Two karakuri children leap bar to bar and land on Hotei's shoulders

Each float is a three-storey wooden structure in black lacquer and gold, covered in carved dragons, phoenixes and scrollwork and in metal fittings. Hida is mountainous with little farmland and has long been known for its carpenters, who were once summoned to build palaces and temples in the old capital. The Takayama floats come out of that tradition.

Only 4 of the 23 floats still carry karakuri puppets: Sanbaso, Shakkyotai and Ryujintai in spring, and Hoteitai in autumn. The puppeteers sit inside the float, each working one small part of the figure by rope, with no electricity or motors involved. On Hoteitai two child figures leap from bar to bar and finish standing on Hotei's shoulders; Ryujintai plays out a dragon god that a child has made drunk and sealed in a jar, and which wakes and dances in fury.

The yoi-matsuri takes place on the first night of each festival. In spring the route runs from the Jinya-mae crossing through Honmachi and Yasukawa-dori to Kamiichinomachi; in autumn from Oshinmachi through Shimoninomachi and Yasukawa-dori to Shimoichinomachi.

The old town still has rows of Edo-era wooden townhouses. On the night of the yoi-matsuri, the floats, hung with lanterns, are paraded between them.