Translation guide
A decorated platform or vehicle used in a parade or festival procession.
festival float (traditional Japanese)
parade float (Western style)
The most common word for a festival float, especially in traditional Japanese festivals (matsuri). Often elaborately decorated and pulled by people.
A large festival float paraded through the town during the festival.
Can refer to a festival float, but more commonly means a food stall. In some regions, it specifically means a float. Context is important.
Often means 'food stall' in standard Japanese. Use 山車 to avoid confusion unless the regional context is clear.
In this region, the floats are the main attraction of the festival.
A portable Shinto shrine carried on poles. Not a 'float' in the Western sense, but sometimes translated as such. It is carried, not wheeled.
Technically a portable shrine, not a float. Use only when the context involves a carried shrine.
We carried the portable shrine around the shrine grounds.
A motorized or decorated vehicle in a non-Japanese parade, like a Rose Parade float.
山車 (dashi) are wheeled floats pulled by people, often with decorations and sometimes carrying musicians. 神輿 (mikoshi) are portable shrines carried on shoulders. Both are common in Japanese festivals but are distinct objects.
Directly translating 'festival float' as 祭りの浮き (matsuri no uki) is incorrect. Use the established terms above.
The parade float was decorated with flowers.