Dondenkan

Dondenkan, officially known as the Inuyama Festival Museum, preserves the heritage of one of Japan's most significant cultural celebrations. Located in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture, the museum houses four floats, each eight meters in height, which are used in the Inuyama Festival, designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. These massive floats weigh over 3 tons and are paraded through the historic castle town streets during the annual festival held every April.

The museum building itself reflects traditional architecture, designed to reproduce the townhouses of the Inuyama castle town era with authentic Japanese rooms and earthen floors. The floats on display showcase exquisite craftsmanship, decorated in gold leaf and lacquer, representing centuries of artisan tradition. Each float features intricate karakuri ningyo, mechanical dolls that perform during the festival, demonstrating Japan's early achievements in automated puppetry that influenced modern robotics.

Visitors experience the festival atmosphere year-round through multimedia presentations. Upon entering the exhibition hall, guests watch a condensed video that captures an entire day of the festival in approximately 6 minutes, complete with lights and sound effects that recreate the excitement of the actual celebration. The second floor exhibition room displays models and historical materials related to the Inuyama Festival, providing context for understanding this over 380-year-old tradition.

Dondenkan is positioned along the historic castle town streets leading to Inuyama Castle. The museum is approximately 15 minutes on foot from Inuyama Station on the Meitetsu Railway line, which connects directly to Nagoya Station in about 30 minutes. Combined tickets are available for visitors wishing to explore multiple attractions including Inuyama Castle, the Karakuri Exhibition Museum, and other cultural sites in the castle town area.