters who construct and restore temples, shrines, and other significant wooden structures. Their work is not only a technical craft but a vital cultural practice that preserves Japan's heritage. Among Takayama's renowned Miya-Daiku, Hachino Carpentry stands out as a leading figure. Despite being relatively young, Mr. Yasuaki Hachino has earned national recognition for his expertise in restoring cultural treasures, including national heritage sites and Takayama Festival floats.

After graduating from the architectural department of Takayama Technical High School, Mr. Hachino spent approximately eight years honing his skills in Saitama. At the age of 26, he returned to Takayama to take over his father's traditional carpentry business, specializing in shrine and temple construction. Alongside the dismantling, assembly, and restoration of Takayama's festival floats, he handles numerous requests from other prefectures for repairs and construction of shrines and temples, and is entrusted with the restoration of national treasures and important cultural properties.

"Whether I am working on a temple or a festival float, all timbers being used are big and bulky. Techniques are important, but I believe our mental strength is more important. My goal is to make sure that Hachino Carpentry continues to undertake important jobs, such as building and repairing cultural assets, and endeavors to create masterpieces which will last for many centuries."

Takayama's Cultural Legacy: Miya-Daiku Art and Iconic Festival Floats

Nestled in the heart of Japan's mountainous Gifu Prefecture, Takayama is a city where tradition thrives, renowned for its beautifully preserved Edo-period streets, vibrant festivals, and exceptional craftsmanship. Among its most celebrated cultural treasures is the ancient art of Miya-Daiku, a unique craft deeply embedded in Takayama's heritage and intricately tied to the city's iconic Takayama Festival.

Celebrated in spring as the Sanno Matsuri and in autumn as the Hachiman Matsuri, the Takayama Festival features elaborately decorated festival floats known as yatai: moving works of art that stand as a testament to the unparalleled skill and artistry of Miya-Daiku. The festival's float procession is registered as part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Importance of Miya-Daiku and Takayama Festival

The Takayama Festival yatai are more than mere tourist attractions; they are cultural artifacts that embody the region's spiritual beliefs, history, and artistic excellence. The role of Miya-Daiku, especially craftsmen like Hachino, is indispensable in preserving these treasures, ensuring that the intricate floats retain their beauty and functionality year after year.

Miya-Daiku culture extends beyond historical preservation. It serves as a bridge between Japan's past and present, inspiring new generations of craftsmen and influencing contemporary architectural and artistic projects. Through this exclusive experience, guests step inside this living traditional craftsmanship: visiting Mr. Hachino's workshop, hearing his stories firsthand, and crafting their own pair of chopsticks using tools the master himself employs.

❖ The Workshop Visit

Approximately 1 hour

Step inside the rarely-opened workshop of Hachino Carpentry, where Mr. Hachino welcomes you into a world few visitors ever glimpse. Tour the working space, observe yatai restoration in progress, and discover the traditional tools and techniques passed down through generations of Miya-Daiku.

During the visit, Mr. Hachino shares fascinating stories about the history, techniques, and spiritual dimensions of his craft, as well as the vital role Miya-Daiku plays in preserving Takayama's architectural heritage. Guests are encouraged to ask questions through the guide; from his answers, a deeper understanding emerges of how Japanese carpentry has been woven into the country's tradition, culture, and daily life.

❖ The Chopstick-Making Workshop

Approximately 1 hour

Under Mr. Hachino's guidance, try your hand at a traditional craft: making your own chopsticks using the very same tools the master uses on temples, shrines, and festival floats. Each strike of the plane and each curl of shaving connects guests to the delicate artistry behind a craft refined over centuries.

The kanna (Japanese hand plane) is the master's most trusted tool: each precise stroke transforms the wooden blank into a smooth, perfectly weighted chopstick. Guests learn the proper grip, the angle of approach, and the discipline that turns raw timber into refined craft, all under Mr. Hachino's patient eye.

The finished chopsticks travel home with you: a tangible souvenir from one of Japan's most celebrated craftsmen and a quiet daily reminder of an unforgettable hour spent inside the Miya-Daiku tradition.

Festival Floats Worked on by Hachino Carpentry

Spring Sanno Festival

• Kaguratai (神楽台)

• Konkoutai (崑崗台)

• Seiryutai (青龍台)

Autumn Hachiman Festival

• Kinpoutai (金鳳台)

• Daihatchitai (大八台)

About Takayama Festival

The Takayama Festival refers collectively to two annual festivals: the Sanno Matsuri, the spring festival of Hie Shrine held every April 14-15, and the Hachiman Matsuri, the autumn festival of Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine held every October 9-10.

Boasting a history of over 300 years, the Takayama Matsuri and its festival floats have been designated as both a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and a National Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property. The Mountain, Halberd, and Festival Float events in Japan, including the Takayama Festival Float Procession, are registered as part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.