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HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Otsu Matsuri Festival in Shiga Prefecture
Join a 400-year tradition of vibrant celebration with colorful floats near Lake Biwa.
Biwako Visitors Bureau
Held since the early Edo period (1603-1867), the Otsu Festival has been designated an intangible folk cultural property of the prefecture.
The highlights of the festival are the large ornate floats and traditional karakuri mechanical puppets. Each float has elaborate karakuri puppets depicting a scene from a Noh play or Chinese legends. The puppet performances are very short, lasting only a minute or two, but show Japan’s longstanding fascination with robots.
Be sure to keep an eye out for the tanuki raccoon dog that is another important part of the festivities. According to legend, in 1596, a salt vendor joined the Otsu Matsuri parade wearing a tanuki mask and dancing. Ever since, the parade has been led by a karakuri tanuki puppet.
On the day before the festival, you can experience the Yoimiya, when the thirteen floats are displayed and paraded around their respective neighborhoods in the afternoon. The floats are then festooned with paper lanterns and festival musicians playing on or next to the floats.
The festival takes place in October on different dates each year, so be sure to check when it will be held in advance.
How to get there
From Kyoto Station, take the JR Biwako Line to Otsu Station (about 10 minutes). You can walk to the festival area from there.
Tenson Shrine: 3-3-36 Kyo-machi, Otsu-shi, Shiga-ken
