Johana Hikiyama Kaikan
Johana Hikiyama Kaikan is a museum dedicated to the history of the Hikiyama Festival, which is held on May 4 and 5 every year. The main exhibition showcases the different types of floats and statues that appear in the annual festival procession. An attached converted warehouse called the Kura Kairo exhibits documents and other materials related to the festival.
Visitors can take a close look at the ornate hikiyama floats inside the main exhibition hall. The floats have been placed behind glass in a large humidity-controlled area. The lights dim every few minutes so visitors can experience what the festival looks like during the evening. Each float is decorated with bright colors and gold, and some structures feature ornate Inami wood carvings, a traditional craft from nearby Inami in Nanto city. Iori-yatai floats are also on display. They are designed in the style of lavish structures such as ochaya (establishments where guests were entertained by geisha in Kyoto); these floats also hold musicians playing bamboo flutes and shamisen (three-stringed instruments).